Scranton Area Community Foundation to Host Ribbon-Cutting at New Home The Scranton Area Community Foundation is thrilled to announce a Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony and Open House to celebrate its new permanent home at the historic Century Club of Scranton. The event will take place on Thursday, May 15, 2025, marking a significant milestone in the Foundation’s history and its continued commitment to enhancing the quality of life in Northeastern Pennsylvania. The event will honor and acknowledge the generous donors, community partners, and supporters who played a pivotal role in making this move possible. Their contributions have ensured the preservation and renovation of the iconic Century Club building, which now stands as a pillar of community philanthropy and collaboration. This new location will enable the Foundation to enhance its philanthropic services, increase its on-site services for nonprofits, host community events, and convene stakeholders to address critical regional issues. Event Details: Date: Thursday, May 15, 2025 Time: Beginning at 4:00 p.m., with remarks and ceremony beginning at 6:00 p.m. Location: Scranton Area Community Foundation at the Century Club of Scranton, 612 Jefferson Avenue, Scranton, PA. Activities: Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony, Open House Tours, Legacy Wall Unveiling, Refreshments, and Acknowledgements “This new space represents more than just a building. It is a historic landmark that will forever serve as the heart of philanthropy in Northeastern Pennsylvania. It is part of our commitment to serving the community, fostering collaboration, and supporting local nonprofit organizations. It also reinforces our role as a charitable resource for philanthropically minded individuals, families, and businesses who are dedicated to making a meaningful impact.” stated Laura Ducceschi, President and CEO of the Scranton Area Community Foundation. “This ribbon-cutting event is a celebration of community and the power of collaboration. Reflecting on the Scranton Area Community Foundation’s 70-year history, we see this milestone as an opportunity to open doors to new possibilities for philanthropy in Northeastern PA. We are deeply grateful to all the donors and supporters who made this vision a reality. As we enter our 71st year, we invite continued support to fully realize this legacy,” stated Dr. Joseph P. Bannon, Board Governor and Platinum Pledge Campaign Chair. Ellen Burkey, Chair of the Board of Governors added, “We are grateful for the generous gift of the Century Club. Thanks to a $2 million investment in renovations through our Platinum Pledge campaign, we have preserved its rich history while ensuring it meets the needs of our community for generations to come. This project reflects our commitment to honoring the past while building for the future.” Donations to the Scranton Area Community Foundation’s Century Club campaign can be made online at 70.safdn.org. Naming opportunities are available, offering a unique way to leave a legacy and honor loved ones. Photo: The Century Club of Scranton building located at 615 Jefferson Avenue, Scranton, is now the Scranton Area Community Foundation’s permanent home. A ribbon-cutting ceremony and open house will take place on Thursday, May 18, 2025. The Scranton Area Community Foundation invites community members, nonprofit leaders, donors, and supporters to attend this special event. It is an opportunity to tour the newly renovated space, learn about the Foundation’s mission, and celebrate the individuals and organizations that made this transformative move possible. The Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony and Open House is a free event open to the community. RSVP online by visiting www.safdn.org. Photo: A glimpse inside the newly renovated historic Century Club of Scranton building at 615 Jefferson Avenue, now the permanent home of the Scranton Area Community Foundation. Join the ribbon-cutting ceremony and open house on Thursday, May 18, 2025. Photo credit: Fancy Parsley
Educator in the Workplace Program Equips Teachers with Real-World Insight to Strengthen Student Career Readiness The Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce and its workforce development division, Skills in Scranton, recently concluded its 2024–25 Educator in the Workplace program, providing participating educators with valuable, hands-on experiences at local businesses to help bridge the gap between classroom learning and real-world careers. This year’s Educator in the Workplace program was made possible through a grant from the Scranton Area Community Foundation’s Robert H. Spitz Foundation, along with generous sponsorships from Pennsylvania American Water and Cardinal LG. The program placed educators into dynamic workplace environments across key industries, including manufacturing, healthcare, logistics, and business services. Through immersive site visits, panel discussions, and professional development sessions, educators explored high-priority occupations in Northeastern