For Beth Ziegler, involvement in the Mars Planet Foundation began the way it does for many working parents — with a desire to give back and limited time to do so.
A practicing attorney and mother of two Mars Area School District students, Ziegler was searching for a meaningful volunteer opportunity five years ago when she saw a Facebook post seeking board members for the foundation. Traditional PTO involvement wasn’t feasible due to daytime meetings, but the Planet Foundation offered a way to contribute her skills while supporting the district her children attend.
“I attended my first meeting, was elected to the board, and after serving in another role for a year, eventually became president,” explained Ziegler.
Funding Innovation Beyond the Classroom
The Mars Planet Foundation exists to fill gaps that traditional school funding cannot. Its mission centers on two primary goals: awarding innovative teacher grants for projects outside the standard curriculum and providing scholarships to graduating seniors.
“These are opportunities that enhance learning,” noted Ziegler. “Without a foundation, they typically wouldn’t happen unless taxes were raised.”
Since the start of the current fiscal year, the foundation has already approved approximately $25,000 in teacher grants, supporting projects across grade levels and disciplines. Recent initiatives include an environmental science recycling field trip, a sixth-grade Battle of the Books competition, a roller-coaster physics project, journalism field trips, and expanded positive behavior programs throughout the district.
“Whatever our teachers can dream up — if it’s innovative and we have the funds — it usually gets approved,” Ziegler said.
Teaching Entrepreneurship — and Giving Back
At this week’s meeting, the foundation approved another creative grant that blends real-world learning with community service.
Mars Area Middle School Business & Computer Technology teacher Laurie Carey presented a proposal to teach an entrepreneurship unit to approximately 300 eighth-grade students, giving them hands-on experience starting a business, producing a product, and selling it. Students would each be assigned a specific role — such as accounting, creativity, production, sales, or leadership — within their group.
The initial request exceeded $5,000 — a cost not included in the district’s budget. During discussion, Assistant Superintendent Dr. Elizabeth McMahon and Dr. Travis Mineard, Director of Special Education and the superintendent’s designee to the foundation, identified ways the district could help reduce costs by providing access to its color copier and binding equipment.
The Mars Planet Foundation ultimately approved funding to cover printing costs for a student-produced recipe book, which will be sold to parents. Proceeds from the cookbook will be split, with a portion benefiting the Mars Community Food Bank and a portion used to help fund the project in future years — allowing students to experience entrepreneurship while directly supporting families in need. “This is exactly why the foundation exists — to fund innovation in teaching,” Ziegler said.
A New Fund to Help Children in Crisis
Perhaps the most powerful moment of the meeting came during a discussion about student needs that fall outside the scope of traditional assistance programs.
Dr. McMahon explained that while the Free & Reduced Lunch Program helps many families, it does not cover other essential needs — such as extra cafeteria costs, required vocational kits, basic clothing, or even shoes. She shared that some high school students avoid applying for assistance altogether due to stigma.
McMahon noted that while Mars is often seen as a well-resourced district, that picture doesn’t reflect every family’s reality, pointing out that some students face unmet basic needs and quiet financial struggles at home.
Following the discussion, with the support of a $15,000 donation, the board unanimously approved the creation of the LaVerne C. Frick Achieve Fund, designed to help children facing financial hardship with needs not covered elsewhere.
The fund is tied directly to student participation in school-related educational, enrichment, extracurricular, and career-development activities. It does not provide cash, replace district responsibilities, or cover costs already funded through EITC programs or district waivers. EITC refers to Pennsylvania’s Educational Improvement Tax Credit program.
According to the foundation’s proposal, the fund is expected to assist approximately 60–90 students annually. Students are identified and supported confidentially by school professionals, with all requests reviewed without any student names or identifying information ever being shared with the foundation at any point.
The fund will provide discreet assistance to students who need essentials — ensuring no child is left behind because of circumstances beyond their control.
Independent — by Design and by Challenge
The Mars Planet Foundation operates independently from the school district, a structure that provides flexibility but also places responsibility squarely on volunteers. Its board includes nine community members, two voting school board members, and a non-voting superintendent designee.
“Our biggest challenge is volunteers,” Ziegler said. “We’ve struggled to maintain a full board, and that’s become critical.”
Because of limited manpower, the foundation has been unable to host a large community fundraiser for the past two years — events that could significantly raise awareness and support.
(The foundation currently has an open board seat.)
Why the Foundation Matters More Than Many Realize
As a state-certified Educational Improvement Organization, the Mars Planet Foundation can receive business donations tied to tax credits — funds the school district itself cannot legally accept. Local businesses including NexTier Bank and The Nutrition Group have participated in the program, providing a funding source that directly supports students. “If the foundation ceases to exist, there is no entity that can receive those funds,” Ziegler said. “That’s something our students would simply miss out on.”
She pointed to neighboring Pine-Richland, whose foundation dissolved under similar pressures, as a cautionary example.
Looking Ahead: Volunteers, Visibility, and Sustainability
Despite the challenges, Ziegler remains optimistic.
“We do okay fundraising-wise thanks to generous donors and programs like scoreboard advertising and tax-credit donations,” she said. “But we could be so much more.”
The Mars Planet Foundation can accept donations from individuals or businesses interested in supporting the Achieve Fund or other initiatives, including teacher grants.
Among the foundation’s priorities are recruiting new volunteers, improving communication with parents and residents, and exploring long-term sustainability options — including the possibility of a part-time executive director focused on fundraising.
“Our volunteers work incredibly hard,” Ziegler said. “We want this to continue — and we’d love for the community to join us.”
Residents or businesses interested in supporting the Mars Planet Foundation or learning more about its programs can visit www.marsplanetfoundation.org
