Hello, Northern Supporters!
Summer is over, and the 2024-2025 school year has begun, so it’s time to reflect on what the PBF has accomplished since the 2023-2024 school year ended.
GOLF OUTING
Our annual Golf Outing was June 14th at RANGE END GOLF CLUB, where the teams enjoyed a beautiful spring day out on the course.
Thank you to our sponsors:
- Ace Sponsors
- Eagle Sponsors
- Annual Partners/Business Circle Members
And of course, thank you to the golfers!
SAVE THE DATE FOR THE 2025 GOLF OUTING: JUNE 13TH
WELCOME, ANDY SLOTHOWER!
On September 1st, Andy Slothower officially became the Polar Bear Foundation’s newest president for the 2024-2025 school year.
Andy is a Wellsville native and a 1993 graduate of Northern. He was already an extremely active community member before joining the PBF board in 2023: he was mayor of Wellsville for eight years; an Honorary Lifetime Member of the Wellsville Fire Company; and, a volunteer with the Dillsburg girls’ softball/Northern York Fast Pitch Association, and Northern High’s girls’ volleyball, football, and field hockey boosters.
Andy works for H&H SALES AND SERVICE (one of the PBF’s long-standing business partners) and is married to Jaymie, the Northern Athletics Assistant. He brings connections (the man knows everyone!), enthusiasm, experience, and optimism!
Those traits will serve the Foundation well as we enter the 24-25 school year.
Please do not hesitate to contact Andy (ANDY@POLARBEARFOUNDATION.NET) with any questions or concerns.
Photo credit: Shannon Hemauer
SPLATTER FEST: A SUCCESS
Splatter Fest is open to all Northern 9th-12th grade students and on August 30th, right before Northern’s football win, the high schoolers gathered near Bostic Field to, well, make a big mess.
You can see why this has become a student-favorite event! (Seriously, who wouldn’t have loved this when we were kids?! HMMM…. maybe the PBF should hold an adult’s Splatter Fest fundraiser. Or even better, how fun would doing a Splatter Fest fundraiser with your kids be? I think my middle schoolers would love covering Mom and Dad in paint! If you like either idea, EMAIL ANDY and let him know!)
Photo credit: Curt Werner
“ANYONE CAN COOK” EVENT: SEPTEMBER 21ST
The first PBF event of the school year is our “ANYONE CAN COOK” event—a friendly cooking competition where local chefs compete for first place in one of four food categories:
- salads and appetizers
- soups/stews/chilies
- entrees
- desserts
This event is hosted by the PBF at the pavilion at GREYSTONE BREW HOUSE in Dillsburg on Saturday, September 21st, from 4:00 PM until 8:00 PM. Attendees enjoy food samplings prepared by the chefs, drinks, local craft beer from HEMAUER BREWING CO., live music by Northern High School English teacher COLETTE ECKERT from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM, a best-decorated booth competition, and other fun activities!
The ACC event is perfect for anyone who likes to eat, lets attendees select the “Top Chef,” and gives you a reason not to cook for the evening. Monies raised from event sponsors and ticket sales help enhance academic, athletic, and cultural programs for the students, teachers, and staff of the Northern York County School District! These include admission fees for Life Skills students, a social-emotional learning educator’s kit, Spanish books for a lending library, Cheer Team flags and signs, and paint for the high schoolers at SPLATTER FEST.
Please purchase your tickets today!
AWARDED GRANTS
The PBF’s mission is to enhance NYCSD student’s educational experience, and this goes beyond the classroom.
In August, the marching band received a new band trailer! Who loves to see our marching band at home games, away games, and in parades? Not only do they have to practice, practice, practice, but they have to load their equipment and travel. The PBF, with your support, helped the NORTHERN MUSIC BOOSTERS purchase a new band trailer. Northern Marching Band, performing and traveling in style!
DREAM BIG
Past president Elizabeth Ayers said it best at this year’s Gala: The teachers, staff, and administration are the true heroes. They identify what is needed to enhance students’ educational experiences and then apply for grants, which the PBF fulfills through business and community donations.
But we need teachers, staff, and administration to apply—we don’t know there is a need unless that is communicated to us.
Grant money can be used to purchase anything from small requests like pop-up tents to provide shade for our athletes to deodorant for 5th graders to Spanish books for a lending library; to big requests like Wellsville’s Shade Structure and purchasing equipment for the new weight room.
We support grants for immediate needs, more extensive programs, and project needs.
The grant application, process details, and report form are on our website HERE.
If you have questions or concerns, contact the Director of Operations, Natalie Slothower, at NATALIE@POLARBEARFOUNDATION.NET.
View past years’ grants HERE.
PBF PARTNERS GIVING TIERS
THANK YOU BUSINESS PARTNERS & BUSINESS CIRCLE MEMBERS
We couldn’t do all that we do without the generosity of our amazing community, especially our Annual Business Partners (former program) and Business Circle Members (new program)! As we begin this new school year, let’s take a moment to thank these businesses for their continued financial support.
THANK YOU, PBF SOCIETY MEMBERS
Thank you to the White and Hemauer families for joining our newly created giving tier: the PBF SOCIETY! This giving tier is ideal for individuals and families who want to see their community grow and flourish. All giving tiers include perks, such as athletic pass(es) and swag (depending on tier).
BECOME INVOLVED
As I stated above, we rely on the generosity of local businesses, event sponsors, individual/family donors, and planned giving to raise money to fund the grants and scholarships the PBF offers to NYCSD staff, teachers, and seniors. To help simplify the process, we created PBF Partners Giving Tiers: BUSINESS CIRCLE (ideal for businesses and corporations) and SOCIETY (ideal for individuals and families who want to see their community continue to grow and flourish).
I invite you to learn more about the Giving Tiers (click on the logos below) and sign up for a membership plan (all plans include goodies)!
UPCOMING 2024 EVENTS
Until next time,
Shannon Hemauer
Director of Outreach & Marketing
SHANNON@POLARBEARFOUNDATION.NET
Since 2006, the Polar Bear Foundation has raised financial support beyond the reach of the regular school district budget for academic, athletic, and cultural programs for the students, teachers, and staff of the Northern York County School District through fundraising events, corporate/business partnerships, event sponsors, and donations.
