Maternal & Family Health Services Hosts Inaugural Mother’s Day Celebrations Maternal & Family Health Services, Inc. (MFHS) announces that its inaugural Mother’s Day celebrations will be held in Scranton on May 7th and Hazleton on May 9th. From MFHS, With Love will be a celebration of all the mothers in Northeast Pennsylvania and an opportunity to say thank you for all that they do for their families. The two events will take place the week before Mother’s Day at the following locations: Tuesday May 7th | 4 – 7 p.m.MFHS Circle of Care & Voodoo Brewing Co.820 South Washington Ave., Scranton, PA Thursday, May 9th | 4 – 7 p.m.Hazleton Art League31 W. Broad St., Hazleton, PA Both evenings will be open house style events that will feature a photo booth, flower cart, fragrance bar, activities for kids, food stations, and more. All proceeds raised from the events will support programming at MFHS for women, children, and families in need. For over 50 years, MFHS has been supporting the health and nutrition of our community by delivering programs and services that meet critical needs and result in positive outcomes for mothers and children. These programs include: the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Nutrition Program, The Nurse-Family Partnership Program, reproductive care, and the Healthy Beginnings Plus Maternity Program. Together these programs form a maternal health safety net that protects the health of pregnant individuals by connecting them to essential care and support services. The public can RSVP online via the MFHS website: mfhs.org/mothers-day/ Tickets are $50 per adult. Each ticket includes up to two children 12 and under. Additional children under 12 are $10 each. Sponsorship opportunities are also available.
Johnson College Hosts Debut Event for Ideal Saldi Hall Johnson College celebrated the opening of its new gateway building, Ideal Saldi Hall, during a debut event at its Scranton campus on April 3, 2024. Members of the Johnson College community and the Saldi family gathered for a glimpse at the newly constructed building that will serve as the official gateway to the College’s main campus. A program led by Johnson College’s President and CEO, Dr. Katie Leonard, marked the significance of the largest building project to date for Johnson College. She was proceeded during the program by Dave Boniello ’84, President of Simplex Industries; Matthew Michalek ’85, Vice President of Operations at L.R. Costanzo Co., Inc.; and Senator Marty Flynn, Pennsylvania 22nd Senatorial District. Ideal Saldi Hall is one of four components of the College’s comprehensive, five-year capital campaign, “Innovation at Work.” The building honors the legacy of Ideal T. Saldi, a Johnson College alum from the class of 1949. He and his wife, Frances, contributed $1 million to the College’s capital campaign, which is the largest gift from a Johnson College alum to date and will have a lasting impact on the school and its students. “At 19,000 sq. feet, this building provides a home to four labs, two general education classrooms, the most innovative and high-tech conference room in all of NEPA, and office space for staff that directly serve our students,” said Dr. Katie Leonard. Ideal Saldi Hall now houses student-facing departments including Enrollment, Financial Aid, and the Registrar, as well as programs including Architectural Drafting & Design Technology, Biomedical Equipment Technology, Electronic Engineering Technology, and Mechatronics Technology. Construction of Ideal Saldi Hall began in 2022, following the public announcement of the capital campaign and the official reveal of the building, designed by WKL Architecture. Under the construction management of L.R. Costanzo Co., Inc., the building took shape quickly and was forged with the help of many of Johnson College’s industry partners and alumni. The building now sits on the former site of Richmond Hall, a piece of the original Willian H Richmond estate given to the College’s founder, Orlando S. Johnson, to fulfil his dream of creating a trade school for women and men. Mr. Boniello, who serves as the chairperson of the “Innovation at Work” capital campaign said, “Ideal Saldi Hall will provide the gateway into future decades of Johnson College students and will help to shape the future industry leaders, innovators, and workers that will not only make a difference in the area we live in but also the world.” The event concluded with an official ribbon cutting for the building.
