Chester High School officials accepted nearly $25,000 from Verizon and the Williamson Free School of Mechanical Trades, a tuition-free post-secondary school in Media, received $40 million in donations from two area couples.

The $40 million from Henry M. and Lee Rowan and H. Fitzgerald and Marguerite Lenfest was the largest gift in Williamson's history, said John Schlesinger, vice president for institutional advancement.

Lenfest, founder of Lenfest Communications, made his fortune in cable television, according to Forbes magazine.

Rowan, founder of Inductotherm Corp., of Rancocas, N.J., amassed his wealth in the manfacture of induction systems for foundries, the school's Web site said. Rowan University is named for him.

Established in 1888, Williamson is a trade school that offers about 250 students a year a free post-secondary education in such fields as carpentry, masonry and turf management.

Chester High received $24,500 from Verizon for a Saturday literacy program for seniors entering the workforce or college, said Chester-Upland District Superintendent Gregory Thorton.

About 90 percent of this year's Chester High School senior class scored below reading proficiency on their PSSA tests last year, according to Thorton.

The Verizon grant will help purchase materials for the Saturday program, which is new to the district this year, Thorton said.

Of the 50 seniors invited to the six-week "bridge program," about 30 attend regularly, he said.

"This gives the kids one last blast of skill support before they head out in the world," Thorton said.

Attending the Chester High grant ceremony were state Education Secretary Gerald L. Zahorchak, students in the program, Verizon officials and legislators. *