Fund-raiser to benefit school for needy children of veterans
CONNELLSVILLE – American Legion Post 301 is lending support to a state-funded institution that offers quality residential education to the children of commonwealth veterans. The Scotland School for Veterans’ Children, located in Franklin County near Chambersburg, provides a home for needy children of Pennsylvania’s veterans.
As part of their ongoing commitment to help fund Scotland, the American Legion Riders organization is sponsoring a Halloween dance at the post, located at 340 N. Pittsburgh St., Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., with all proceeds going to the school.
Although no local children are attending the Scotland School, Ray Anthony, vice commander of Post 301, said the Legion annually donates money generated from fund-raisers to the school. This year’s goal is $1,000.
According to Anthony, 42 seniors are in this year’s class, and 35 of them plan to further their education. Anthony said the school provides each student with a $1,000 grant, as long as they attend a state college or university.
“That’s $42,000,” he said.
Anthony added that students who enroll in the military are provided with $800.
In the past, Anthony said, the post has donated money generated from its annual Tree of Lights campaign, raising up to $175.
With the dance, the Legion is going above and beyond past contributions by matching all proceeds, according to Don Burkholder, post adjutant.
The Scotland School was established in 1895 and has been administered by the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs since 1996. It houses about 350 students in grades three though 12 on a 186-acre campus.
According to the admission policy, students attend the Scotland School for reasons ranging from supervision problems, an abusive home environment, substance abuse, a deceased parent, separation or divorce, neighborhood crime and crowded classrooms. However, some students attend the school for a better education.
To attend the school, the child’s legal guardian must be an honorably discharged or deceased veteran and have lived in the state for a minimum of three consecutive years.
Also, children, at the time of the admission request, must be at least 6 years old and not older than 15, while priority for enrollment is given to war veterans’ children and to the biological children of veterans.