Geisinger Community School of Medicine Virtual Event Raises Money for Student Scholarships The Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine (GCSoM) Black Ties for White Coats event was held virtually this fall and raised in excess of $260,000 in commitments. Proceeds from the Gala support student scholarships and, this year, the creation of the Dean Steven J. Scheinman Endowment for Student Scholarships, in honor of Dr. Scheinman who is retiring at the end of December after serving for nine years as GCSoM’s dean. “Finances are the number one barrier to medical school education and these funds will help break down those barriers for GCSoM students and build up the medical care we offer to our community and beyond,” said Virginia McGregor, chair of GCSoM’s Board of Directors. In addition, the Gala honors community members, and past students and faculty who have made an impact on and spread the school’s values to the greater community. The 2021 honorees are highlighted with videos on the Gala’s event website, go.geisinger.org/gala2021. Rachel Brutico-Giannotti, MD and her husband Dr. Vincent Giannotti, MD received the Founders honor. The pair met at the school in 2011 and both continue to practice medicine with Geisinger in northeast Pennsylvania. Na Tosha Gaston, MD, PhD, FAAN received the Innovation award. Dr. Gaston has served as the assistant dean for equity and inclusion and as an associate professor of research and medicine at GCSoM. Alana Roberts, regional affairs director of PPL Foundation accepted the Well-being honor on behalf of the foundation. PPL is a long-time supporter of GCSoM and is committed to education in science, technology, engineering and math. Charles J. Bannon, MD, and his son Joseph “Jay” Bannon, MD, FACS, received the community honor for their longtime commitment to the school. Dr. Charles Bannon was one of the Founders of the school while Dr. Jay Bannon has served the school in many roles during his career. Dr. Scheinman gave a special thanks to the donors and sponsors for the event. “I am sincerely grateful to our donors and sponsors for your dedication and commitment to our students year after year and for supporting this year’s virtual celebration,” he said. “It is wonderful that we can offer generous financial assistance from philanthropy, and for that, we cannot thank you enough.” There is still time to contribute to the Dean Scheinman Scholarship Endowment to recognize his years of service to the school and honor his retirement. Visit the Gala site (go.geisinger.org/gala2021) for more information and to view the Gala program book and videos from all of the honorees.
Outreach Center for Community Resources Community Celebration Outreach invites the public to attend a Community Celebration in the Center’s Backyard Green Space at 431 North Seventh Avenue on Wednesday, September 15, 2021, starting at 4:30 PM. Outreach will be honoring the following individuals that have had a profound impact on the organization and mission of Moving Today’s Families Forward: Beth Beh, founder of EOTC/Outreach through Women’s Employment Program; Maureen Pesavento (posthumously), board member, 10 years of service and establishment of an ongoing building maintenance fund; Elaine and Jim Donly, 25-year employee and husband recognizing years of service and donation of a Mighty Oak tree to the backyard green space; Kristy Ryczak (posthumously), EOTC Program Manager, 10 years of service; and Pamela Pangonis (posthumously), Outreach Case Manager, 5 years of service. Outreach will also be celebrating: Completion of the new mural on the exterior wall of The Center made possible by the Lackawanna County Office of Arts and Culture and the Lackawanna County Commissioners; and Community Partners who contributed to beautifying the backyard greenspace for staff and families to enjoy: Penn State Master Gardeners, creators and contributors to the backyard green space aesthetics/plants; and Home Depot (veteran volunteers), donation and construction of the backyard green space gazebo. This community celebration will also include a Pig Roast fundraiser. Dinners will be available for take-out for a suggested minimum donation of $10/dinner.
