Fred Beans Auto Group Pledges Funds to Mercer Museum for National History Day

Fred Beans Automotive Group has been approved by the Pennsylvania Educational Improvement Tax Credit program (EITC) to contribute $15,000 a year over the coming two years to the Mercer Museum to assist in funding National History Day in Bucks and Montgomery counties.

The Doylestown museum established by historian, collector and visionary Henry C. Mercer coordinates the multi-school-district educational program for Bucks and Montgomery counties. More than 600 students from schools in the two counties participated in 2013; more than 700 took part last March.

This marks the first time the automotive group has directed EITC funds to the Mercer.

“The Mercer Museum is much more than the unique collection within its concrete walls,” says Beth Beans Gilbert, VP. “It is also uniquely qualified to coordinate educational programs and initiatives, such as National History Day events, that link young people to our area’s heritage. We’re thrilled to be part of National History Day through this EITC contribution.”

Fulton Bank has pledged the additional $10,000 EITC funding the annual program needs.

“From developing research skills and critical thinking to increasing confidence and self-esteem, participation in the National History Day program offers tremendous benefit to students and is a great complement to classroom learning,” says Cory Amsler, vice president, Collections and Interpretation. Melissa Jay, coordinator of Education, is the museum’s regional coordinator for National History Day.

The 2015 Bucks and Montgomery counties’ Regional History Day event takes place Saturday, March 28, at Ursinus College in Collegeville, PA. This year’s theme, Leadership & Legacy in History, may be interpreted in many ways by the students who compete as individuals or groups in the Junior Division (grades 6-8) and Senior Division (grades 9-12). Their intensely researched projects may be delivered as exhibits, papers, websites, performances or documentaries. First- and second-place in the different categories have the opportunity to go on to competition at the national level.

The state’s EITC program provides tax benefits to companies that donate to educational programs in their communities. Both the donor and the recipient are vetted for approval in order for the donor to receive the special tax credit for its gift. Fred Beans has been involved in the program for several years, contributing to CB Cares Educational Foundation and the Bucks County Library System’s Summer Reading Program. The Beans organization is known for its philanthropy to initiatives for education, children and families.

IN PHOTO:
Central Bucks West High School students Emma Najibi and Brooke Spencer, who took 1st Place last March in the Senior Division Group Exhibit category for their “We Believe that It Does:” Brown v. Board of Education Credit: Mercer Museum