A Message to Contributors

The Vista School enrolls students diagnosed with an Autism Spectrum Disorder and whose symptoms require the intensive intervention provided by our program.  During the 2006-07 school year, The Vista School’s old facility was stretched to the limit, and our ability to grow to meet the demands of the public school and parent communities was effectively curtailed by the lack of additional classroom space.  Given the fragile nature of the children in need of our services and the critical need for children with autism to receive services without delay, Vista secured a lease for its new facility located in Hershey, PA which would meet its expansion needs for the next five years. 

Ways to Give

Unrestricted and Designated Gifts

The Vista School® welcomes both unrestricted and designated gifts.  Vista strives to be a good steward of its funding and use every possible dollar toward improving the educational experiences of its students.  During the 2007-08 school year, Vista's budgeted administrative expenses, including administrative office space, represent well less than 10% of our total operating budget.  To make a contribution that will meaningfully impact the lives of our students, please make contributions payable to The Vista School® and mail to:

The Vista School®

Attn: Jim Bouder, COO

1249 Cocoa Avenue

Hershey, PA 17033

Alternatively, you may complete and mail a Contribution Form (PDF).

Corporate Giving

We are fortunate to have many charitably-minded businesses in Central Pennsylvania that give either through the United Way or by sponsoring fundraising events to benefit local charities.  United Way contributions can be designated to The Vista School®.  Also, several local businesses have successfully sponsored, planned, and executed fundraising events and designated all or a portion of the proceeds to The Vista School®.  If you are interested in planning a fundraising event to benefit the students of The Vista School®, contact Jim Bouder at (717) 835-0310 ext. 109 or via email at jbouder@thevistaschool.org.

Capital Campaign

While the majority of The Vista School’s operational costs are adequately met through government reimbursement, such funding cannot be used for capital improvements.  The children served by our programs require a high staff-to-student ratio in order for their needs to be met, which in turn requires that school facilities be designed to accommodate a large number of employees.  As mentioned above, Vista’s ability to expand the number of children served by its innovative programs is only limited by the capacity of its school facility.  Vista relies on the generosity of contributors and charitable organizations to ensure that it has sufficient space in which to serve its students.

During the 2007-08 school year, The Vista School® launched a five year campaign to raise $500,000 for construction costs involved in designing our new facility with the special needs of our students in mind.  Capital campaign gifts can me made as one-time contributions or can be paid over time as pledges.

To make a Capital Campaign gift, please send your contribution payable to The Vista School® to:

The Vista School® Capital Campaign

Attn: Jim Bouder, COO

1249 Cocoa Avenue

Hershey, PA 17033

To make a pledge, either download and complete the pledge form here or contact Jim Bouder at (717) 835-0310 ext. 109 or via email at jbouder@thevistaschool.org to have a pledge form mailed to you.

Endowment Giving

If you are considering a planned gift, such as a bequest, a charitable trust, a gift of life insurance, or a gift of appreciated stock or property, and wish to discuss the matter in greater detail, contact Jim Bouder at (717) 835-0310 ext. 109 or via email at jbouder@thevistaschool.org.

Education Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) Scholarship Program

The Vista School Board also operates The Vista School Scholarship Organization and The Vista School Pre-Kindergarten Scholarship Organization, as part of Pennsylvania's Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) program.  Qualified participants in the EITC program can obtain tax credits against certain Pennsylvania corporate taxes, including Corporate Net Income Tax, Capital Stock & Franchise Tax, Bank and Trust Company Shares Tax, Title Insurance Company Shares Tax, Insurance Premiums Tax, and Mutual Thrift Institutions Tax, for contributions made to approved scholarship organizations.

Contributions to The Vista School Scholarship Organization can be sent to:

The Vista School SO

1249 Cocoa Avenue

Hershey, PA 17033

Contributions to The Vista School Pre-Kindergarten Scholarship Organization can be sent to:

The Vista School PKSO

1249 Cocoa Avenue

Hershey, PA 17033