“Scholarships are the most important thing. Students need the chance to find their way, just like I did.” – Barb (Bull) Jara ’73
Barbara (Bull) Jara ’73 and Bob Jara ’70 first met while working together at the Horn & Hardart Restaurant in Lansdowne, where she was a cashier and he was a cook. Barb had just graduated from Prendie, and Bob was beginning his senior year at Saint Francis College. As they built their life together—Barb in nuclear medicine and Bob in banking, later welcoming a son—their dedication to Bonner & Prendie remained constant.
Five Decades of Giving Back
In the early days of her career, Barb regularly returned to Prendie career days, eager to share her passion for science, medicine, and patient care with students. “When I spoke with students, I wanted them to appreciate the science, the patient contact, and the opportunities education can open.”
In 2004, she was recruited to help with Bonner Friar Fest, and by 2007 she was serving on the Bonner Board. Together, she and Bob worked closely with school leadership and the development team during some of B&P’s most challenging times, when closure was a looming threat. “There was always a need to help the school,” Barb recalls. “But as the years passed, we began to truly appreciate the level of education that B&P provides—and recognized the importance of supporting it.”
While Barb and Bob support many B&P initiatives through time, talent, and treasure, student scholarships remain at the heart of their giving, ensuring that future generations have the same opportunities they once received. “It’s a direct and meaningful way to make a difference for students and families,” explains Barb.
That focus eventually led them to one of the simplest and most effective ways to give: Pennsylvania’s Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) program.
New Opportunities Through EITC
For the past three years, Bob has been a member of the B&P Board and has chaired the EITC Committee, helping other families and alumni learn how easy it is to use the program.
Pennsylvania’s Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) program allows individuals and businesses to redirect a portion of their state taxes to Bonner & Prendie, where the money is used directly for student scholarships. You can contact the Advancement Office at 610-259-6012 for information on how to participate in the program. “It’s a very easy process,” Barb explains. “It’s a win-win.”
B&P’s Timeless Impact
Now retired, Barb and Bob remain deeply proud of B&P’s growth. Barb believes the school prepares students not only academically, but also socially, ethically, and spiritually.
“I still feel today that B&P provides students with not only academics, but also socialization, responsibility, faith, and good judgment,” she says. “They help you challenge yourself—and they prepare you for the future. To give back is an important aspect of the Bonner Prendie vision..”
Barb remembers her own turning point at Prendie, when an English teacher, Mary Coyle, encouraged her to pursue her strengths and interests in the sciences. That advice, paired with excellent science instruction, set her on a career she loved.
Invitation to the Next Generation
Looking to the future, Barb and Bob hope the next generation of alumni will move into philanthropic leadership roles and join them in supporting B&P students.
“We need younger—seasoned individuals in their careers—to step up,” Barb urges. “The school is strong, the mission is vital, and the students deserve our support.”
Through their time, service, and philanthropy, Barb and Bob Jara are doing their part to ensure the next generation of Bonner & Prendie students have every opportunity to thrive—academically, socially, and spiritually.
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Learn more about the EITC program or make an outright donation to support B&P student scholarships today!