NeighborWorks NEPA Receives Grant from the Robert H. Spitz Foundation NeighborWorks Northeastern Pennsylvania (NeighborWorks) is pleased to announce it has received a $17,000 grant from the Robert H. Spitz Foundation, managed by the Scranton Area Community Foundation.These funds support our Community Services Navigator position, which aids clients from our main direct service programs: Aging in Place, Neighborhood Revitalization, and Homeownership & Financial Services. This position provides assistance to older adults in connecting to other social service opportunities, completing applications for assistance and navigating referrals provided.“We truly appreciate the generous support from the Robert H. Spitz Foundation” said Jesse Ergott, President & CEO. “This grant will allow us to provide more personalized assistance to our neighbors facing challenges with financial and homeownership stability.”The grant from the Robert H. Spitz Foundation is one of several funding sources that is being used to increase organizational capacity to establish and maintain the Navigator position. This position ensures the Aging in Place program can continue to provide services to older adults in our community.The Robert H. Spitz Foundation awards annual grants through a competitive application and review process. NeighborWorks is one of 45 nonprofit grant recipients in Northeastern Pennsylvania to receive funding in the 2021 cycle of grant awards. Priority areas for funding include supporting programs that aim to break the cycle of poverty, remove economic barriers, and encourage independence in adults and children through access to safe, affordable housing, transportation, education, and other important issues.
Scranton Area Community Foundation Awards Grant to The Garden of Cedar The Garden of Cedar in Scranton has been awarded a $15,000 grant by the Scranton Area Community Foundation. The grant proceeds will be used to assist in constructing several innovative features at the Garden including ADA accessible planting beds, a vertical planting wall to maximize crop yield, custom planting greenhouses for off-season gardening, and children’s discovery stations. The Garden of Cedar is located at 715 Cedar Avenue in South Scranton. The mission of The Garden of Cedar is to provide a unique functional urban community garden and discovery area that will provide healthy nourishment, education and enjoyment to a diverse culturally rich community comprised of recent immigrants and long-term neighborhood residents. The Garden’s signature feature will be a wandering maze pathway bounded by vegetable and fruit planting beds. Visitors will be able to wander along a serpentine path, with stops & starts, and return safely to the point of origin. Along the way they will be able to observe various planting techniques employed by residents of the local community. The project is being developed by Frank Dubas, president of the Garden, a non-profit organization. Frank resides in New Canaan, CT and Scranton, PA. Construction is expected to commence at the site in early 2022. “I am extremely grateful that the Scranton Area Community Foundation has recognized the mission of the Garden by making this award to assist with several innovative and transformational features. When complete, The Garden of Cedar will be a testament to the resilience of one of Scranton’s most diverse and deserving neighborhoods. The Garden will be like none other,” said Dubas.
Scranton Area Community-Backed Matt McGloin Foundation Awards Grant to Saint Joseph’s Center The Matt McGloin Foundation, administered by the Scranton Area Community Foundation, recently presented a $9,000 grant to fund a new outdoor accessible play area at Saint Joseph’s Center Trinity Child Care Center. PHOTO (l-r): Atty. Charles Volpe; David Price, Scranton Area Community Foundation Board Secretary; Keith Eckel; Bailey McGloin, The Matt McGloin Foundation; Matt McGloin, The Matt McGloin Foundation; Michele Johnston, RN, Director of Trinity Child Care Center; Sister Maryalice Jacquinot, IHM, President and CEO, Saint Joseph’s Center; Brittany Pagnotti, Scranton Area Community Foundation Communications Manager.
