Foundation receives $60,000
SAXONBURG — Brayman Construction of Saxonburg has donated $60,000 to the Knoch Knights Legacies Foundation to improve education in the South Butler School District.
The donation, the largest the foundation has received through the state’s Educational Improvement Tax Credit Program, was presented by Steve Muck, board chairman and CEO of Brayman, and foundation president.
He said the foundation plans to use the money to improve academic programs and projects.
“The foundation was created to augment local tax funding to support the expansion of the education program,” said Muck, who presented the check in August. “Oftentimes, the district is unable to fund various programs so the foundation was created to support academics, STEM and arts. As an employer, I’m passionate about improving the educational environment in the South Butler school system. I’m convinced that tax revenue alone will not create a world-class school system and the business community needs to be involved.”
Some of the money could be used to convert the Knoch Senior High School library into a learning center, he said.
The district has allocated $20,000 for the project and the foundation hopes to raise at least $40,000 in its annual matching fund drive, which begins in November, Muck said.
“The days of checking out books has pretty much come to an end,” Muck said.
The learning center would have small rooms for studying, a meeting area, electronic charging stations, easy-to-move furniture, a coffee shop and other space for students to work, he said.
Brayman, which has more than 700 employees ranging from engineers to carpenters and welders, and the Muck Family Foundation have made annual donations to the foundation, which was created about five years ago, Muck said.
“We’re definitely interested in developing the future work force in South Butler County. We want to create opportunities to keep our young people in the community in which they grew up if that’s what they wish to do,” Muck said.
