Seventh-graders in the Penn Central Middle School gifted support program begin the year asking when they can start their microloan projects.  

“They can’t wait,” gifted support program teacher Kristen Swanson said.  

Beginning in November, seventh-graders made a variety of products to sell, from Laura Frederick’s chocolate candy-covered pretzels to Hayden Sandt and Andrew Shaqfeh’s parachute cord necklaces, raising a combined total of $1,296.42 to donate to the charity of their choice.  

“I’m really amazed every year when I see how much money they make and in such a short time, Swanson said.  

Now in its third year, the microloan program began after Swanson heard 2006 Nobel Peace Prize winner Mohammed Yunus speak about his concept of offering small loans to impoverished people who did not have sufficient credit to qualify for a loan.  

Penn Central Middle School Principal Dr. Thomas Rutter decided to offer a microloan program to gifted seventh-graders with the help of a grant from First Savings Bank of Perkasie. The $1,000 grant, which is split between Penn Central and Penn North middle schools, is paid back from the students’ projects so that funds are available to loan to the following year’s class, according to a Dec. 24, 2010, News-Herald article.  

Swanson, who lived in Africa for 10 years, uses the project to raise her students’ awareness of world issues like malaria, AIDS and the lack of clean drinking water. But the project also serves another purpose, helping the students cultivate business skills as they prepare project proposals, advertise their products and work to pay back their loans.  

“We need entrepreneurs and we don’t talk about it much in school,” Swanson said.  

Students presented their proposals to Todd Hurley and Kevin Crawford of First Savings prior to receiving their loans. Meeting with the bankers, who arrived at the school dressed in suits, was intimidating for the students, said Tina Loose, a Penn Central parent and volunteer.  

“We coached them on how to introduce themselves and shake hands with the bankers,” Loose said.  

The students prepared a prototype of their product, explained their costs and outlined their business strategy, including where they planned to sell their products, student Omar Ibrahim said.
Sometimes the proposals needed some tweaking before the loans were approved.  

“Our earrings were originally lower priced than they should have been,” said Kennedy Peace, who along with Casey Barnes, crafted handmade earrings and lip gloss. The students raised the price for their jewelry since each pair took 45 minutes to make.  

Although students worked on making their products during a few class periods, the bulk of the labor was done on their own time. Each team of students spread the word about their products by creating posters or giving an advertisement on the school’s morning announcement program.  

“We found some stars,” Swanson said of the students’ advertising efforts.  

Students took advantage of the holiday shopping season as they sold their items to family members, neighbors and guests at school events like the winter concert at Penn Central. Some customers gave more than the purchase price.  

“Sometimes people would just throw money at us,” Ibrahim said.  

“Parents were definitely in a giving mood at the winter concert,” Loose agreed.  

All of the students were able to fully pay back their loans, with an average profit margin of 81 percent. Total combined expenses for the microloan projects came to $300, according to Loose.  

Although Barnes said that she is “kind of relieved” that the stress of balancing schoolwork and the microloan project is over, the students were enthusiastic about the results of their endeavor.  

Front Row: Kennedy Peace, Faith Altomare, Piper Zimmerman, Dylan Baker, Omar Ibrahim, Tara Petrosky Back Row: Selene Cullen, Casey Barnes, Paul Senoi, Max Haughin, Nathan Runk, Ryan Cuthbert, Mrs. Kristen Swanson

With the proceeds from her pretzel sales, Frederick is giving three microloans of $25 each to entrepreneurs in other countries through Kiva, an online lending platform. Frederick expressed appreciation for the personal nature of giving to help individuals rather than to a large organization.  

Elle Kerrigan, Sophia Handy and Sarina Lawless’ cake pop sales will help other girls their age receive an education through Girl Up. The green Pennridge Christmas ornaments made by Karlie Shagen and Katie Fischer will benefit children with cleft palates through Operation Smile. Three teams donated to Water.org, which provides water purifiers and builds wells in villages lacking clean water, according to Ibrahim.  

“Here in the U.S. it’s very uncommon to wake up and not have water to bathe in,” Peace said.  

Global issues are made more relevant to the students by the fact that Swanson herself contracted malaria many times while she lived in Africa, Loose said.  

“It brings it home to them that this is real,” Loose said. “This is someone who’s been there.”

Some of the packages that were sent to troops for the Soldier Comfort Kit program.

This year’s Soldier Comfort Kit Program was another success!  60 large packages were shipped for the holiday season to our troops serving overseas.