Johnson College and CAN DO Host Ribbon Cutting Ceremony to Celebrate Grand Opening In a joint celebration held today, September 27, CAN DO and Johnson College held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the ‘Johnson College at the CAN DO Training Center’. This celebration comes after the two institutions announced their partnership to bring a technical school to the Greater Hazleton Area earlier this year. The ‘Johnson College at the CAN DO Training Center’ ribbon cutting event showcased the expansive 20,000 sq. ft. facility – which was once home to the former McCann School of Business and Technology. Guests were invited to tour the new school, including classrooms, lab spaces, and the campus resource center that is open to all students. Capriotti’s Catering and Little Treats and Cakes by Janna catered the event with light lunch fare and desserts. Dr. Katie Leonard, President and CEO of Johnson College, and Joseph Lettiere, President and CEO of CAN DO, were both present and spoke about how this partnership is a monumental achievement for the Greater Hazleton Area, its residences, and its businesses. Dr. Katie Leonard spoke of the importance of the College’s industry partners throughout her remarks. “I like to say that we are founded and grounded in industry”, she mentioned. “The industry partnerships we’ve fostered here in the Greater Hazleton region helped us identify the need for skilled technicians and technologists in the area and the need for us to create unique, hands-on, industry-driven experiences for students who want to work within those industries.” During his remarks, CAN DO President and CEO, Joseph Lettiere, stated, “CAN DO’s partnership with Johnson College is monumental for the Greater Hazleton Area and its residents as a whole. Through the various programs available on this campus, our community will have direct access to the necessary training and education our industries are in need of…these programs truly move the needle for members of our community by providing industrial education that will ultimately lead to family- and life-sustaining careers.” Other key members of this partnership and esteemed dignitaries also in attendance included Charles Burkhardt, Chair of the CAN DO Board of Directors, Pat Dietz, Chair of the Johnson College Board of Directors, Pennsylvania State Senator David Argall, representing Pennsylvania’s 29th Senatorial District, and members from both CAN DO and Johnson College’s Board of Directors. With its strategic positioning inside of the Humboldt Industrial Park, Johnson College’s Hazleton campus will provide students with advantageous proximity to nearly 70 industries currently employing more than 11,000 individuals. The campus is also now a central education hub for communities within lower Luzerne and surrounding counties. While classes officially began on August 28, the new school offers a robust curriculum aimed to cater to the diverse academic and industry needs of the Greater Hazleton Area community. Notable program offerings include a 2-Year Associate Degree in Applied Science for Electrical Construction Technology and 1-Year Academic Certificate programs in Welding Technology, Industrial Technology, and Building and Property Maintenance. Additionally, the school offers continuing education certificate courses in Medical Assistant, Computer Support, and Security Specialist, as well as Class A CDL Driver Training. For more information about these upcoming programs, visit johnson.edu/Hazleton.
Allied Services Celebrates Miracle Makers Allied Services Integrated Health System recently honored the contributions and successes of employees from various divisions with their quarterly Miracle Maker breakfast. The gathering was held at the Convention Center at Mohegan, Pennsylvania, Plains, Pa.“Today’s gathering, which celebrates the Miracle Makers across Allied Services, is a reminder of how blessed we are to work with so many compassionate and dedicated people, as well as validation of the critical care we provide in physical rehabilitation, skilled nursing, home health, residential care for those with mental health issues and hospice care at home and in our inpatient hospice units,” commented Atty. Bill Conaboy, President & CEO, Allied Services Integrated Health System
The Wright Center Celebrates Community Health Worker Awareness Week One of the fastest-growing careers in health care has nothing to do with direct medical care. Using their encyclopedic knowledge of local resources, community health workers (CHWs) help people meet various basic needs, including housing, utility bills, nutritious foods, clothing, insurance, transportation to and from medical appointments, and more. “Community health workers, they’re pretty much the foundation,” said Amanda Vommaro, CCHW, director of patient-centered services and supervisor of the community health workers at The Wright Center for Community Health. “We make sure the patients are getting their social needs met so that they’re able to address their health.” For example, a patient with financial difficulties may have to choose