MASCARO AWARDS $40,000 IN EDUCATIONAL GRANTS AND PRIZES

J.P. Mascaro & Sons awarded Pennsylvania schools approximately $40,000 worth of grants at their 10^th annual Respect Award Ceremony on June 17^th, 2016, held at Mascaro’s corporate headquarters in Audubon, PA.  Two hundred elementary school students, their families and teachers attended the celebratory dinner and ceremony honoring elementary students that took part in Mascaro’s annual poster contest.

“J.P. Mascaro & Sons is actively engaged in the educational community,” Director of Education and Community Relations, Lindsay Mascaro Ptaszenski said, “The Respect Program is just one of the many ways our company supports individual schools. This program is particularly rewarding because it is geared toward elementary school children and we feel there is no better time to teach the core value of respect than in the early years of development.”

The RESPECT Program was implemented based on the value of respect that was prioritized by company founders, J.P. Mascaro, Sr. and Ida E. Mascaro.   The program involves a school assembly organized by Mascaro employees and their elephant mascot, Dumpo.  It emphasizes the value of respecting yourself, others and the environment.   It is offered at no cost to elementary students throughout eastern Pennsylvania, including Berks, Bucks, Carbon, Chester, Delaware and Montgomery counties. 

Any student who attended an assembly is eligible to enter the poster contest.  Children reveal the message they received during the presentation through their artistry.  Over 300 posters were received from students who took part in the program. 

“We are able to see how the RESPECT program impacted students by their various drawings. Their posters display how they understood the concept of respect.  Each year this contest shows us how greatly our program leave an impression on them.  It is rewarding for both us and the students.” Mascaro Ptaszenski explained.

“I have a plain of grass and an elephant mascot in my poster,” Gabriel Marder, a third-grader at Penn Wynne Elementary School in Lower Merion who was a grand-prize winner, explained his entry, “Then I have three signs with slogans.  One says ‘you will get a good effect if you use your best respect’.”

24 students from grades second through fifth in the southeastern PA elementary schools took home over $6000.00 worth of awards.  Grand-prize winners received a lap-top computer; second-place winners received a family membership to the Philadelphia Zoo; third-place winners received family memberships to the Franklin Institute; and honorable mention winners received a $100 Barnes and Noble gift card.  An additional 8 students were awarded as “Respect” winners, each taking home an art kit and a $25.00 Barnes and Noble gift card. 

“Over the past ten years the program has gone from reaching 10,000 students per year to 50,000 students per year and has grown to include the Respect Program Education Grant and Star Student Acknowledgments,” said Katie Mascaro Rudinski, Mascaro’s Educational Coordinator.

Mascaro distributed grants to the top 25 schools who displayed a commitment to spreading the word of respect in their schools.  “We strongly support educational institutions in their commitment to instilling respect in their programs.  One school explained how they will use our donation to build an outdoor garden to teach their students both respect for the environment, as well as respect for their bodies,” Mascaro Rudinski explained.

Fifth grade teacher Mary Mooney, from Holy Cross Regional Catholic School in Collegeville, said her school’s Respect proposal included a variety of books that would teach respect.  “It will benefit 240 students in four grades.  The children will be reading novels and doing projects about respect issues.” Mooney said.

Additionally, Star Student awards were created to honor students who stand out in their communities and schools.  They are nominated by their teachers and school staff and each received a kindle with a case, $50.00 Amazon gift card and a $250.00 donation in their name to the charity of their choice. 

J.P. Mascaro & Sons is committed to supporting the community and strives to encourage a universal dedication to bettering themselves and the environment.   They are immensely proud of this year’s entrants and winners.  For more information on J.P. Mascaro & Sons visit www.jpmascaro.com. 

All winners are listed below.

Grade 3 - 2nd

Lucy Wanaselja

Penn Wynne Elementary

Grade 4  - Honorable Mention