I had this thought as I read this forwarded email: Can PCEF support the salary by itself without taxpayer money? It raises a ton of money, so it says.

Hello all,

Please read below to support PCEF and Nan Odenthal's position. Her position is the only one in the district that generates money for the children attending the Phoenixville Public Schools, Holy Family and The Renaissance Academy.. Who would be against helping our children?

Don't forget PCEF's goal....taking education to new heights!!!

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Thank you very much for your past support of the Phoenixville Community Education Foundation. I saw many of you at our fundraiser last Friday evening. As you know the mission of our foundation is "to support and enhance education in the Phoenixville area." I believe we have stayed true to our mission since the creation of our foundation 5 years ago. We have funded over a million dollars worth of programs (from the Robotics club to remedial programs) in our community since its inception. We have reached almost every child in our district in some way.

I am writing to you today on behalf of the board of trustees of the PCEF. It seems as though our mission is being challenged by some members of our School Board. They are attempting to eliminate the position of Director of Development in this year's budget. This position is currently held by

Nan Odenthal and she is the absolute backbone of our foundation.

We understand and are sympathetic to the current economic times that the district and all of us are faced with. We have offered to help. The foundation has pledged 30,000 additional dollars, on top of money we already raise to fund programs, to help offset the cost of this position. We have made this offer to both the acting superintendent as well as the president of the school board. We have reminded them that this position is the only one in the district that actually generates money.

Consider the following:

* This district is currently in complete transition - We need to hire a superintendent and a business manager.. We have an interim director of personnel right now, as well as an assistant superintendent that has been in that position for less than a year. Now more than ever we need some continuity. Our current Director of Development (Nan Odenthal) has been at it for 5 years and has had tremendous success. Just last week we received word from Congressman Gerlach that we would receive a federal grant of over $140,000 for remedial programs. Nan shepherded this grant through a two year process on behalf of our foundation.. Our foundation's success is directly dependent on this position and someone of Nan's caliber.

* Without this full time position, several of our programs are in jeopardy, including but not limited to: Phantom TV, Scholarships for Seniors, Destination with Directions, Robotics Club, Technology Fair, summer school and summer enrichment programs, preschool funding , Pack a Backpack Program, etc...

* In July 2008, Nan and the Education Foundation were the honored guests of the PA House of Representative's Youth Services Committee and were singled out as a model of excellence and one of the best performing education foundations in the state.

* As tax payers - do you want this district to cut a position that raises 4 to 5 times its salary on an annual basis.

Our district, now more than ever, needs an experienced grant writer and fundraiser to champion the efforts of both the district and our foundation. We have a tremendous opportunity right now to work with the Obama Administration on several fronts - from applying for federal money to build our schools to getting grants for programs to fulfill the needs of our district. It will only work if we work together.