Pennsylvania, gained a deeper understanding of evolving workforce needs, and learned about the career readiness skills that today’s employers value. Educators gained insights into topics such as: Business and economic development resources available to students and educators Regional high-priority occupations and workforce trends in Northeastern Pennsylvania Career pathway development and how to align classroom instruction with workforce needs “Educator in the Workplace is about building meaningful connections between our schools and local industries. By immersing educators in real-world work environments, we help bridge the gap between classroom learning and career readiness. The insights gained through this program empower educators to better prepare their students for the opportunities that exist right here in northeastern Pennsylvania, said Emily Pettinato, workforce development specialist, The Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce. Participants left the program energized and equipped with strategies to help students better understand career opportunities available across northeastern Pennsylvania—and the skills they’ll need to pursue them. “Participating in the Educator in the Workplace program opened doors I never imagined for my students,” shared Sherri Ransom, transition coordinator at Mountain View High School. “Because of the partnerships we built, three of our students were hired by Simplex Industries for internships, and three more were accepted into a career-building program with Geisinger. This experience has been transformative—not just for me as an educator, but for the future of our students.” The 2024–25 Educator in the Workplace cohort included the following participants: Bonnie Baker, Career Technology Center of Lackawanna County Lisa Bath, Abington Heights School District Gena Bensinger, Northeast Intermediate Unit 19 William Buza, Mid Valley School District Amy Capman, Mid Valley School District Jessica Capwell, Northeast Intermediate Unit 19 Brian Carey, Scranton School District Tara Carey, Scranton School District Mary Kate Culkin, Scranton School District Arianne DelSordo, Old Forge School District Terri Erdmann, Forest City Regional School District William Freeman, Lakeland School District Andrea Gross, Scranton School District Jennifer Herman, Scranton School District Maria Hurst, Scranton School District Jessica Judge, Scranton School District Jane Kabuiku, SCI Waymart Christine Kallinger-Allen, Abington Heights School District Stephanie Klinkel, Scranton School District Samantha Krenitsky, Scranton School District Christopher Lazor, Riverside School District Buford Lively, Northeast Intermediate Unit 19 Emily Lutz, Scranton School District Laurie Marino, Valley View School District Marie Merkel, Scranton School District John Moran, Career Technology Center of Lackawanna County Sandy Morahan, Forest City Regional School District Landon Morey, Montrose Area School District Janelle Cortino, Scranton School District Jessica Norris, Scranton School District Kathleen Nycz, Old Forge School District Carm Perri, Carbondale Area School District Cynthia Petrucci, Scranton School District Gabrielle Pidgeon, Carbondale Area School District Sheri Ransom, Mountain View School District Bernadette Schumacher, Mid Valley School District Shauna Williams, Blue Ridge School District Tim Wolff, Scranton School District Maureen Walsh, Scranton School District Marc Wyandt, Lakeland School District This initiative continues to strengthen the collaboration between education and industry, ensuring students are not only academically prepared but also career-ready.
Jewish Family Service of NEPA Receives Grant Jewish Family Service of Northeastern Pennsylvania (JFS) is honored to be a recipient of a $10,000 grant from the Robert H. Spitz Foundation as part of its 2024 grant cycle. This generous funding, administered by the Scranton Area Community Foundation, will provide vital support to JFS, allowing the organization to continue delivering essential programs and services to the community. For over 100 years, JFS has been committed to supporting individuals and families in need, regardless of race, religion, or background. The grant will directly enhance the agency’s ability to provide mental health counseling, older adult services, food assistance, and emergency support for vulnerable populations throughout our community. The Robert H. Spitz Foundation, which is dedicated to supporting nonprofit organizations that make a meaningful impact, has been a longstanding advocate for community-driven initiatives. By providing resources to organizations like JFS, the foundation plays a crucial role in fostering resilience and positive change in the region. Pictured in photo from left to right: Cathy Fitzpatrick, Director of Grants & Scholarships for the Scranton Area Community Foundation; Sheila Nudelman Abdo, ACSW, LCSW, JFS Executive Director; Arthur E. Levandoski, JFS Coordinator of Marketing and Development; Laura Ducceschi, President & CEO for the Scranton Area Community Foundation.
