Daniel Munley, Leading Plaintiff Consumer Lawyer Munley Law is pleased to announce that Partner Daniel Munley was named a 2022 Lawdragon 500 Leading Plaintiff Consumer Lawyer. The Lawdragon 500 Leading Plaintiff Consumer Lawyers list is an elite group of plaintiffs’ attorneys from all over the United States. Daniel Munley, along with Munley Law Partner Marion Munley, were the only two attorneys in Northeastern Pennsylvania to be named tothis year’s list. Dan was also named a Lawdragon 500 Leading Plaintiff Consumer Lawyer in 2021 and 2020. A champion of plaintiffs’ rights, Dan has won many multimillion-dollar settlements and verdicts for injury clients throughout the United States, including one of the largest truck accident settlements in history. A seasoned truck accident lawyer, Dan is triple board certified by the National Board of Trial Advocacy in Truck Accident Law, Civil Trial Law, and Civil Practice Advocacy. He has also been certified by the Association of Interstate Trucking Lawyers of America. He had served as Chairperson of the American Association for Justice’s Trucking Litigation Group and received the Robert W. Munley Champion of Justice Award in 2020. Dan regularly presents cutting-edge truck accident trial techniques at legal conferences throughout the country. He has been listed in Best Lawyers in America since 2013 and has been named one of the Top 100 Trial Lawyers in Pennsylvania by the National Trial Lawyers Association.
NeighborWorks NEPA Accepts Contribution NeighborWorks Northeastern Pennsylvania (NeighborWorks) recently accepted a contribution from FNCB Bank, in the amount of $10,000 through the Pennsylvania Department of Community & Economic Development’s Neighborhood Assistance Program (NAP). The contribution will support the Scranton Beautiful Blocks Program for 2022. Beautiful Blocks, which is jointly sponsored by NeighborWorks and the City of Scranton, provides matching grants of up to $1,000 to each member of a group of at least five Scranton residents to help them make exterior improvements to their homes. Grants are awarded annually through a competitive application process. “NeighborWorks is a driving force in many neighborhood revitalization projects in our community and FNCB is proud to support their efforts,” said Jerry Champi, FNCB Bank President & CEO.“We are grateful to our good friends at FNCB Bank for this very generous contribution through the Neighborhood Assistance Program,” said Jesse Ergott, NeighborWorks Northeastern Pennsylvania President & CEO. ““They have been an amazing partner for many years and we are excited to put their investment to good use this year in our Beautiful Blocks Program.”
Swift Kennedy Hires Employee Benefits Advisor Chris Kelly has been hired as an employee benefits advisor at the Scranton branch of Swift Kennedy & Associates, an insurance brokerage firm specializing in group employee benefits and senior insurance plans. In this position, he will provide clients with benefit plans that are tailored to fit their needs and solutions to complex insurance issues. Before joining Swift Kennedy, Kelly was a financial professional at 1847Financial and a benefits specialist at American Income Life, where he provided clients in northeastern Pennsylvania with life, accident, and disability coverage. He has also worked as an ISA Certified Arborist in the tree and plant care field. In addition, he has served as a youth pastor at his local church and as a trustee of a non-profit organization that helps inner-city teenagers. Kelly graduated from Clarks Summit University in 2002 and has been a resident of northeastern Pennsylvania for over 20 years.
SWB RailRiders Updates 2022 Promotions The Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders are thrilled to announce the addition of an Aaron Judge Emojihead and a Nestor Cortes bobblehead/ bobbleleg to their 2022 promotional schedule. In addition, the club has added details on Nurse Appreciation Night, a new WWE theme night, an additional fireworks show and has rescheduled two giveaway items on the upcoming slate. Presented by Geisinger, the RailRiders will give away an Aaron Judge Emojihead to the first 2,500 fans on Saturday, July 18, at PNC Field. Gates open at 5 P.M. with a first pitch scheduled for 6:05 against the Rochester Red Wings. It is also Youth Baseball & Softball Night, adding to a fun evening for all. On Saturday, September 3, Nestor Cortes will be honored with a giveaway. This soon-to-be collector’s item is both a bobblehead AND bobbleleg to best pay tribute to his wide array of motions on the mound. Don’t let your timing get thrown off and make sure you are one of the first 2,500 fans at PNC Field with gates open at 5 P.M. The Cortes bobble is presented by FOX 56. During the upcoming homestand, the RailRiders are offering a Nurse Appreciation Night ticket discount for the May 12 game. Local nurses can save 25% by using the promo code NURSE when purchasing Field Reserved tickets for our next Thirsty Thursday game against the Syracuse Mets as a gesture of gratitude for all that they do. May 12 is also WWE Night with a chance to win FREE tickets to SMACKDOWN on May 13 at Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza. Come dressed as your favorite wrestler for your chance to win! Plus… fans in attendance will have the chance to win SMACKDOWN tickets and WWE merchandise throughout the night. The RailRiders will start Friday Night Fireworks two weeks early with an added show on May 13. Gates are set for 5:30 P.M. for our next First Responder Friday with a 6:35 first pitch. Stick around after the final for the best pyrotechnics show in NEPA. The SWB Fidget Popper giveaway, which was slated for the postponed April 16 game, has been rescheduled for Saturday, May 14. Gates will open at 3 P.M. before the 4:05 game. Friday Night Fireworks continue on May 27 with a show presented by Harth Enterprises and will follow every Friday home game for the remainder of the season. The SWB Pop Socket has been rescheduled for Saturday, July 2. The RailRiders host Buffalo that evening, which will serve as the team’s Independence Weekend Celebration with an extended fireworks show after the final out. Gates are slated for 5 P.M. with a 6:05 first pitch. To purchase tickets for any 2022 game or for more information regarding any of these great giveaways, visit swbrailriders.com.