between buying food or medication, according to Vommaro. Connecting to a food pantry could help that patient afford the life-saving medication a doctor prescribes. “If you don’t have your basic needs met, you’re not really able to do anything else,” she said about patients. “When they’re not buying medication and taking care of their health, that’s where we come in.” As the health care world celebrates National Community Health Worker Awareness Week from Aug. 28 to Sept. 1, the need for CHWs is greater than ever. Employment of community health workers across the United States is projected to grow 12% between 2021 and 2031 – much faster than the average for other occupations, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the demand for CHWs, according to Chelsea Wolff, a health educator with the Pennsylvania Area Health Education Center (AHEC). Thousands of people lost their jobs and found themselves navigating an often-overwhelming system to apply for unemployment, food stamps, rent and mortgage relief, and other aid from government entities and local social service agencies. President Joe Biden’s $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan called for hiring 100,000 CHWs over 10 years starting in 2021 to support the prevention and control of COVID-19. But many entities that employ CHWs are having trouble filling the jobs, including The Wright Center for Community Health. It’s partly because people are not familiar with the position. “People are starting to know about it, but we have a long way to go,” Wolff acknowledged. AHEC hopes to help fill the need locally through training courses, some of which are held virtually for community members. The center began offering CHW courses in 2009, Wolff said. Since then, demand has soared for these specialty workers. The course covers the basics of what a CHW needs to know, from building an understanding of different cultures and health literacy to learning how to complete documentation and how to avoid job burnout. CHWs live in the communities they serve, so they become experts in knowing what resources are available and how best to connect clients to them, Vommaro and Wolff said. The AHEC classes feature many guest speakers, so trainees can begin building a list of local resources that provide help. “It’s helping to connect the dots and really building those contacts,” Wolff said. Vommaro said clients are often more comfortable talking to CHWs because of their shared community roots. “It’s just a different level of comfort when you’re talking to a community health worker because sometimes we’ve been in the same situation they are in; we’re people who live in their community,” she said. “It’s a little less intimidating than talking to their doctor.” For more information about the course, visit the AHEC’s website at NEPA-AHEC.org. AHEC also offers monthly informational sessions about CHWs every second Monday of the month. To learn more, go to PACHW.org/upcoming-sessions.
Allied Services to Host Kick-Off Celebration at Mohegan Pennsylvania Allied Services, a leading provider of healthcare and human services for northeastern Pennsylvanians with disabilities and chronic illnesses, is hosting their Annual Campaign Kick-Off Celebration on Thursday, August 10th during Party on the Patio at Mohegan Pennsylvania. At this special edition of Party on the Patio, guests will be able to stop by the Team Allied Services tent to donate, purchase an official team exercise t-shirt and learn more about Allied Services. Guests can also feast on delicious bites by Eat Up Now while dancing the night away to the best of the 80’s, courtesy of tribute band RUBIX KUBE. There is no cover to attend this celebration, and all guests must be 21+. “Mohegan Pennsylvania has been a proud sponsor and fundraising participant for Team Allied Services for the past 14 years,” said David Parfrey, Vice President of Marketing at Mohegan Pennsylvania. “Like Allied Services, we are passionate about supporting our community as they overcome challenges and reach their greatest potential. This Party on the Patio on August 10th will certainly be a special one, and Mohegan Pennsylvania is really looking forward to a fun and memorable night kicking off the annual Team Allied Services campaign.” Team members from Mohegan Pennsylvania will be joining Team Allied Services for their 5K and All-Abilities Walk on Saturday, August 12th. This inspiring event starts with a run/walk 5K, followed by an all-abilities opportunity where patients strive to meet their own rehab goals, whether it be just a few steps or a lap around the track. On Sunday, November 5th, Mohegan Pennsylvania’s Director of Events, Jennifer Ducharme, will also be joining Team Allied Services for the TCS New York City Marathon – a 26.2-mile journey starting in Staten Island, working its way through all five boroughs in New York City and finishing in Central Park. Team Allied Services is currently accepting online donations for the 2023 fundraising campaign. For more information about the Team Allied Services Campaign Kick-Off celebration, visit moheganpa.com.