Scranton Area Community Foundation Awards Grant to Scranton Counseling Center Scranton Area Community Foundation Awards $10,000 Fall 2024 Community Needs Grant to Scranton Counseling Center to help with their Crisis Receiving and Stabilization Unit Scranton Counseling Center has been awarded a $10,000 Community Needs grant by the Scranton Area Community Foundation in support of the Center’s Crisis Receiving and Stabilization Unit (CRSU). The CRSU is a 24-hour walk-in facility for people experiencing crises but who don’t need the level of support an inpatient psychiatric hospital provides. Trained crisis counselors connect them with services & resources to help them succeed in the community. The facility has 8 beds & offers a less restrictive option for managing individuals who are going through a crisis and provides assessment of crisis needs and supervision 24-hours a day up to 3 days. Scranton Counseling Center is extremely grateful for the Scranton Area Community Foundation’s continued belief in our programs. Pictured L to R: Cathy Fitzpatrick, SACF Director of Grants and Scholarships; Melanie Galli, SCC CRSU Coordinator; Doug Hein, SCC Directors of Development; and Laura Ducceschi, SACF President and CEO.
Scranton Area Community Foundation NEPA Thrives Workforce Barriers Summit Goes Virtual Originally scheduled as an in-person event, the NEPA Thrives Workforce Barriers Summit has transitioned to an interactive virtual format via Zoom, ensuring accessibility while maintaining the same valuable content. Hosted by the Scranton Area Community Foundation through its NEPA Thrives initiative, the Summit will bring employers, human resources professionals, executives, and managers together to tackle workforce recruitment and retention challenges across Northeastern Pennsylvania. Join the Workforce Landscape and Sector-Focused Collaboration in The Care Economy on Thursday, February 27, from 2:00 to 4:00 PM. The first hour, led by The Institute, will explore workforce dynamics in Northeastern Pennsylvania, including in-demand occupations, labor market trends and COVID-19 impacts. A panel featuring experts from the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia, Geisinger, The Institute and JobsFirstNYC will follow, discussing sector-focused strategies to address workforce recruitment and retention challenges in the Care Economy. Participants will learn about local healthcare demand, industry partnerships, and strengthening talent pipelines. Register here. If you miss the first session, join the NEPA Workforce Landscape and Sector-Focused Collaboration on Thursday, March 6, from 9:00 to 11:00 AM. The Institute will present on the workforce landscape, followed by a discussion on regional workforce challenges. Experts will explore how employers, community organizations, and education providers can collaborate to address recruitment and retention barriers, highlighting promising practices and strategies with insights from JobsFirstNYC. Register here. Additional Sessions: March 13 – Strengthening Organizations Presentations March 19 – Childcare Panel March 21 – Employment Resources Panel March 24 – Transportation Panel April 3 – Unlocking Business Growth through Community Foundation Partnerships April 9 – K-12 Panel April 14 – The Welcoming Center This virtual series will include expert-led discussions and solution-driven collaborations, leading up to an in-person wrap-up collaborative on May 1, 2025. The Scranton Area Community Foundation is dedicated to fostering systemic change and collaborative solutions that benefit employers, workers, and families across Northeastern Pennsylvania. This Summit offers actionable strategies to strengthen organizations and drive economic growth in response to ongoing workforce challenges. For full session details and to register, visit SAFDN.org. For inquiries, contact Koren Clark, Community Impact Manager, at koren@safdn.org.
