Original Article

Erie Insurance (ERIE) continues to invest in education and today announced grants to nonprofits totaling $900,000 to help provide and expand educational programs to pre-kindergarten through 12th grade students, as part of Pennsylvania’s Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) program. This year, the 22 ERIE EITC recipients will provide school-readiness and after-school programs, enhance reading and math literacy, and educate youth of all ages in STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics), finance, business, history and the environment. The EITC program is a business tax credit program offered by the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) that encourages Pennsylvania businesses to support eligible nonprofit organizations. “Erie Insurance is proud to partner with non-profit organizations who are committed to student success,” said Jenny Geertson, ERIE’s community outreach director. “Unique educational opportunities open possibilities for children and starts them on a path toward a bright future. We are grateful to Governor Shapiro and the DCED for programs like EITC that promote public-private partnerships and are thrilled with the outcomes we see year after year.” The expERIEnce Children’s Museum is one of the EITC recipients this year. “At the expERIEnce Children’s Museum, we believe in sparking creativity, curiosity and confidence in every child who walks through our doors,” said Ainslie Brosig, executive director of expERIEnce Children’s Museum. “Thanks to EITC funding and our continued partnership with Erie Insurance, we’re able to grow that spark—this time, by expanding opportunities for upper elementary students across the region. ERIE has donated more than $12 million through the EITC program since it began in 2001 and has been a top investor in education in the city of Erie and northwest Pennsylvania for decades. Organizations receiving EITC grants from ERIE in 2025 include: Americans for the Competitive Enterprise System Inc. of Western Pennsylvania, Asbury Woods Partnership, Community Country Day School, Dafmark Dance Theater, Early Connections, Edinboro University Foundation, Erie Arts and Culture, Erie City Mission, Erie Day School, Erie Philharmonic, expERIEnce Children’s Museum, Foundation for Free Enterprise Education, Gannon University, Girl Scouts Western Pennsylvania, Junior Achievement of Western Pennsylvania, Lake Erie Arboretum at Frontier Park, National Liberty Museum, Inner-City Neighborhood Art House, Young Artist Debut Orchestra, Pennsylvania State University, Sarah A. Reed Home and WQLN Public Broadcasting of Northwest Pennsylvania.