Telespond Senior Services Awarded $5,000 to Support Operations Telespond Senior Services has accepted a $5,000 Critical Needs grant award from the Scranton Area Community Foundation to support operations of in-home and on-site senior services in Northeastern PA. Telespond’s on-site day program provides a community-based environment for older adults who require supervised care outside the home during the day. Telespond’s in-home personal care services assist seniors with non-medical activities of daily living so they can continue to live independently. Telespond is dedicated to enhancing the safety and well-being of the region’s elderly and has served the Lackawanna County community for over 40 years. To learn more, visit http://www.seniordayservices.org/
NEPA Health Care Foundation, Administered by SACF, Announces Careers in Care Nursing Scholarships In response to the acute shortage of nurses across the region and its effect on the health and wellness of Northeastern Pennsylvania, the Northeastern Pennsylvania Health Care Foundation, administered by the Scranton Area Community Foundation, announces it has awarded $189,622 in its first year towards nursing scholarships for local students as part of its Careers in Care initiative. The Careers in Care Nursing Scholarship Program has awarded 21 scholarships to students in Lackawanna, Luzerne, and Wyoming Counties who plan to pursue or who are pursuing nursing and who will practice in Northeastern Pennsylvania. These scholarship opportunities come during a time where the strains on the healthcare workforce in Northeastern Pennsylvania have been significant. In response to the significant interest and need in the region, the Northeastern Pennsylvania Health Care Foundation has decided to double the amount available for scholarships in 2022 to $400,000.The Careers in Care Nursing Scholarship Program accepted applications earlier this year and, through a rigorous and competitive application process, identified a variety of qualified nursing students. Recipients include Brooke Bird, Luzerne County Community College; Sarah Bonser, Walden University; Jacqueline Cicardo, Luzerne County Community College; Michael Clark, Penn State Scranton; Caity Colan, Luzerne County Community College; Jason Conrad, Luzerne County Community College; Jacqueline Earley, Lackawanna College; Austin Emenyonu, Misericordia University; Elizabeth Hernandez, Luzerne County Community College; Casey Hughes, Luzerne County Community College; Holly Hughes, Marywood University; Nicole Lubash, Marywood University; Brittany Marcinkevich, Lackawanna College; Mary McFadden, Penn State Scranton; Tiffany Megotz, Career Technology Center of Lackawanna County; Anne Murdoch, Penn State Scranton; Samantha Rosselli, Lackawanna College; Laura Slivinski, Career Technology Center of Lackawanna County; Rosa Vazquez Nunez, Career Technology Center of Lackawanna County; Ariana Velez, Wilkes University; and Sabrina Weidlich, Luzerne County Community College. “Over the past year, we have seen just how timely the Careers in Care initiative really is,” said James Clemente, NEPA Health Care Foundation Board Chair. “The Foundation’s Board understands the strains that the regional healthcare workforce is facing and strives to make an impact to address these critical issues through these important scholarships.” “I think the fact that the Board of the Northeastern PA Health Care Foundation has decided to double the amount of scholarship support available for nurses in year two speaks to the great need and interest in the program,” said Laura Ducceschi, President and CEO of the Scranton Area Community Foundation. She adds, “I think the Foundation board was very innovative in their planning of these scholarships which are made available to nursing students from CNAs through nurse educators at the graduate level.” The Scranton Area Community Foundation administers the NEPA Health Care Foundation. To qualify for a Careers in Care Nursing Scholarship, individuals were required to show they have had a permanent address in Lackawanna, Luzerne, or Wyoming County for the last three years. Scholarships were available to those interested in obtaining a CNA and entering the healthcare workforce. Scholarships are also for anyone employed in the healthcare field in either Lackawanna, Luzerne, or Wyoming County and looking to advance as an LPN or RN/BSN. Additionally, students were invited to apply if they were in their third or fourth year of a four-year nursing degree and looking for financial assistance. Scholarship recipients were also asked to demonstrate a commitment to stay in the Northeastern Pennsylvania region. The Northeastern Pennsylvania Health Care Foundation also invited ‘nontraditional’ students or those looking to go back to school to obtain a nursing degree to apply for a Careers in Care Nursing Scholarship. Additionally, through Careers in Care, the NEPA Health Care Foundation will provide grant support totaling $830,000, to a variety of organizations including Lackawanna College, for its three-year plan to enhance the pipeline of local healthcare professionals and increase the number trained and retained in the region; United Neighborhood Centers of NEPA for its Upward Economic Mobility Program; and Saint Joseph’s Center for direct support professional wage increases. The Northeastern Pennsylvania Health Care Foundation’s Careers in Care initiative is a $1.7 million commitment over a three-year period (2020-2023). In addition to the Careers in Care initiative, the NEPA Health Care Foundation is also in the seventh year of a $3.2 million commitment to the Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine (GCSOM) for scholarship support for incoming first-year medical students from Lackawanna, Luzerne and Wyoming counties. The NEPA Health Care Foundation Scholars program covers full tuition for these scholars, who indicate a commitment to practice medicine in Northeastern PA.
