Through the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development’s Neighborhood Assistance Program (NAP), PHEF applied for and was granted the ability to provide state tax credits, on a limited basis, to donors who made contributions prior to June 30, 2005. The Program utilized those contributions to provide scholarships to nursing students whose family income did not exceed 150% of the current year’s Poverty Level as published in the Federal Register.

Fifty scholarships were granted for the 2005 spring semester and approximately 150 scholarships were granted for the 2005 fall semester. Donors have taken advantage of this program and through their gifts, PHEF has made a significant impact on nursing student enrollments in the Donors’ respective regions. PHEF has applied and received approval to issue tax credits through NAP for the 2006 calendar year.

The overall objective of NAP is to help improve the lives of low-income individuals in distressed neighborhoods and communities through the creation of an effective partnership between community-based organizations and the business and corporate community.