Meals on Wheels Community Services of NEPA to Host Annual Mix and Mingle Meals on Wheels Community Services of NEPA is hosting its largest fundraiser of the year at Glen Oak Country Club, 250 Oakford Road Clarks Summit, PA on September 23, 2021 from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Meals on Wheels Community Services of NEPA will present two awards this year. The Fifth Annual Founder’s Award for Philanthropy will be awarded to Clarence Baltrusaitis on behalf of NET Credit Union. “We are so excited to honor Clarence and NET Credit Union,” said Kristen L. Kosin, Executive Director. “NET Credit Union is a true champion of our area. It’s amazing how their employees donate their time, expertise and generosity to help agencies and organizations throughout our area.” The second award presented will be the Elaine F. Shepard Award for Exceptional Volunteerism. “Elaine F. Shepard is an extraordinary example of service to the community. This award will honor Katie Gilmartin. She works tirelessly to promote and serve our community,” explains Ms. Kosin. Tickets for this event are $75 per person or $125 per pair. Tickets include entrance to event, lite dinner fare, and open bar. Live music will be provided by the Mark Monella Trio. Activities at this year’s event include raffle baskets, a gift pull, and a silent art auction which will feature work from local artists like Sharon Cosgrove, Christine Medley, and Tom Noone. For more information and to purchase tickets online, visit www.mealsonwheelsnepa.org or call 570-346-2421.
Light the Night Walk The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Scranton volunteer hosted Light the Night Walk will be held on September 25 at Nay Aug Park. Register now to bring light to the darkness. Scan the QR code below or go to www.lightthenight.org to register. The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Light The Night Walk funds treatments that are saving the lives of patients today. LLS is making cures happen by providing patient support services, advocating for lifesaving treatments and pioneering the most promising cancer research anywhere.
NEPA Gives Raises Over $1.24 Million in 24 Hours The Scranton Area Community Foundation is proud to announce that on Friday, June 4, 2021—in just 24 hours—218 local nonprofit organizations worked together to collectively raise a total of $1,246,121 for NEPA Gives, surpassing its $1 million dollar goal. NEPA Gives was hosted by the Scranton Area Community Foundation, in partnership with The Luzerne Foundation, Greater Pike Community Foundation, Wayne County Community Foundation, Carbon County Community Foundation, The Community Foundation of the Endless Mountains, the Northeastern Pennsylvania Nonprofit & Community Assistance Center (NCAC), and other community sponsors to raise awareness about the critical work nonprofit organizations carry out across the region and to help charitable organizations raise much-needed funds, especially during these challenging times. “In this second year of NEPA Gives, we are overwhelmed by the incredible generosity of the people of the Northeastern Pennsylvania region,” stated Laura Ducceschi, President and CEO of the Scranton Area Community Foundation. “We believe that especially now, during these challenging post-pandemic recovery times, it was important to provide an opportunity for nonprofits to raise much-needed funds to support their efforts, and we are grateful that the generous people in Northeastern Pennsylvania responded so well.” NEPA Gives, which accepted donations online at nepagives.org on Friday, made history as the single largest day of philanthropy in Northeastern Pennsylvania for the second year in a row. A handful of checks and offline donations are still coming in, so the total will likely increase in the coming days ahead. Over 5,766 donors generously supported NEPA Gives. NEPA Gives was also generously supported by numerous sponsors including Moses Taylor Foundation, DiscoverNEPA, Cumulus Media, Shamrock Communications, Hawk Family Foundation, Schwartz Mack Foundation, Women in Philanthropy, the NEPA Animal Welfare Collaborative, the William G. McGowan Charitable Fund, and many others. Adding to the momentum, over $450,000 in prizes and matching incentives were awarded to participating nonprofits for notable achievements, all sponsored by generous businesses, foundations, and donors across the region. 218 nonprofit organizations from across eight counties in Northeastern Pennsylvania participated in the 24-hour fundraising event including The Diocese of Scranton, Equines For Freedom, NeighborWorks Northeastern PA, Women’s Resource Center, Countryside Conservancy, St. Joseph’s Center, Everhart Museum of Natural History, Science, and Art, and United Neighborhood Centers of Northeastern Pennsylvania. To celebrate the historical and monumental giving day, Scranton Mayor Paige Cognetti made an official proclamation declaring June 4, 2021, as NEPA Gives Day. During the day on Friday, a small handful of host sponsors and community guests gathered at the Hilton Scranton Hotel & Conference Center to broadcast a live-streamed event with updates and excitement which aired on nepagives.org throughout the day. The Scranton Area Community Foundation partnered with Scranton-based team Posture Interactive to host the live broadcast. This was the second year for NEPA Gives. Last year, NEPA Gives raised over half a million dollars for 167 nonprofit organizations. To learn more about #NEPAGives, visit nepagives.org or contact Brittany Pagnotti, Communications Manager of the Scranton Area Community Foundation at 570-347-6203.
