A few lucky students at Cardinal Wright Regional School will receive $2,500 in scholarships from the Bridge Educational Foundation Tuesday, May 11.

Through the Pennsylvania Educational Improvement Tax Credit Program, CSX Transportation, AmeriChoice/Unison Health Plans and RBC Capital Markets donated a total of $67,500 to Bridge for PreK and K-12 scholarships at local non-public schools, including Cardinal Wright in Allegheny Center.  The remaining $65,000 was split between 12 other private schools in Allegheny County.

Bridge does not release names of scholarship recipients.

Representatives from the three companies as well as Sens. Wayne Fontana, D-42; Jay Costa, D-43; Sean Logan, D-45; and Reps. Marc Gergely, D-35; Chelsea Wagner, D-22; and Paul Costa, D-34, announced the awards at the check-giving ceremony at Assumption BVM School in Bellevue.

Bridge spokesperson Natalie Nutt said in an e-mail, “We feel it is important to include [lawmakers] so that they can see first hand the positive impact the EITC Program is having on families in their districts.”

According to a press release, Bridge has provided 5,300 scholarships to Pennsylvania families in 48 counties through the EITC program.

EITC allows companies to donate money for scholarships to nonprofits like Bridge and receive tax credits in return. Families who meet income requirements can then apply for a scholarship on Bridge’s website, www.bridgeedu.org.

For a family with one child, household income must be under $60,000. For two children, it has to be under $70,000 and for three children, under $80,000.

Fontana said, according to the press release, “The EITC Program is a wonderful tool for both companies … and the schools that benefit from their generosity.

“Through their donations, parents are able to have some flexibility in giving their children an education that they may not otherwise be able to afford. I am proud to be a supporter of the program and an advocate for those opportunities.”