By Nancy Young
Enquirer contributor

WEST CHESTER TWP. - Teachers and staff members of the Lakota School District have a potential new resource to help pay for classroom activities, field trips and continuing education workshops.

The Community Foundation of West Chester/Liberty has established the Lakota Fund to help meet students' and teachers' needs beyond what traditional funding is able to provide.

"As the community changes, so too do the needs of our students and faculty," says Patti Alderson, foundation founder and president. "We know that more and more often, teachers are reaching into their own pockets to pay for activities and learning opportunities that benefit their students. This is a way to fund both large and small projects for the students' benefit."

Any person or company can donate to the fund. Lakota school staff members also can contribute through payroll deduction.

Criteria for giving out the money is still being determined, but it's likely that requests will be made for requests such as classroom projects, field trips, staff workshops and seminars.

"We have previously assisted several groups in Lakota Schools to establish funds for specific purposes, such as the Lakota East Choir Fund, the Lakota East Spark Fund and most recently the Lakota Succeeds Fund," says Katie Braswell, executive director of the foundation.

"The Lakota Fund creates a more coordinated means for donors to support Lakota Schools, and for the foundation to assist them in making their charitable dreams a reality."

An advisory board made up of Lakota staff and members of the foundation's Education and Grant Committee will determine grants from the fund.

Lakota East High School principal Ruth Barber is a member of the board.

"The Lakota Fund allows community members and staff to make memorial contributions, and allows for scholarships and programming to be funded," Barber says. "An example might be that a teacher is retiring after many years of service and colleagues can contribute to a fund in this person's name, to be used for education in general or for a favorite area such as music or art."

As the foundation finalizes details of the Lakota Fund, volunteers are counting receipts from the Key Event. Held in late September, the Key Event attracted 440 guests who dined at 25 West Chester and Liberty Township host homes and raised about $100,000.

Judge Patricia Oney of Oxford was the winner of an oil painting valued at $25,000 by artist Michael Blaser.

For information on the foundation or Lakota Fund, call (513) 874-5450 or visit www.wclfoundation.com.