Spring 2003 Newsletter

The lowdown on SCA’s high finance……
Neal Thorpe

SCA manages two distinct funds—and never the twain shall meet and mix. The bigger of the two comes in the form of grants that fund particular projects. Because our historic canal, canal structures and open space make our area a treasure unlike any other on the Schuylkill, we have been blessed with grants to recreate the place as it was in the mid-1800s.

Grants come with restrictions: They may be spent only on the projects for which they were specifically given, and the donor must be given a full accounting when the project is done.

In 2002 SCA was again blessed. Below is a list of the grants received or committed to in the course of the year. We are grateful for every one of them. All were given for capital, non-operating projects, with one exception. The William Penn Foundation has committed a two-year grant to help fund the new large operating expense of Betsy Daley’s salary. This has been a tremendous, much-needed lift for our operations, and we are grateful for it every day as Betsy smoothly handles what is currently a very demanding agenda.

And Phoenixville Federal Savings deserves special mention. It is one of our leading sponsors, but this year it also made a generous grant for a capital project, as you can see below.

Finally, members who vote will be interested to know that our new State Senator for our newly redrawn senatorial district, Bob Thompson, made himself known to us in the nicest possible way: by procuring for the restroom project a $25,000 capital project grant from DCED.

SCA gives thanks: 2002 restricted grants

The second fund is the unrestricted receipts out of which SCA pays for all its operations—from buying a chain saw to buying trash bags. Most of it comes from members and businesses, plus whatever petty cash is put in our glass donation jars during programs. The generosity of so many people and businesses is impressive and heartwarming.

Below is a public thank you to all those who supported SCA’s operating budget in the year 2002. This includes all our members, although for space reasons it lists by name only those who contributed at the locktender’s level of $50 or more. It lists all our sponsors, and this year the William Penn Foundation appears as a sponsor as well as a grant-giver as it adds an unrestricted 10% to many of its grants to help cover administrative and overhead costs. Phoenixville Federal Savings also appears on both lists. It generously sponsored Canal Day for the 8th straight year as well as providing the restricted grant listed above. Finally, Upper Providence Township deserves special mention. The township’s annual budget has included a generous line item for SCA for many years.

Welcome to Recent New Members
Jack Butler
Mariann Horan
Allen S. Koehler

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