North Penn Grad, Denver Bronco Brandon McManus Donates $25,000

LANSDALE, PA — Former North Penn star and Super Bowl champion Brendan McManus has donated $25,000 to support a range of projects in the school district.

The money will serve as a kickstarter for a wide variety of "staff-inspired" projects, ranging from robots helping to teach coding to standing desks.

Teachers in the district submitted 25 different proposals, and district administration ultimately chose eight to receive funding.

"I want to thank everyone who submitted an application," McManus wrote in a letter to staff at the district. "I hope that my initial donation will make an immediate positive impact in our schools, but please know I intend to continue this support at an equal level next school year."

Winners include: Chelsea Beck, Knapp Elementary; Melanie Baker, Bridle Path Elementary; Nicole Lanetti, Oak Park Elementary; Janine Bertoti, Gwyn-Nor Elementary; Maria Stratton, North Wales Elementary; Julie Ortlieb, Inglewood Elementary; Megan Schoppe, NPHS; and Joanna Boland, A.M. Kulp Elementary.

The Brandon McManus Kickstart Grant will also fund a special swingset at Ingelwood Elementary School for students with special needs, as well as warm-up jackets for the Unified Track Team.

In addition, McManus, has committed another $25,000 in grants for the 2019-20 school year, and the district is working on putting together applications for the next round of projects.