This marks the 8th year that First Savings Bank offices accepted items from customers as well as employees, from October thru November, and the response was terrific! 

In addition, special thanks to Pennridge North Student Council and teacher Aliese Davis for coordinating a school-wide drive for items to be included  in the Soldier Comfort Kits.

Thanks to everyone who helped to make this year another success and remembering our troops!

First Savings is also accepting the complete names and addresses of any soldiers who are serving our country overseas, to be included in the distribution. “Please help us in remembering those who are helping protecting us this holiday season! Let’s show them that we care!”

The Senior Fair and Forum will be held Thursday, October 6, at the Pennridge Senior Center, 146 East Main Street, Silverdale.  The free, public educational session will run from 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. and is geared for area residents approaching 55 years of age or older. Information will be available from more than 20 organizations that are scheduled to attend, all focusing on Senior Citizen issues, concerns and lifestyles.

 One of the highlights of this year’s event will be the recognition and honoring of Nancy Keenan, long-time civic activist and elder care advocate, who passed away in December 2010. Scheduled to attend the event are representatives of Congress, the State Senate, State Representatives, Pennsylvania’s Secretary of Aging, as well as Directors, Chairpersons and members of the Bucks County Area Agency on Aging and County Commissioners Office.

 “Mrs. Keenan’s true passion was for the elderly. She became a mostly self-taught authority on elderly law and healthcare following her 1987 completion of the Close Up Foundation’s “Area Agency on Aging Advisory Council Leadership Forum” in Washington, D.C., noted Dean Souder, Vice President, Trust Officer of First Savings.  “She served as chairperson of the Bucks County Area Agency on Aging Advisory Council and also the Southeast Regional Council of the Pennsylvania Council on Aging. She also wrote ‘The Prime Time’ column in an area newspaper, covering issues of importance to the elderly, including Medicare program changes, guardianships, and living wills. Most notably, Mrs. Keenan was a driving force behind the building of the new Pennridge Community Senior Center in Silverdale. In addition she was instrumental in organizing the Pennridge Senior Center Association, Inc. Her advocacy was recognized with many well-earned accolades and awards at the state, county and municipal levels.”

 “Another new addition to this year’s Sr. Fair will be our version of the ‘Antique Roadshow’ with an appraiser on hand,” said Souder. “If you are interested in having an item appraised, bring it to the Fair; we ask that only one item per person be appraised, due to the time restraints.”

 In addition to the exhibitors and guest speakers; prizes, give-aways and refreshments will be available.  Further information can be obtained by calling First Savings at 215-257-5035.

First Savings’ new Buckingham facility opened for business today!  The new location is located in Buckingham Township at 3969 Durham Road (intersection of Route 413 and Cold Spring Creamery Road) Doylestown Pa.

In addition to a full service bank branch with a walk-up ATM and drive thru lanes, the facility is also the new home to First Savings Trust Services Department.

The staff of the new branch, as well as Trust Department representatives, V.P. Philip Rush and Jeanne Mazurek, Administrative Assistant, is eager to serve you and invite you to stop by and see the new facility. 

A Grand Opening Celebration will take place on Friday, Sept. 9 and Sat., Sept. 10.  Saturday will feature fun for the whole family including a moon bounce, youth activities provided by the Central Bucks Family Y as well as Free Food.  In addition, representatives from “WordFM” will be on hand to meet and greet visitors.  There will also be free gifts and fantastic prizes as well as a fabulous new account incentive program for those opening a new First Savings Eagle Evergreen Checking account.

• Be a Spending Sleuth. Track every penny you spend for a month. Keep receipts and write everything down. This will be an eye-opening experience and will help you see where you can cut back.

• Count Your Money. Determine the total amount of money coming in. Include only your take home pay (your salary minus taxes and deductions). Your income may also include tips, child support, investment income, etc.

• Itemize, Categorize, Organize. Review the records and receipts you’ve been collecting over the last month. Categorize your spending using a budget sheet, budget sheet like the one offered by the American Bankers Association Education Foundation.

• He Shoots, He Scores. Set a realistic financial goal and develop your budget to achieve that goal. Subtract your monthly expenses from your monthly income. Find ways to cut spending and set limits on things like entertainment expenses.

• Save, Save, Save. Make one of your financial goals to save a certain dollar amount each month. Start an emergency fund if you don’t already have one. You never know when you may need it.

• Stick to it. Keep track of your spending every month. Update your budget as expenses or incomes change. Once you achieve your financial goal, set another.