Geisinger Hospitals Awarded for Treatment of Severe Heart Attacks Three Geisinger hospitals have been recognized by the American Heart Association for adhering to proven care guidelines that benefit patients suffering the most severe type of heart attack. Geisinger Medical Center in Danville and Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center in Wilkes-Barre have received the Mission: Lifeline ® Gold Plus Receiving Quality Achievement Award, and Geisinger Community Medical Center in Scranton has received the Mission: Lifeline Gold Receiving Quality Achievement Award. The hospitals earned honors for implementing specific quality improvement measures in treating ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), the deadliest type of heart attack. Each year, more than 250,000 Americans experience a STEMI, which is caused by a blockage of blood flow to the heart that requires timely treatment. To prevent death, it’s critical to restore blood flow as quickly as possible, either by mechanically opening the blocked vessel or by providing clot-busting medication. The Mission: Lifeline program helps reduce barriers to swift treatment for heart attacks, beginning with the 911 call, to EMS transport and continuing through hospital treatment and discharge. Coordination among EMS, hospital and health system is key to providing optimal care to heart attack patients. “We pride ourselves in always implementing and following the latest, evidence-based methods of treatment, because we know it leads to better outcomes for our patients,” said Cinde Bower-Stout, RN, MHA, manager of cardiovascular quality for the Geisinger Heart & Vascular Institute. As Mission: Lifeline Heart Attack Receiving Centers, the hospitals have shown they meet or exceed quality of care measures for restoring blood flow in STEMI patients, and their achievement awards are the result of maintaining a standard of performance in delivering quick, appropriate, lifesaving care to patients coming into the hospitals directly or by transfer from another facility. “Our hospitals are committed to providing the best possible care for heart-attack patients,” said Vishal Mehra, M.D., Ph.D., director of cardiovascular quality for the Geisinger Heart & Vascular Institute. “Geisinger’s STEMI program was designed to achieve these same goals, and we’ve been honored to be recognized by the American Heart Association for our dedication and achievement in cardiac care since Mission: Lifeline was launched.”
Gunn-Mowery Vice President Receives Forty Under 40 Award Central Penn Business Journal selected Jill Nye, CIC, CISR, AINS, API, CAPI, Vice President, Personal Lines Manager as a 2021 Forty Under 40 recipient. Forty Under 40 recognizes professionals 40 years of age and younger who have been successful in the Central Pennsylvania area. Honorees, chosen by the Central Penn Business Journal editors, were selected based on professional accomplishments, community service and commitment to inspiring change. A listing of winners is available at https://www.cpbj.com/40-under-40-awards/. “The 2021 Forty Under 40 honorees are Central Pennsylvania’s future leaders. Their professional accomplishments, community service and commitment to inspiring change are extraordinary,” said Suzanne Fischer-Huettner, senior group publisher of the Central Penn Business Journal. “These honorees help to make Central Pennsylvania a wonderful place to live and work. The Central Penn Business Journal is pleased to celebrate their accomplishments.” Jill joined Gunn-Mowery in 2008 with the acquisition of the Wiley Agency. After 15 years in Personal Insurance and 3 years in Commercial Insurance, Jill was promoted to Vice President, Personal Lines Service Manager in January of 2019. In this role, she supervises the Personal Lines department, trains staff and implements processes throughout all office locations. Jill has earned her CIC (Certified Insurance Counselor), CISR (Certified Insurance Service Representative), API (Associate in Personal Insurance) and AINS (Associate in General Insurance) designations. In December of 2018, Jill was awarded the Certified Advisor of Personal Insurance (CAPI) designation by the Wharton School of Business and Chubb Insurance. To date, there are only 174 professionals who hold this prestigious designation. The winners were honored on Oct. 14 at the Hilton Harrisburg’s outside terrace, One North Second Street in Harrisburg. Honorees were also profiled in a magazine inserted into the Oct. 15 issue of Central Penn Business Journal and will be available online at CPBJ.com.