3rd Annual NEPA Learning Conference Kicks Off in Scranton The Scranton Area Community Foundation, through its Center for Community Leadership and Nonprofit Excellence in partnership with Moses Taylor Foundation and The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation, will host its 3rd annual NEPA Learning Conference this Wednesday, August 18, through Friday, August 20, 2021. This event offers nonprofit organizations and nonprofit professionals across the region the opportunity to receive in-depth training from local and nationally-recognized presenters. Keynote speakers will include Heather McGhee, author of New York Times bestseller The Sum of Us: What Racism Costs Everyone and How We Can Prosper Together; Ann Mei Chang, author of Lean Impact: How to Innovate for Radically Greater Social Good; and LaShunda Leslie-Smith, Executive Director of Connected Communities, an organization dedicated to building up neighborhoods in the Rochester, New York area by engaging residents, service providers, and community partners in a holistic approach. Attendees of this three-day learning conference will have an opportunity to learn from local and national experts in a variety of fields, network with peers, and discover how they can create a learning culture within their organization. The conference will share strategies for adapting to a post-pandemic world, teach the importance of collaborative learning, and also will touch on important and relevant topics including racial equity, innovation, and donor relations. Attendees have the opportunity to attend in person at the Hilton Scranton & Conference Center (100 Adams Ave, Scranton, PA) or entirely virtually online, via the conference platform app, Whova. A crowd of roughly 200 representatives from nonprofit organizations is expected to attend this hybrid event. While attendance is geared toward nonprofit professionals, registration—which closed on Monday, August 16—is open to the public. Attendees can find additional information through the conference website at NEPALearningConference.com. “At the Scranton Area Community Foundation, we prioritize the importance of enhancing organizational capacity building and view it as transformative to the region as a whole,” said Laura Ducceschi, President and CEO of the Scranton Area Community Foundation. “We are grateful for so many of our partnering foundations right here in Northeastern Pennsylvania supporting our efforts to bring this learning conference to the nonprofit community of our region.” Sponsors of the event include Moses Taylor Foundation, The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation, Lamar Advertising, The William C. McGowan Charitable Fund, Geisinger, Posture Interactive, The Hawk Family Foundation, The Luzerne Foundation, McGrail Merkel Quinn & Associates, Children’s Service Center of NEPA, United Way of Lackawanna and Wayne Counties, Hilton Scranton and Conference Center, Wayne County Community Foundation, Girl Scouts in the Heart of Pennsylvania, Knowles Insurance, United Neighborhood Centers of NEPA, Center City Print, Junior League of Scranton, and more. For more information on the 2021 NEPA Learning Conference, please visit NEPALearningConference.com or contact Brittany Pagnotti, Communications Manager of the Scranton Area Community Foundation at 570-347-6203.
Scranton Area Community Foundation Announces 2021 James F. Swift Scholarship Recipients Twenty students from thirteen different high schools in the area have been awarded a prestigious scholarship through the James F. Swift Scholarship Fund administered by the Scranton Area Community Foundation, which provides $5,000 per year for each recipient for up to four years to assist with continuing education expenses. The James F. Swift Scholarship Fund has awarded over $3.2 million since 2008, benefiting over 220 local students to date. Created in 2002 through a gift by Mr. James F. Swift to the Scranton Area Community Foundation, the James F. Swift Scholarship Fund provides support for higher education for students graduating from high schools in Lackawanna County. Following Mr. Swift’s death in 2006, the Scranton Area Community Foundation gratefully received a significant gift from his estate to the scholarship fund which has allowed a great number of students from Lackawanna County the opportunity to pursue