— The American Readers Theatre at Delaware Valley Central School recently received a $10,000 donation from Wayne Bank.

through the Educational Improvement Organization Program.

Lewis J. Critelli, President and Chief Executive Officer of Wayne Bank, said the gift was made possible by the Educational Improvement Tax Credit Program offered by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, acting through the Department of Community and Economic Development. He presented the check to the director, Jeffrey Stocker.

In 2008, DV and the American Readers Theatre embarked on a collaboration to develop student literacy — including reading, writing, speaking, and listening — through the arts. The result was The Writer’s Project, an educational program designed to nurture students' interest in classic literature by exploring the historical and cultural contexts of great books and writers, including John Steinbeck, William Shakespeare, E.B. White, Ray Bradbury, Maya Angelou, and George M. Cohan.

The $10K donation will enable students to discover a lesser-known author, Matthew “Mattie” Stepanek, an award winning poet, peace activist, and lyricist. As with all Writer’s Projects, students will learn about the life and times of the author and integrate art, technology, and even science into their curriculum to understand the author's writings and struggles.

“Wayne Bank is proud to be able to support the wonderful work of the American Readers Theatre and their partnership with the Delaware Valley School District, known as the Writer’s Project,” said Critelli. “We have supported this project for years and are so pleased that this contribution will aid in the continuation of this valuable art educational program.”