December 8, 1999; Hampton, NH: The Unitil Charitable Foundation reports that the Peter J. Stulgis Memorial Fund has committed over $62,000 to a total of 14 innovative electronic and computer technology projects in local high schools, according to its recently issued 1999 Financial and Grant Status Report.

"The necessity of accelerating and expanding technology education and innovation in schools is now universally recognized," said George R. Gantz, President, Unitil Charitable Foundation. "The Peter J. Stulgis Memorial Fund is playing a small, but significant, role in this innovation in our local secondary schools. Many students are now seeing the direct benefits in the classroom from projects funded by the grants."

Schools which have benefitted from the Fund since its founding include Concord High School (Concord, NH) for the purchase of a camera system to produce a television show on how children learn to read; Fitchburg Public High School (Fitchburg, MA) for the establishment of a series of microcomputer based telecommunication science units; Austin Preparatory School (Reading, MA) for the purchase of a computer to explore via the Internet the students’ understanding of prejudice; and Sanborn Regional High School (Kingston, NH) for two school-wide computer and internet based projects: one to create a history of Sanborn, and the other to protect and adapt the wetland area behind the school.

The Peter J. Stulgis Memorial Fund was established in 1997 to provide charitable grants and awards promoting the development and implementation of advanced electronic and computer technology applications for educational purposes in secondary schools. The Fund honors the late Peter J. Stulgis, who was the Chairman and CEO of Unitil Corporation until his death in May 1997. Schools interested in applying for a year 2000 grant can request guidelines and an application from Sandy Whitney at the Unitil Charitable Foundation, 6 Liberty Lane West, Hampton, NH 03842, or email whitney@unitil.com.

The Unitil Charitable Foundation is an independent private foundation created to facilitate tax deductible contributions to the Peter J. Stulgis Memorial Fund, to administer the Fund and to conduct other charitable activities. Anyone interested in donating to the Fund can send a check, payable to Peter J. Stulgis Memorial Fund, to Unitil Charitable Foundation, 6 Liberty Lane West, Hampton, NH 03842.

Contact
George Gantz
gantz@unitil.com