their academic and professional goals through higher education. The scholarship aims to provide an ongoing stream of matriculation at Lackawanna County colleges and universities. It is the goal of the Scranton Area Community Foundation to award 75% of the scholarships to students who plan to attend institutions of higher learning in the Lackawanna County region. Scranton Area Community Foundation President and CEO Laura Ducceschi praised the generosity of Mr. Swift, noting “he has left a permanent and enduring legacy for the young people of our region. His scholarship fund makes higher education more attainable for generations of students.” James F. Swift Scholarship Recipients pictured: Row 1: Gabrielle Snee, Rebecca Lucas, Liz Stone, Olivia Manarchuck, Taralyn Reilly, Ryan Coleman. Row 2: Hannah Carr, Maura Turi, Jillian Brennan, Alexis Tanana, Ava Decker, Caitlin Doughton, Gerardo Sanchez Garcia, Gwyneth Serowinski, Fione Evans, Korey Kruk. Row 3: Hunter Geise, Ben Thompson, Antonio Pugliese, Nicholas Guerra, Ashley Capone, Taylor Seprosky, Jenna O’Malley. Row 4: Christian Snee, Jacob Vituszynski, Joshua Vituszynski, Claudia Pitts, Tyler Muskey, Marguerite Flynn, David McKenney, Eric Spivak. Also in photo: Cathy Fitzpatrick, Grants and Scholarship Manager, Scranton Area Community Foundation; and Frank Caputo, Grants and Communications Coordinator, Scranton Area Community Foundation. 2021 James F. Swift Scholarship recipients missing from photo: Michael Rodyushkin, Cameron Butka, Matthew Howard, Hailey Matechak, Kayla Rose, Sara McCormac, Meredith Purcell, Sofia Capozzi, Marisol Olivares. In addition to the 20 new recipients, there were 55 James F. Swift Scholarship renewals in 2021. The following students are recipients of a James F. Swift Scholarship Renewal in 2021: Shannon Baransky, Tanner Begin, Calista Calabro, Christina Carachilo, Emma Coar, Andrew Cummings, James Docalovich, Collin Ennis, Austin Glidewell, Marilyn Hoskins, Daniel Jaggars, Rebecca Johnson, Tiffini Kalt, Meghan Keenan, Benjamin Koshinski, Tori Kovalchick, Kristen Lello, Ximena Maldonado, Mark Melesky, Brooke Mickavicz, Gia Occhipinti, Marley Palmere, Megan Purcell, Julia Romanovich, Amanda Sakulich, Nina Sampogne, Kaitlyn Savage, Natalie Sottile, Christopher Talluto, Makenna Thorpe, Evan Tremback, Ryan Turlip, Alexandra Valvano, Anna Van Wert, Stone Wormuth, Alec Yanisko, Drew Yanni.
Scranton Area Community Foundation Announces 2021 Scholarship Recipients The Scranton Area Community Foundation is proud to announce its 2021 scholarship recipients, benefitting 168 local students from various schools in the area from scholarship funds administered by the Foundation. A total of $474,440 was recently distributed through 63 scholarships, including the #GaryInspiredMe Scholarship, the Matt McGloin Scholarship, the Neal J. Fasula Scholarship, and the highly-competitive James F. Swift scholarship. The complete listing of all 2021 scholarship recipients is detailed below. Scholarship recipients are selected annually by various scholarship committees at the Foundation. “We are grateful to the generous donors who make these scholarships possible to benefit so many students from across the region,” stated Scranton Area Community Foundation President and CEO, Laura Ducceschi. “The Foundation proudly manages over 50 individual scholarship funds established by charitable donors who want to support outstanding students and make higher education more attainable for so many in our communities.” The Scranton Area Community Foundation is a partner with the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA) in their Partnership for Access to Higher Education (PATH) Program to offer qualifying students additional financial aid. Through PHEAA, many scholarship recipients may be eligible for additional dollars toward their tuition.For more information on any of the scholarships at the Scranton Area Community Foundation, please contact Brittany Pagnotti, Communications Manager of the Scranton Area Community Foundation at 570-347-6203. To establish a scholarship fund in honor of or memory of a loved one or to include a scholarship as a legacy gift in your estate plans, please contact the Scranton Area Community Foundation today or visit safdn.org to learn more. 2021 Scholarship Recipients #GaryInspiredMe Scholarship Natalie Deal (North