On November 8, 2013 the Internal Revenue Service notified St. Mary’s County Business, Education and Community Alliance, Inc. (BECA) that the non-profit organization is exempt from Federal income tax under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Furthermore, BECA is considered a public charity under section 509(a)(2). The effective date of the exemption is retroactive to January 22, 2013 so all contributions made to BECA at the March 15, 2013 Annual Scholarship Benefit at Bowles Farms are tax-deductible.

Earlier this year BECA awarded 35 scholarships worth $40,000 to 2013 high school graduates from St. Mary’s County. BECA began awarding scholarships in 1995 when four $500 awards were made to one student from each St. Mary’s County high school. This practice continued for the first few years and over time more contributions from the community enabled BECA to significantly expand scholarship awards. Since 1995 BECA has awarded more than 200 scholarships worth almost $200,000. Additionally, in 2007 BECA developed and has coordinated the St. Mary’s County Common Scholarship Application process each year since. This year’s participation in the Common Application was the largest ever when more than 40 participating individuals and organizations awarded in excess of 140 scholarships valued at over $312,000.

BECA is seeking additional local scholarship participants for the 2014 Common Scholarship Application. Scholarship participants will be accepted until mid-December 2013. If interested in participating please contact Mark Smith at mgsmith@smcps.org.

On January 1, 2014 BECA will post the 2014 St. Mary’s County Common Scholarship Application at www.smcbeca.org. BECA will host the 2014 St. Mary’s County Scholarship Fair at the James A. Forrest Center on Wednesday, January 22, 2014. The BECA Annual Benefit is scheduled for Friday, March 14, 2014 at Bowles Farms, celebrating BECA’s 25th Anniversary. The 2014 Scholarship deadline is Monday, March 17, 2014. BECA will host the 2014 Scholarship Awards Ceremony at the Forrest Center on Thursday, May 22, 2014.

For more information about BECA please contact smcbeca@gmail.com or 240-257-2322 or P.O. Box 153, Leonardtown, MD 20650.

Comments are closed, but trackbacks and pingbacks are open.