The Keystone Scholars Program: Investing in Our Children’s Future 

By Michael Tukeva, President/CEO of Pocono Mountains United Way 

Imagine a world where every child has the chance to pursue their dreams through education. The Keystone Scholars program is making this vision a reality for families across Pennsylvania. By providing a $100 PA 529 account to every baby born in the state, Keystone Scholars helps parents start saving for their child’s education from day one.  

Since January 1, 2019, every baby born in Pennsylvania has received this $100 boost. That’s an incredible 672,676 accounts so far! Nearly 77,000 of these accounts have been registered by parents, and 25% are linked to PA 529 plans. Together, families have saved over $100 million, with $48 million saved just in the past year alone. 

Now that the 2024-2025 school year is underway, many of the children from the first year of the program have started kindergarten. To help these families, Keystone Scholars has created a Keystone Scholars Claim Form. This form explains the program and guides parents on how to claim their child’s account. 

At Pocono Mountains United Way, we understand the incredible power of community and collaboration. The Keystone Scholars program is a shining example of what we can achieve when we come together to support our children’s futures. But for this program to reach its full potential, everyone needs to know about it and use it. That’s where you come in. We need teachers, school staff, and community leaders to spread the word.  

By working together to spread the word, we can ensure every family takes advantage of this fantastic opportunity. Keystone Scholars is about more than just saving money; it’s about opening doors to a brighter future for our children. Let’s rally together to support this program and help all our children succeed. 

Remember, when we invest in our children’s education, we invest in a brighter, more promising future for everyone. Let’s make a difference, one child at a time, with Keystone Scholars.