Pocono)Shiloh Miller (Northwest Area) American Legion A. Pierson Hurd Academic ScholarshipMargaret Domski (Valley View) Angelina Fricchione and Michael Cupple ScholarshipSydney Dana (Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine) Ann Wall ScholarshipNathan Dill (Lackawanna Trail) Anthracite ScholarshipTaylor Bartle (Greater Nanticoke)Joseph Fasula (Scranton Prep)Joseph Ferrara (Wallenpaupak)Hunter Geise (Riverside)John Gilchrist (Riverside)Lindsay Grzyboski (Riverside)Zack Kovalchik (Valley View)Shiloh Miller (Northwest Area)Isabelle Ritz (Hazleton)Matthew Williams (Holy Redeemer) Ashley and Erin Williams Memorial ScholarshipDestiny Anello (North Pocono) Blakely Borough ScholarshipEmma Burak (Valley View) Caroline Ace, LPN/Angela Muchal, LPN ScholarshipMorgan Veina (Career Technology Center) Catherine A. Alu Memorial ScholarshipPaige Martin (Dunmore) Chris Moran ScholarshipChase Poplawski (Mountain View)Michael Rodyushkin (Abington Heights) Chris Till Sender Scholarship Christine Townsend (Scranton) Cinderella’s Closet Scholarship Jillian Brennan (Holy Cross) Constance M. and Joseph A. Brocavich Memorial ScholarshipTravis Bridgeman (Scranton Prep)Samuel Grizzanti (Scranton Prep)Grace Ann Kapacs (Scranton Prep) Danielle Faramelli ScholarshipOlivia Kaschak (Valley View) David Gallagher Memorial ScholarshipKayla Przekop (Abington Heights) Dr. Bernard Shair Memorial ScholarshipPeter Heckman (University of Scranton) Dr. E.C. LaCoe ScholarshipKristin Lipkus (Abington Heights)Tyler Petty (Abington Heights) Dr. George J. Hallesky Memorial ScholarshipAllana Elizabeth Warner (Johnson College) Dulcey Degilio ScholarshipKristin Lipkus (Abington Heights) Edward C. Snyder Memorial ScholarshipJohn Barrera (Kings College) Greg Legg NEPA Diamond ScholarshipZack Kovalchik (Valley View) James F. Swift ScholarshipJillian Brennan (Holy Cross)Shannon Baransky (Marywood)Tanner Begin (Penn State University)Cameron Butka (West Scranton)Sofia Capozzi (Abington Heights)Calista Calabro (Penn State University)Ashley Capone (Marywood)Christina Carachilo (University of Scranton)Hannah Carr (University of Scranton)Ryan Coleman (Valley View)Andrew Cummings (Dickinson College)Ava Decker (West Scranton)James Docalovich (Lehigh University)Caitlin Doughton (University of Scranton)Collin Ennis (University of Scranton)Fione Evans (University of Scranton)Marguerite Flynn (Boston College)Hunter Geise (Riverside)Austin Glidewell (University of Scranton)Nicholas Guerra (University of Scranton)Marilyn Hoskins (Marywood University)Matthew Howard (Scranton Prep)Daniel Jaggars (University of Nebraska)Rebecca Johnson (University of Scranton)Tiffini Kalt (Marywood University)Meghan Keenan (Elizabethtown College)Benjamin Koshinski (University of Scranton)Tori Kovalchick (Penn State University)Korey Kruk (Scranton High School)Kristen Lello (Marywood University)Rebecca Lucas (University of the Sciences)Ximena Maldonado (University of Scranton)Olivia Manarchuck (University of Scranton)Hailey Matechak (Lakeland)Sara McCormack (Scranton)David McKenney (Lakeland)Mark Melesky (Penn State University)Brooke Mickavicz (Marywood University)Tyler Muskey (University of Scranton)Jenna O’Malley (University of Scranton)Gia Occhipinti (University of Pittsburgh)Marisol Olivares (North Pocono)Marley Palmere (Moravian College)Claudia Pitts (University of Scranton)Antonio Pugliese (Penn State University)Megan Purcell (Lehigh University)Meredith Purcell (Scranton Prep)Taralyn Reilly (Valley View)Michael Rodyushkin (Abington Heights)Julia Romanovich (University of Scranton)Kayla Rose (Riverside)Amanda Sakulich (Marywood University)Nina Sampogne (Penn State University)Gerardo Sanchez Garcia (University of Scranton)Kaitlyn Savage (Marywood University)Taylor Seprosky (Marywood University)Gwyneth Serowinski (Keystone College)Christian Snee (Mid Valley)Gabrielle Snee (Mid Valley)Natalie Sottile (University of Scranton)Eric Spivak (Marywood University)Elizabeth Stone (Marywood University)Christopher Talluto (Elizabethtown College)Alexis Tanana (Holy Cross)Benjamin Thompson (North Pocono)Makenna Thorpe (Saint Joseph’s University)Evan Tremback (Marywood University)Maura Turi (University of Scranton)Ryan Turlip (University of Pennsylvania)Alexandra Valvano (Villanova University)Anna Van Wert (University of Scranton)Jacob Vituszynski (University of