Scranton Area Community Foundation Awards Grantees in 2024 Employee Assistance Grant Program The Northeastern Pennsylvania Health Care Foundation, in collaboration with AllOne Foundation & Charities and the Moses Taylor Foundation, gathered to award over $1.1 million to the recipients of the 2024 Employee Assistance Grant Program. Funds will assist nonprofit organization grantees in behavioral and mental health care across Lackawanna, Luzerne, and Wyoming Counties. Employee Assistance Grants will help the recipient organizations sustain a sufficient level of qualified providers to meet community demand. Specifically, funds will alleviate financial-related stressors, minimize employee attrition, and serve as an additional recruitment strategy while supporting the long- term development of a sustained workforce for providers. The 2024 grantees are Allied Services for an enhanced assistance program for behavioral health team members; Children’s Advocacy Center of NEPA for launching an employee assistance program to retain and attract behavioral health employees; Children’s Service Center for an employee tuition and loan assistance program; Friendship House for the Friendship House ABA Program Staff Recruitment Initiative; Jewish Family Service of Northeastern Pennsylvania for investing in social workers; Scranton Counseling Center for the Scranton Counseling Center Employee Assistance Program expansion; and Volunteers in Medicine for the development of an employee assistance program in a nonprofit free clinic setting. For more information about The Northeastern Pennsylvania Health Care Foundation, contact NEPAHCF@safdn.org or visit www.nepahealthcarefoundation.org.
Skills in Scranton Awarded Community Needs Grant To Expand Career Pathways Resources Skills in Scranton, the workforce development division of The Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce, has been awarded a Community Needs Grant from the Scranton Area Community Foundation. This funding will support the expansion and promotion of career pathways resources, providing invaluable tools to students, educators, and job seekers across northeastern Pennsylvania. The Community Needs Grant will enable Skills in Scranton to enhance its existing programs aimed at addressing the region’s workforce challenges. These efforts include expanding the Career Pathways Curriculum Guide and increasing the availability of the career pathways video resources that connect students and job seekers with high-priority occupations in industries such as manufacturing, healthcare, construction, logistics, and business services. “This grant is a significant step forward in our mission to connect students, educators, and job seekers with the resources they need to thrive,” said Emily Pettinato, workforce development specialist at The Chamber. “By expanding our career pathways initiatives, we are equipping the next generation with the skills and opportunities necessary for success in a dynamic workforce.” Through this grant, Skills in Scranton will also increase outreach efforts, ensuring that its career pathways resources reach a broader audience. The expanded programming will focus on equipping students and educators with actionable insights into local career opportunities and supporting businesses in building connections with emerging talent. The Scranton Area Community Foundation’s Community Needs Grants aim to address critical community challenges and create impactful solutions that enhance the quality of life for residents.
Scranton Area Community Foundation NEPA Healthcare Foundation Welcomes New Board Members The Northeastern Pennsylvania Healthcare Foundation (NEPA HCF) is pleased to welcome several new members to its Board of Directors. The newly elected board members are: C. Catherine Mihalick, JD, CTFA Michael Elmo Clemente Attorney Terrence R. Nealon, Jr. Patrick G. Connors, MD Jason R. Woloski, MD, FAAFP, FCPP These elections reflect the NEPA HCF’s ongoing commitment to bringing together dedicated professionals to support the Foundation’s mission of improving the health and well-being of the region’s people, particularly the most vulnerable and underserved. The Foundation thanks its departing board members for their service and contributions over the years and looks forward to the continued growth and impact of their work in the region. For more information about the Northeastern Pennsylvania Healthcare Foundation, please visit www.nepahealthcarefoundation.org.
