CRODA FOUNDATION INVESTS $100,000 TO EXPAND KEYSTONE SCHOLARS PROGRAM: PATHWAYS TO PROSPERITY

MILL HALL- Croda, with operations in Mill Hall and Lamar, is proud to announce that Croda Foundation has invested $100,000 to expand the Keystone Central Foundation’s (KCF’s) Keystone Scholars Program: Pathways to Prosperity. The initiative provides mentoring, academic support, and career readiness opportunities for students in the Keystone Central School District who may face barriers for post-secondary education or career entry.

Supporting Pathways to Prosperity reflects Croda Foundation’s mission to improve lives and support the communities in and around where the business operates.” said Rommel Moseley, Executive Director of Croda Foundation. “This program gives students the mentorship, confidence, and skills they need to succeed, and we are proud to help expand this important initiative.”

The Pathways to Prosperity Program identifies students beginning in 10th grade who face barriers in their education but want to build a bright future. Many of these students are likely to be first-generation college students with limited family support. Through the program, they explore their strengths, identify career interests, and receive the guidance needed to succeed after graduation.

A key milestone in the program is when students participate in early college courses through area universities or gain hands-on experience through internships and job shadowing. In this vein, eight Croda employees will be mentoring students through the Croda 1% Club. The 1% Club is a companywide commitment to building relationships in the communities where Croda operates. This program allows for employees to apply for 1% of annual working time as paid leave provided they are volunteering with an approved community program, like the Keystone Scholars Program. 

With the Croda Foundation’s funding, the Keystone Central Foundation will be able to expand the program to reach both Central Mountain High School and Bucktail High School. Over the next 36 months, the investment will allow one full cohort of students to receive mentoring through grades 10, 11, and 12.

“This investment from Croda Foundation allows us to reach more students than ever before,” said Melissa Bottorf, Executive Director of the Keystone Central Foundation. “Our Scholars gain not only academic support but also the confidence to see new possibilities for themselves. The impact extends beyond the student to their families and ultimately strengthens our entire community.”

Research shows that mentoring and strong school connections dramatically improve student outcomes. The Keystone Scholars Program has already shown success in helping students take ownership of their futures and pursue college, trade school, or meaningful careers.

 

About Croda – www.croda.com

Established in 1925, Croda is the name behind sustainable, high-performance ingredients and technologies in some of the world’s most successful brands: creating, making and selling specialty chemicals that are relied on by industries and consumers everywhere.

Croda is a FTSE 100 company with over 5,825 passionate and innovative employees, working across manufacturing sites and offices around the world with a shared Purpose to use Smart science to improve lives™. As part of this Purpose, and with around two thirds of its organic raw materials already from bio-based sources, Croda has committed to being the most sustainable supplier of innovative ingredients, becoming Climate, Land, People, and Nature Positive by 2030.

More information about Croda Foundation can be found at www.crodafoundation.com. 

About the Keystone Central Foundation – www.kcfoundation.com  

Founded in the 1980s, the Keystone Central Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting the students of the Keystone Central School District. With a mission to promote education, extracurricular activities, and opportunities that enhance student growth and success, the Foundation works to fill unmet needs through fundraising, community partnerships, and donor support. Though small in size, the Foundation’s impact reaches every student in the district, ensuring brighter futures and stronger communities.