Griffin Pond Animal Shelter to Host Bingo Support Griffin Pond Animal Shelter and take your chance to win on Sunday, June 12. Mega Prize Bingo will be held at Scott Twp. Hose Company, Montdale. Doors open at 1 p.m. and games begin at 3 p.m. The event will include 16 bingo games, four specials, a door prize, basket raffles, and a 50/50. Prizes include overnight stays at resorts, a patio set, a gazebo, gas fire pits, lawn maintenance equipment, and much more. There will also be food and non-alcoholic beverages for sale. Guests may BYOB. Tickets are $25 each and be purchased at www.griffinpondanimalshelter.com/mega-prize-bingo or at the shelter between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. daily, including weekends.
HNB Supports Lacawac Sanctuary The Honesdale National Bank was once again authorized to make approved contributions under the Commonwealth’s Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) Program. HNB designated $2,000 of their approved allotment to the Lacawac Sanctuary Field Station and Environmental Education Center, nestled on 550 acres near the shores of Lake Wallenpaupack. The funds, donated by HNB, will support the Center’s K-12 innovative educational programs HNB President & CEO, Thomas E. Sheridan Jr., stated, “Lacawac Sanctuary presents benefits to our environment, local students, and community members.” He said, “We are glad that we can continue to support the funding of this organization to care for our youth’s education and environmental preservation.” The Lacawac Sanctuary offers direct experiences with nature, providing relevant learning that equips students with critical thinking, creative approaches, and problem-solving skills. Their mission is to preserve the natural beauty of Lake Lacawac, its watershed, and surrounding lands; to conduct long-term research on natural systems as part of a global effort to understand and protect the Earth’s biodiversity; and to increase appreciation of this effort through innovative, field-based educational programs for students, teachers, and the community. Craig Lukatch, President at Lacawac Sanctuary, said, “Support of Lacawac’s education programs through the EITC program helps bring hands-on learning opportunities to students in Kindergarten through 12th grades.” He continued, “The generosity of The Honesdale National Bank makes environmental education a reality for so many students in our local community both at Lacawac’s environmental education center and in the classroom.”
Johnson College to Host 29th Annual Golf Tournament The 29th Annual Johnson College Open will be held on Friday, May 20, 2022, at Pine Hills Country Club in Taylor, PA (rain or shine). Proceeds from this annual golf tournament support the Johnson College Presidential Scholarship Fund. Each academic year, Presidential Scholarships are awarded to four qualified and deserving full-time students. To register to golf, visit Johnson.edu/golf.
AllOne Foundation Awards Grant to CAC/NEPA The Children’s Advocacy Center of Northeastern Pennsylvania (CAC/NEPA) announces the award of a $65,000 grant from AllOne Foundation. “The Children’s Advocacy Center of Northeastern Pennsylvania is grateful to AllOne Foundation for their generous grant to our Center. This grant supported expanding our trauma-informed behavioral and mental health services for child victims of abuse, neglect, and trauma in Northeastern Pennsylvania by hiring another full-time therapist for our Mulberry Center. On behalf of the Board of Directors, the CAC Team, and the child victims of abuse and neglect we serve, we are sincerely grateful for AllOne Foundation’s support.” said Marsha Pigga, Executive Director. For more information about the CAC/NEPA, please call the Center at 570-969-7313 or visit the CAC/NEPA’s website: www.cacnepa.org.
The Wright Center Prioritizes Diversity, Equity and Inclusion The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education has named Dr. Alexies Samonte as its vice president of Sponsoring Institution Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Faculty and Curriculum Development, and Graduate Medical Education Funding Stewardship. In this newly created role, Samonte will work with executives and others throughout the organization to ensure ongoing and innovative faculty development, substantial accreditation compliance, community benefit tracking, and continuous resident wellness and resiliency, among other objectives. One major focus will be to create a robust strategy for diversity, equity and inclusion. Samonte’s diversity and inclusion efforts will span all three nonprofit entities: The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education, The Wright Center for Community Health and The Wright Center for Patient & Community Engagement. “I am excited about this new role,” said Samonte, who previously served as medical director of The Wright Center’s pediatric services. “Leading this journey is a privilege, since diversity, equity and inclusion are embedded within our mission.” The longtime pediatrician, who is a native of the Philippines, will work to educate faculty, staff and members of the broader community about diversity and inclusion matters such as those promoted by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education’s (ACGME) “ACGME Equity Matters” initiative. The ACGME initiative aims to drive change within graduate medical education institutions by increasing physician workforce diversity, and building safe and inclusive learning environments, while promoting health equity by addressing racial disparities in health care and overall population health. Samonte assumed her new role in late February. She already has coordinated The Wright Center’s participation in an upcoming continuing education series about LGBTQI+ inclusive health care. The series is being offered beginning June 1 through the Penn State College of Medicine’s Project ECHO network. Promoters say the series will help health care providers “meet the complex social, emotional and physical health care needs of their patients within a supportive and safe environment.” Additionally, Samonte will develop volunteer opportunities for residents and fellows that focus on diversity, equity and inclusion activities. She also will monitor and track the progress of The Wright Center’s diversity-related metrics. A Jenkins Township resident, Samonte earned her doctorate degree in medicine and surgery as well as a bachelor’s degree in biology from the University of Santo Tomas, Manila, Philippines. She also earned a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Scranton. The Wright Center, which strives to be an optimal employer, has more than 600 workers in Northeast Pennsylvania and at its graduate medical education training partner sites across the nation. For more information, visit TheWrightCenter.org.