Scranton Area Community Foundation’s NEPA Thrives Initiative to Host Workforce Barriers Summit The Scranton Area Community Foundation, through its NEPA Thrives initiative, invites Northeastern Pennsylvania employers to the Workforce Barriers Summit: Addressing Obstacles to Recruitment and Retention on Thursday, February 6, 2025, from 9:45 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at The Greater Wyoming Valley Chamber Think Tank in Wilkes-Barre. As a leading philanthropic organization in the region, the Scranton Area Community Foundation is committed to fostering systemic change and addressing the critical challenges that hinder economic growth and community well-being. This Summit exemplifies the Foundation’s dedication to creating collaborative solutions that benefit employers, workers, and families across Northeastern Pennsylvania. The Workforce Barriers Summit will convene human resources professionals, executives, and managers to explore and address the most pressing workforce issues impacting our region. In light of the ongoing challenges in recruiting and retaining a skilled workforce, the Summit underscores the Foundation’s leadership in identifying and implementing effective strategies to meet these urgent needs. The event builds on the momentum generated in April 2024, when Pennsylvania Secretary of Labor and Industry Nancy Walker highlighted four significant workforce barriers—transportation, affordable housing, childcare, and broadband access—during a Capital Conservation session hosted by The Scranton Chamber of Commerce. These systemic challenges directly affect employers’ ability to maintain robust recruitment pipelines and secure long-term growth for their organizations and communities. Additionally, the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia’s Anchors for Equity Initiative, in partnership with The Institute, has been addressing workforce challenges since September 2023 by focusing on populations with specific needs, such as ESL workers, individuals with prior convictions, and those requiring soft skills training or industry certifications. These efforts align closely with the Summit’s goal of identifying actionable solutions to workforce barriers. By exploring how anchor institutions—such as universities, hospitals, and large employers—can contribute to workforce sustainability, this initiative highlights the importance of collective action, a key theme of the Summit. Insights from these ongoing discussions will serve as a valuable foundation for identifying strategies to strengthen recruitment, retention, and economic development across Northeastern Pennsylvania. The Workforce Barriers Summit aims to: Enhance collaboration between employers and community organizations. Identify existing gaps in workforce development resources. Foster collective action to address barriers and drive impactful change. Attendees will benefit from engaging discussions and actionable insights on transportation, childcare solutions, employer partnerships, state and local resources, and K-12 career development. These sessions will not only offer practical tools but also inspire innovative approaches to enhance economic development and community resilience in Northeastern Pennsylvania. “At the Scranton Area Community Foundation, we believe that addressing workforce barriers is essential to building a thriving Northeast Pennsylvania,” said Laura Ducceschi, President and CEO of the Scranton Area Community Foundation. “This Summit reflects our commitment to uniting stakeholders and creating opportunities that support sustainable economic growth and improve quality of life for all across the region.” Join the Scranton Area Community Foundation in this critical effort to strengthen our community and empower our workforce. For more information or to register for the Workforce Barriers Summit, please email Koren Clark, Community Impact Manager at the Scranton Area Community Foundation, at koren@safdn.org.
Skills in Scranton Awarded $15,000 Grant from Robert H. Spitz Foundation to Advance Career Awareness Programs Skills in Scranton Business Education Partnership, the workforce development affiliate of The Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce, is proud to announce it has been awarded a $15,000 grant from the Robert H. Spitz Foundation, administered by the Scranton Area Community Foundation. This grant will support Skills in Scranton’s efforts to enhance career awareness programs and strengthen collaboration between educational institutions and the business community. These initiatives aim to empower students and job seekers with a deeper understanding of diverse career pathways and equip them to navigate the evolving workforce landscape. “Business leaders across Northeastern Pennsylvania recognize that workforce development is critical to the economic future of our region and the long-term success of our youth,” said Emily Pettinato, workforce development specialist at the Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce. “This funding is instrumental in advancing our mission to foster career awareness and build a robust talent pipeline. It allows us to connect with students and job seekers, providing them with the tools and knowledge needed to make informed career decisions.” Skills in Scranton has developed a sector-based, industry-driven approach to address skills shortages, cultivate talent pipelines, and create meaningful career pathways. By engaging leading industry sectors, the organization continues to build opportunities that support the region’s workforce and economic growth. “Supporting initiatives that connect education to workforce development is important to the Robert H. Spitz Foundation,” said Laura Ducceschi, President and CEO of the Scranton Area Community Foundation. “We are proud to support Skills in Scranton to empower students and job seekers with tools to build meaningful careers, while strengthening the economic future of our region.” For more information about Skills in Scranton and its initiatives, please visit skillsinscranton.com.