Scranton)Joshua Vituszynski (University of Scranton)Stone Wormuth (Wilkes University)Alec Yanisko (Johnson College)Drew Yanni (Marywood University) James M. Akens North Pocono Athletic Trust FunCasey Serine (North Pocono)Kyle Serine (North Pocono) Jane H. Rushmore Memorial Nursing ScholarshipLisa Engroff (Career Technology Center)Kacie Szczech (Career Technology Center) Jason Evans Memorial Wrestling ScholarshipJames Brown (Abington Heights) Jefferson ScholarshipSara Reyes Guerrero (Riverside)Jaela Johnson (West Scranton) Jeffrey Morgan Davis Memorial ScholarshipSean Herbert (Holy Cross) Jennifer Morgan ScholarshipLindsey Christian (Pittston Area) John and Grace Kreig ScholarshipJeffery Higgins (Riverside) John R. and Maureen J. Pesavento All Saints Interparochial Academy ScholarshipElla Cohen (Scranton Prep)Nicholas Rusinko (Holy Cross) Joseph (Firp) and Charles Pacino ScholarshipPeter Kawash (Lakeland) Joseph J. Costa Memorial ScholarshipGene Biscontini (Lackawanna College)Lindsey Eason (Lackawanna College)Gilbert Diaz (Lackawanna College) Joseph P. McDonald Memorial ScholarshipDavid Day (Dunmore)Katie McKitish (Dunmore)Steven Qarmout (Dunmore) Junior League of Scranton ScholarshipSara McCormack (Scranton) Keisling Family ScholarshipSarah Tolerico (Carbondale) Margaret Briggs/Lackawanna College ScholarshipTara Palumbo (Lackawanna College)Donald Yarros (Lackawanna College) Matt McGloin ScholarshipBrennan Burnside (West Scranton)Iylah Mosley (West Scranton) Midori Yamanouchi, PhD Scholarship Nevica Molinaro (Riverside) Neal J. Fasula ScholarshipGavin Beck (Marywood University)Mia Castellano (Edinboro University)Kevin Jumper (Holy Cross)Norah Kelly (Holy CrossBryan Melliand (Penn State University)Samantha Meeker (Penn State University)Alexandra Mitchell (Penn State University)Adam Nitch (West Chester University)Will Oliphant (Misericordia University)Frank Rosenski (Abington Heights)William White (Penn State University) Page to the Stage Collegiate Scholarship Damien Chmielewski (Mid Valley) Patrick Andrew Luptak ScholarshipNatalie Deal (North Pocono)Michael Rodyushkin (Abington Heights)Sarah Tolerico (Carbondale) Pay It Forward ScholarshipJessica Kehl (Penn State University)Emma Kernoschak (Penn State University) Raoul Wallenberg ScholarshipTaylor Bartle (Greater Nanticoke Area) Russell J. O’Malley and James E. O’Brien Memorial ScholarshipRichard Rodenbach (Temple University) Sarah Beth Beynon Memorial ScholarshipJadan Zawierucha (Pittston Area) Scotty Cummings Perry Special Ed Scholarship Margaret Domski (Valley View) Scranton Central High School Class of 1964 ScholarshipEmily Kizer (Scranton) Sean J. Calpin Automotive Technology ScholarshipNicholas Wilson (Johnson College) Teddick Family ScholarshipAshtyn Mecca (Lackawanna Trail)Zoe Pickett (Elk Lake)Chase Poplawski (Mountain View) The Melvin-Deininger ScholarshipMadeline Meckwood (Abington Heights) Tolerance ScholarshipTaylor Bartle (Greater Nanticoke) Todd Angelo Memorial ScholarshipPeter Heckman (University of Scranton) Waverly Women’s Club Scholarship Sarah Siddiqui (Abington Heights) Waverly Women’s Club Mildred Mumford English ScholarshipIsabell Holland (Abington Heights) Waverly Women’s Club Technical School Scholarship Spencer Jones (Abington Heights)
Scranton Area Community Foundation Hosting 3rd Annual NEPA Learning Conference The Scranton Area Community Foundation, through its Center for Community Leadership and Nonprofit Excellence in partnership with Moses Taylor Foundation and The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation, will host its 3rd annual NEPA Learning Conference on August 18-20, 2021. This event will offer nonprofit organizations and nonprofit professionals across the region the opportunity to receive in-depth training virtually from local and nationally-recognized presenters. Keynote speakers will include Heather McGhee, author of New York Times bestseller The Sum of Us: What Racism Costs Everyone and How We Can Prosper Together; Ann Mei Chang, author of Lean Impact: How to Innovate for Radically Greater Social Good; and LaShunda Leslie-Smith, Executive Director of Connected Communities, an organization dedicated to building up neighborhoods in the Rochester, New York area by engaging residents, service providers, and community partners in a holistic approach. Attendees of this three-day learning