Art Glatfelter Jr.’s contributions to York County education remembered [York Daily Record, Pa.]
By Angie Mason, York Daily Record, Pa. | |
McClatchy-Tribune Information Services |
Traces of
There's hardly a charitable institution in
"There were few things he cared more about than education," said
"He was always thinking about how to give people from every background the best start in life," Wolf said.
Glatfelter, the founder of
"I want to make sure middle school students -- we called them junior high back then -- are able to connect with the community," Van Newkirk recalled Glatfelter saying.
County superintendents were interested but didn't think they could do it, he said, but the
Glatfelter -- who didn't finish high school, but was later awarded a diploma by Van Newkirk for his community work, according to newspaper archives -- provided a great deal of funding for the program, including additional teachers needed, Van Newkirk said.
"The relationships that were built with the mentors were exactly what
Glatfelter liked to visit the Project Connections program and see how kids were doing, Van Newkirk said. He'd take classes to the family's farm for lunch and a chance to learn about horseback riding.
Van Newkirk would let Glatfelter know about special occasions in the school district, and Glatfelter always showed up.
"His support wasn't just writing a check and walking away," he said.
Wolf said the Project Connections idea was a nontraditional one. Some were skeptical of it at first, but eventually realized it was a good thing.
"It was just innovative. Most times these things worked, sometimes they didn't," he said. "He went into it with spirit of let's do something to make the world a better place."
Project Connections changed over time and eventually connected with Penn State York, according to newspaper archives. In 1997, Glatfelter pledged a
Glatfelter visited there, had students visit his business and took kids to his farm in the summer, Simpson said.
"He thought it was very important that young kids begin to do positive things with their lives," he said.
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Traces of Art Glatfelter remain in his hometown, Loganville [York Daily Record, Pa.]
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