Human Resource Center Lifesharing Provider Shannon Guinard Receives Excellence in Lifesharing Award Shannon Guinard, HRC-affiliated lifesharing provider to Janice, was recently awarded the Excellence in Lifesharing Award for the entire NEPA region. Lifesharing is a unique residential solution that pairs individuals with disabilities with a local lifesharing provider for long-term in-home daily support. Providers welcome individuals into their homes and facilitate a nurturing family dynamic, offering both support to the individual and a place to live. When submissions opened for the Excellence in Lifesharing Award, HRC Lifesharing Coordinator, Margie, nominated Shannon with pride. For over two years, Shannon Guinard has been a lifesharing provider to Janice. In that short time-frame, Shannon has prioritized Janice’s continued progression in various facets of her life, adapting to and overcoming the many roadblocks the COVID-19 global pandemic threw their way. In Margaret’s nomination essay, she details the adaptations Shannon made to ensure Janice received the necessary support and structure throughout their time together. Important implementations such as twice daily walks, promoting healthy eating and cooking, punctual attendance to ZOOM meetings, structured crafting opportunities, and emphasis on continued socialization were key in helping Janice find fullness in her life. Today, Janice is thriving! She works four days a week at Himalayan Institute and once a week at the law office of local lawyer, J.T. Howell. She was also an active participant in the 2021 Special Olympics, taking part in every competition via ZOOM. With Shannon’s encouragement, structure, and support, Janice has enjoyed being an active member of her community. With gratitude, Janice remarks, “we will be family forever.” Pictured:Back row (L to R): Darlene Glynn (HRC CEO), Margaret Cosgrove (HRC Lifesharing Coordinator and nominator), Shannon Guinard (lifesharer and award recipient), and Bridget Delemarre (HRC Lifesharing Coordinator).Front row (L to R): Susan Philpot (mother to award recipient and additional support provider) and Janice Rudy (HRC lifesharing participant).
Scranton Area Community Foundation Accepting Nominations for the 2021 Margaretta Belin Chamberlin Award Scranton Area Community Foundation is accepting nominations now until July 30, 2021, for the 2021 Margaretta Belin Chamberlin Award, which is presented annually to a woman who demonstrates commitment to community, ingenuity in response to community need, and leadership in empowering and transforming the lives of women and girls in the community. Nominations are open to anyone who wishes to recommend a female candidate who has made an impact in Northeastern Pennsylvania. The award has been presented since 1992 when a charitable fund was established by the family of Margaretta Belin Chamberlin both to honor her memory and to recognize accomplishments of women in our community while encouraging their personal and/or professional development. The Margaretta Belin Chamberlin Award will be presented at the Scranton Area Community Foundation’s Women in Philanthropy Annual Event to be announced at a later date. The recipient will receive a monetary award of $1,000 to be used for the purpose of personal development or to donate to a charitable organization of the recipient’s choice.Past award recipients have included Eleanore Ginader, Rosemary Broderick, Sharon McCrone, Catherine Richmond-Cullen, Mary Elaine Southard, Judith O. Graziano, Carol Weiss Rubel, Charlotte McIlwee Ravaioli, Diana Statsman, Susan S. Belin, Rachel R. Yaklic (10th anniversary youth recipient), Margaret “Peg” Ruddy, Sally E. Bohlin, Andrea J. Mulrine, Natalie Gelb, Mary Ann LaPorta, Sr. Margaret Gannon, IHM, Mary Belin Rhodes, Sondra Myers, Nancy Dressel, Jeanne Bovard, Suzanne Fisher Staples, Jane Oppenheim, Sister Ann Walsh, Nada Gilmartin, Michelle Dempsey, Laurie Cadden, Maureen Maher-Gray, and Mary-Pat Ward. Nominations for the 2021 Margaretta Belin Chamberlin Award will be accepted until July 30, 2021, online through the Scranton Area Community Foundation’s online grant portal, https://www.grantinterface.com/Home/Logon?urlkey=safdn. Individuals wishing to submit a nomination can contact Dana Hunter at dhunter@safdn.org for additional instructions. For more information on the 2021 Margaretta Belin Chamberlin Award, please visit www.supportnepawomen.org or contact Brittany Pagnotti, Communications Manager of the Scranton Area Community Foundation, at 570-347-6203.