Outreach Seeks Your Support in Building a Stronger Community Have you dreamed of making history? Of course; we all have. On Friday, June 4, you have a chance to be a part of history during northeastern Pennsylvania’s day of giving, known as NEPA Gives! Outreach – Center for Community Resources respectfully requests your support during the 24-hour NEPA Gives event on Friday, June 4, 2021. From 12:00 a.m. to 11:59:59 p.m. on June 4, donations made to Outreach through the NEPA Gives platform will support Outreach programs promoting family stability and economic self-sufficiency. Every gift makes a real difference in the lives of men, women, and children in YOUR community seeking hope for a brighter tomorrow. To learn more about Outreach and the individuals and families we serve, visit the Outreach NEPAGives page at https://www.nepagives.org/organizations/outreachworks. Thank you in advance for your generosity to our organization! Sponsored by Scranton Area Community Foundation, The Luzerne Foundation, Greater Pike Community Foundation, Wayne County Community Foundation, and the Northeastern Pennsylvania Nonprofit & Community Assistance Center (NCAC), NEPA Gives is a one-day online giving extravaganza that’s all about giving back to the community. To learn more about the #NEPAGives campaign, visit nepagives.org.
Lackawanna College Pinky Swear PACK Honored for Fundraising Efforts The Lackawanna College Pinky Swear Ambassadors on College Campuses to Help Kids with Cancer (PACK) were honored at a virtual event on May 26 by the Pinky Swear Foundation for raising $4,200, becoming the second top fundraising group in the foundation’s “It Takes Two” fundraiser out of 69 registered PACKs around the country. “This award shows the dedication of our students in their mission to support children and their families who are living with pediatric cancer,” said Stephanie McDaniels, faculty advisor for Lackawanna College PACK. “We look forward to continuing our work with the Pinky Swear Foundation to spread awareness, fundraise, develop student leaders on our campus and make a difference.” The Lackawanna College PACK raised the funds by hosting a basket raffle that included a large spring-inspired basket valued at over $400 including gift cards, chocolate, and surprises donated by Lackawanna College PACK students. The basket raffle pulled in a remarkable amount of donations from Lackawanna College students, faculty, staff, and the Scranton community. This was Lackawanna College PACK’s first fundraiser. “We are always amazed at the incredible passion and dedication of our Pinky Swear PACK members,” said Frankie Behr, Pinky Swear Foundation Student Leadership Manager. “The efforts seen from the Lackawanna PACK are incredibly creative and we are even more excited that every dollar they raised will actually be tripled thanks to our partners at KLN Family Brands and a generous family foundation. This support will help so many families when they need to most – right now.” Learn more at www.lackawanna.edu.