Johnson College to Host Celebration of Industry Johnson College will host its first-ever Celebration of Industry event on September 7, 2023, on the College’s Scranton campus. The event will honor David Boniello ’84, President of Simplex Industries, as the recipient of the President’s Spirit of Giving Award for his leadership and contributions to Johnson College and the region. Johnson College’s Celebration of Industry is a signature fundraising event that celebrates the unique relationship between the College and its industry partners. Each year, an industry partner will be honored for work as an industry champion and for playing a vital role in supporting the College’s students and the community. Proceeds from the event will benefit the College’s Innovation at Work Capital Campaign to improve programs and facilities for student success. The President’s Spirit of Giving Award is an artistic representation of the community, students, and the College made of steel and welded together in a flowing 3D design. The award was designed and created by members of the College’s Welding Department including Tony DeLucca, Welding Technology Program Director, Ben Lipperini, Welding Instructor, and Josh Perniciaro, Welding Instructor. Mr. Boniello is a native of Dunmore, Pa., and graduated from Johnson College with an Associate Degree in Building Construction Technology in 1984. He became an active member of the College community by participating in its Program Advisory Committees, as a member of the Board of Directors in 2008, and became the first alum to be named Chair of the Board of Directors in 2016. Mr. Boniello worked on the College’s first capital campaign from 2009 to 2014, helping to raise over $5.1 million, and currently chairs the College’s $5 million five-year capital campaign, Innovation at Work, launched in 2021. He played an instrumental role in the College’s nationwide search for the current President and CEO, Dr. Katie Leonard. Mr. Boniello has been part of the Simplex team for over 30 years. Throughout his professional career, he rose through positions in sales and management before being appointed to Vice President of Simplex, where he focused on developing and maintaining relationships with large-scale customers. He oversaw the company’s largest apartment and townhome projects across the Mid-Atlantic region. He was promoted to President in 2022. Furthermore, in 2005, he was an instrumental part of the company’s efforts to launch its own retail division for home sales called Cornerstone Building Solutions Inc. of which he currently serves in the capacity of President. In addition to his commitment to Johnson College, Boniello is a former board member of the Lackawanna Home Builders Association and Home Builders Association of Northeastern Pennsylvania, along with the Women’s Resource Center Golf Tournament Committee. Simplex Industries has been an industry partner of Johnson College for over 25 years. The partnership benefits both organizations and most importantly, the local community. Through collaborative efforts with NeighborWorks of Northeastern Pennsylvania and the Lackawanna County Area on Aging, the College and Simplex are involved with the Elder Cottage Housing Opportunity (ECHO). The project allows older adults to remain close to family or caretakers as they age by placing cottages on their properties. These structures are designed and built by Johnson College students and members of the Simplex team. To learn about available sponsorship opportunities for the Celebration of Industry, please contact Karen Baker, Senior Director of College Advancement, at kbaker@johnson.edu or (570) 702-8908.
Lackawanna College Sunbury Celebrates Anniversary Jennifer Times know the importance of a quality education. After the pandemic pushed her to reassess her career goals, she attended and graduated from Lackawanna College with an associate degree in Business Administration, which has helped her transition to a job in the business industry. Times went to the College’s Sunbury Center, which celebrated its five-year anniversary on Monday, Aug. 1 with an open house. The event included tours, one-on-one help with the College’s Financial Aid office and other informational sessions. The College also waived application and commitment fees for those who applied during the event. Local dignitaries attended the event, including Philip Campbell, Sunbury Center director; Tom Bogush, regional director of Admissions at Lackawanna College, Sunbury Mayor Joshua A. Brosious; Derrick Backer, Sunbury city administrator; Marc Freeman, Shikellamy Principal; Lynda Schlegal Culver, state representative; Joe Kantz, Snyder County commissioner; Kymberley Best, Northumberland County commissioner; Aimee Buehner, chamber representative; Sierra Woodling, Sunbury Revitalization Inc.; Westley Smith, building owner; and several Lackawanna College alumni. “We are grateful to be part of the Sunbury community and be a place where local residents can get a high-quality education,” said Lackawanna College President Dr. Jill Murray. “We want our degree and non-degree graduates to enter the workforce and succeed. An education from Lackawanna College prepares our graduates to excel in their positions and gives local employers people they can count on.” Lackawanna College strives to provide the local communities it serves with degree programs and training that are needed the most. As the community’s college, the Sunbury Center offers residents the chance to study the latest, high-demand fields such as Medical Assisting, Criminal Justice and Business Administration. “The Sunbury Center provides high-quality education for students in Northumberland and the surrounding counties,” said Philip Campbell, Sunbury Center director. “We are committed to providing a quality education to all who seek to improve their lives and better their