Telespond Senior Services Awarded $13,000 to Support Senior Companion Program Telespond Senior Services accepted a $13,000 award from the PNC Foundation to support seniors at risk of isolation in northeastern PA. Funds will be used within Telespond’s Senior Companion program, which has faithfully served the Lackawanna County community for over 40 years. Last year, 87 Senior Companions provided over 240 clients with socialization, recreation, and non-medical daily living assistance. The award will continue to support companions’ in-home engagement with seniors and will enable expanded and continued engagement through letter-writing and phone call campaigns through the COVID-19 pandemic. This program aims to alleviate burdens of isolation that have become especially prevalent for older adults due to COVID-19. Thanks to the generosity of federal funders and organizations including the PNC Foundation, the Senior Companion program remains completely free to the older adults it serves while providing volunteers with a small stipend for their services. To learn more about the Senior Companion program, visit http://www.seniordayservices.org/senior-companion/
Local Organizations Receive Almost $250,000 to Reduce Homelessness FHLBank Pittsburgh recently announced Home4Good funding awarded to programs across the state working to reduce homelessness, including seven organizations in Lackawanna County and one in Luzerne County that split $248,190.55. FNCB Bank was one of six local financial institutions to serve as a member co-applicant to make these awards possible. Distribution of the funding was overseen by local Continuum of Care organizations. Home4Good is a flexible grant product that supports projects, programs and activities that lead to stable housing for those who are experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness. In response to COVID-19, FHLBank Pittsburgh and their partners – the Delaware State Housing Authority, Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency and the West Virginia Housing Development Fund (collectively, HFAs) – changed the 2020 Home4Good process so that funding could more swiftly reach communities, families and individuals experiencing homelessness as a result of COVID-19. FHLBank Pittsburgh awarded $4.8 million to the 2020 Home4Good initiative. The HFAs in Delaware, Pennsylvania and West Virginia added an additional $2 million, bringing the total funding amount to $6.8 million. Local organizations receiving grants were: Valley Youth House Committee, Inc., Community Intervention Center, Catherine McAuley Center, Catholic Social Services of the Diocese of Scranton, Inc., United Neighborhood Centers of NEPA, Women’s Resource Center Inc., Saint Joseph’s Center and the Commission on Economic Opportunity (CEO). “The Women’s Resource Center (WRC) is grateful for its partnership with the United Neighborhood Center, the Scranton Lackawanna County Continuum of Care, and the continued support of FNCB Bank. WRC provides comprehensive services for victims of domestic and sexual violence in our community. The monies allocated were used toward staffing for homeless prevention, rehousing as well as cleaning supplies. Also, rental assistance for its program participants,” said Amy Everetts, Women’s Resource Center Director of Development. If you have any questions about Home4Good, please contact Kate Swanson at Kate.Swanson@fhlb-pgh.com or 412-288-7350.
WVIA Wins 2021 Pennsylvania Association of Broadcasters Award WVIA has been awarded the 2021 Pennsylvania Association of Broadcasters Award in the Judges’ Merit Television Category for the presentation of the Scranton Civic Ballet’s production of ‘The Nutcracker’. “WVIA was honored to present this performance to the people of northeastern and central Pennsylvania. This award is a credit to the talented performers in front of the camera and behind the scenes that made this presentation a possibility.” Said Carla McCabe, WVIA President, and CEO. “It is always an honor to be recognized by the Pennsylvania Association of Broadcasters for the work that we do.” Said Ben Payavis II, Chief Content Officer at WVIA. This inaugural collaboration was made possible by a generous COVID Creative Community Grant from the Lackawanna County Council on the Arts. “The Nutcracker” presentation, which annually presents an educational performance for 1,200 school children at no charge was seen across 21 counties throughout the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and schools received a digital link to enhance their virtual curriculum with this artistic performance. Under the artistic direction of Helen Gaus, 60 students and adults, ranging in age from 8 to 50, shared the timeless tale of Clara, Drosselmeyer, and the Nutcracker that unfolds as the delicate Sugar Plum Fairy and all of Tchaikovsky’s musical sprites weave their enchanting spell. WVIA’s presentation of the Scranton Civic Ballet’s production of ‘The Nutcracker’ is available to watch anytime, on-demand at https://www.pbs.org/video/the-nutcracker-presented-by-scranton-civic-ballet-company-lmihxl/, as well as on the PBS and WVIA apps. The Pennsylvania Association of Broadcasters endeavors to promote collaboration between radio and television broadcast station owners, managers, and staff across the Commonwealth. We assist our member stations in serving their communities, audiences, and advertisers through FCC licensed free over-the-air broadcast program operations. To learn more about the Pennsylvania Association of Broadcasters, please visit https://pab.org.