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Announces Northeast PA 2021 Man & Woman of the Year Winners A local man and woman have been named the winners of this year’s Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s (LLS) Northeast PA Man & Woman of the Year. The two winners, Frank Ruggiero of Greenfield Township and Kristen Schoemig of Albrightsville, raised $76,515 and $13,984 respectively to support LLS’s goal to find cures for blood cancers and ensure that patients have access to lifesaving treatments. The entire candidate class raised a record breaking $175,493 for blood cancer research. During a spirited 10 week fundraising period beginning with a virtual kickoff celebration, candidates across the country competed in honor of a local boy or girl who is a blood cancer survivor to raise the most funds to ensure a world without blood cancers. Candidates and their campaign teams were judged solely on fundraising success, each dollar counting as one vote. Their totals are then considered for the national title. Candidates in each LLS chapter across the country vie for the local title, and the highest fundraisers earn the title of National Man & Woman of the Year. The national titles will be awarded to the top fundraisers in the country, to be announced this summer. This year is the third year for this campaign in Northeast PA and 6 men and 3 women stepped up to the challenge to raise money for blood cancer research. This year’s class of candidates set a goal of raising $100,000 and a personal mission of not only raising funds to help create a world without blood cancers, but also raising awareness for LLS’s goal to cure blood cancers and improve the quality of life of patients and their families. “Congratulations to our winners, and to all of our candidates and campaign team members who participated in this year’s Man & Woman of the Year campaign,” said Megan Galko, Campaign Development Manager of the Man and Woman of the Year campaign. “These exceptional volunteers are all passionate and determined individuals, and leaders in their communities. Together, we are getting closer to LLS’s goal of a world without blood cancer.” LLS is the world’s leading non-profit voluntary health organization dedicated to finding cures for blood cancers and ensuring that patients have access to lifesaving treatments. Every nine minutes someone in the U.S. dies of a blood cancer. Through programs like Man & Woman of the Year, LLS has invested more than $1.2 billion in research to advance breakthrough therapies. In 2017 alone, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved 18 therapies to treat patients with blood cancers, including some entirely new agents and some new uses for already approved drugs. The funds raised through LLS’s Man & Woman of the Year are used for: Research to advance targeted therapies and immunotherapies that are saving thousands of lives;Blood cancer information, education and support for patients;Policies that ensure patients have access to blood cancer treatments. Visit the Man & Woman of the Year website (www.mwoy.org) or email Megan.Galko@lls.org to learn how you can become engaged with LLS. About The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society® (LLS) is the world’s largest voluntary health agency dedicated to blood cancer. The LLS mission: Cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease and myeloma, and improve the quality of life of patients and their families. LLS funds lifesaving blood cancer research around the world, provides free information and support services, and is the voice for all blood cancer patients seeking access to quality, affordable, coordinated care. Founded in 1949 and headquartered in Rye Brook, NY, LLS has chapters throughout the United States and Canada. To learn more, visit www.LLS.org. Patients should contact the Information Resource Center at (800) 955-4572, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. ET. For additional information visit lls.org/lls-newsnetwork. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Johnson College to Host 28th Annual Golf Tournament The 28th Annual Johnson College Open will be held on Friday, May 21, 2021, 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. Sponsors of the 28th Annual Johnson College Open to date include:Presenting Sponsor: Gerrity’s SupermarketsAdvertising Sponsor: Lamar Advertising CompanyPlatinum: Shea Demolition, Inc.Platinum Marketing Sponsor: Sweda AdvertisingGold Print Sponsor: Sprint PrintGold Sponsors: Fastenal Company, Johnson Controls, L.R. Costanzo Construction Services Company Inc., Peoples Security Bank and Trust, PNC Bank, Reilly Associates, Simplex Homes, Sordoni Construction Services, Inc., Toyota of Scranton, Stevens & Lee, and Vacendak Construction.Cart Sponsor: ShopRiteBreakfast Sponsor: Troy Mechanical, Inc.Lunch Sponsor: Christiano Welding SupplyDinner Sponsor: Kutztown University Gift Sponsor: Action Lift, Inc.Cocktail Sponsor – Topp CopyMulligan Sponsor: A. Pickett Construction, Inc.Hole in One Sponsor: Gibbons Ford For additional information on Johnson College, please call 1-800-2-WE-WORK, email enroll@johnson.edu, or visit Johnson.edu.