communities. We continue to be the community’s college and we take that responsibility seriously.” The Sunbury Center has provided opportunities for students like Times to further their education or get retraining. Without her degree, Times wouldn’t have had the necessary training to perform her business duties at her new job, which include invoices, contracts and insurance work. The College’s online Business Administration program was able to give Times the flexibility she needed to finish her degree on a full-time basis and meet her professional and family obligations. “Because of Lackawanna, I was able to get into my bachelor’s degree program at Arizona State University online and the job I currently have,” Times said. “Although the impact of the pandemic was upsetting, I am in a much better position now having graduated from Lackawanna. The staff and professors there have really prepared me for my career and I can’t say enough nice things about the college.” The Center has several different degrees and certificates students can study. Bachelor degrees include Business, Criminal Justice, Human Services, Restaurant and Foodservice Management and RN to BSN. The Center’s Associate degree programs include Accounting, Business Administration, Business Studies, Criminal Justice, Culinary Arts – which will start soon, Cyber Security, Human Services, Petroleum & Natural Gas Technology, Professional Studies and Sport Management. Additionally, the Center has certificates in 3D Printing and Medical Assisting. There are also select programs available online such as Business Administration. Those programs provide students the accessibility to a college education in their own community. “For me its accessibility because our kids are not able to all hop in a car and go down to Bloomsburg University or Susquehanna University,” said Marc Freeman, Shikellamy High School principal. “They can go to college right here. If they get job income then maybe they can travel to the main campus so that offers them accessibility as well.” The College also recently signed an articulation agreement with Susquehanna University. That agreement allows qualifying students guaranteed acceptance as a junior at the university. “The programs we have at Sunbury enable students to stay in the area and save money because they can attend a college right here,” Campbell said. “We are constantly looking for ways for students to also continue their education, whether it’s through one of our own bachelor degree programs or with another university that we have an articulation agreement with like Susquehanna University.” For students like Times, it’s about finding the right place that offers the best education. Lackawanna College fit her requirements so much so that even her husband and son are attending. Her husband has been taking a class or two each semester to help him in his current role. Her son will start in the fall. Both are also hoping to get their associate degrees in Business Administration from Lackawanna. “Three out of four people in my family have attended or will be attending Lackawanna College to further their education,” Times said. “Because of my experience at the school, both my husband and son decided to attend Lackawanna. The College really helps you better yourself and gets you prepared for the workforce. I am definitely in a better position career-wise now than I was before the pandemic.” Prospective students in the Sunbury area looking for more information about the Sunbury Center can visit the College’s website at Sunbury Center at Lackawanna College | Lackawanna College. Students can also call the center at (570) 988-1931 to get more information.
Treasurer Garrity: Unclaimed Property In celebration of National Roller Coaster Day, Treasurer Stacy Garrity announced today that nearly $43 million is owed to more than 208,000 Pennsylvanians who are ready to take the ride of their lives – those with a name or business name that includes the words coaster, ride, loop, up, down, thrill, summer, park, Edwin or Prescott. “The last few years have been a wild ride, and we could all use a little extra cash in our wallets,” Garrity said. “Please keep your arms and legs inside the ride at all times, and get ready to search for unclaimed property – you don’t even have to stand in line! The average roller coast ride is about two minutes long, but it doesn’t even take that long to see if Treasury has unclaimed property waiting for you.” Unclaimed property includes things like dormant bank accounts, uncashed checks, forgotten stocks, insurance policies, tangible property like the contents of abandoned safe deposit boxes, and more. The state’s unclaimed property law requires assets to be turned over to Treasury after certain periods of time, generally three years. “When Edwin Prescott patented the first looping roller coaster in North America in 1898, he had no idea how many smiles his invention would bring to millions of people,” Garrity said. “Finding unclaimed property is another reason to smile, especially since the average claim is about $1,500. One in ten Pennsylvanians is owed unclaimed property, so there’s a good chance you might end up with money in your pocket!” Last year, Treasury returned more than $135 million to Pennsylvanians. Treasury is currently seeking the owners of more than $4 billion in unclaimed property. Tangible property received by Treasury may be auctioned after approximately three years, but any proceeds from a sale will be kept in perpetuity until an owner is found. Military decorations and memorabilia are never auctioned, and Treasury works diligently to find veterans and their families to reunite them with these priceless symbols of service. Search Treasury’s unclaimed property database to see if you or someone you know has property waiting to be claimed at patreasury.gov/unclaimed-property.