conference will have an opportunity to learn from local and national experts in a variety of fields, network with peers, and discover how they can create a learning culture within their organization. The conference will share strategies for adapting to a post-pandemic world, teach the importance of collaborative learning, and also will touch on important and relevant topics including racial equity, innovation, and donor relations. Attendees have the opportunity to attend in person at the Hilton Scranton & Conference Center (100 Adams Ave, Scranton, PA) or entirely virtually online, via the conference platform app, Whova. A crowd of roughly 200 representatives from nonprofit organizations is expected to attend this hybrid event. While attendance is geared toward nonprofit professionals, registration is open to the public. Registration closes at 12:00 p.m. (noon) on Monday, August 16, 2021. Attendees can register through the conference website at NEPALearningConference.com. “Through the Scranton Area Community Foundation’s Center for Community Leadership and Nonprofit Excellence, we prioritize the importance of enhancing organizational capacity building and view it as transformative to the region as a whole,” said Laura Ducceschi, President and CEO of the Scranton Area Community Foundation. “We are grateful for so many of our partnering foundations right here in Northeastern Pennsylvania supporting our efforts to bring this learning conference to the nonprofit community of our region.” Sponsors of the event include Moses Taylor Foundation, The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation, The William C. McGowan Charitable Fund, The Hawk Family Foundation, The Luzerne Foundation, McGrail Merkel Quinn & Associates, Children’s Service Center of NEPA, United Way of Lackawanna and Wayne Counties, Hilton Scranton and Conference Center, Wayne County Community Foundation, Girl Scouts in the Heart of Pennsylvania, Knowles Insurance, United Neighborhood Centers of NEPA, Center City Print, and Junior League of Scranton. For more information on the 2021 NEPA Learning Conference, please visit NEPALearningConference.com or contact Brittany Pagnotti, communications manager of the Scranton Area Community Foundation at 570-347-6203.
Robert H. Spitz Foundation Announces 2021 Grants The Robert H. Spitz Foundation, administered by the Scranton Area Community Foundation, announces its 2021 grants, awarding a total of $717,500 to 45 nonprofit organizations in Northeastern Pennsylvania. The Foundation distributed a total of $717,500 in grants to the following nonprofit organizations: Adopt A Boxer Rescue, Allied Services Foundation, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northeastern PA, Boys & Girls Clubs of Northeastern Pennsylvania, Bread Basket of Northeast Pennsylvania, Catherine McAuley Center, Dress for Success Lackawanna, Fraternite Notre Dame, GAIT TRC, Griffin Pond Animal Shelter, Indraloka Animal Sanctuary, Jewish Community Center of Scranton, Jewish Family Service of Northeastern Pennsylvania, Johnson College, Junior Achievement of Northeastern PA, Lackawanna Historical Society, Luzerne County Animal Response Team, Marywood University, NativityMiguel School of Scranton, NeighborWorks Northeastern Pennsylvania, NEPA Pet Fund and Rescue, North Shore Animal League, Outreach – Center for Community Resources, PAWsitively for the Animals, Quigley’s Shelter Pet’s, Inc., Saint Joseph’s Center, Scranton Animal Shelter Association Incorporation, Scranton Area Community Foundation, Scranton Lackawanna Human Development Agency, Inc., SPCA of Luzerne County, St. Cats and Dogs of Scranton, Temple Israel of Scranton, The Arc of Northeastern PA, The Humane Society of Wyoming County, Inc., The Salvation Army, The University of Scranton, Treatment Court Advocacy Center of Lackawanna County, United Neighborhood Centers of NEPA, Valhalla Veterans Services, Valley Youth House, VNA Hospice and Home Health, Volunteers of America of Pennsylvania, Inc., Wilkes University, and Women’s Resource Center. A complete listing of the 2021 grants awarded by the Robert H. Spitz Foundation can be found on the Scranton Area Community Foundation’s website, safdn.org. “We are extremely grateful that the generosity of the Robert H. Spitz Foundation has allowed for the support of so many worthy charitable organizations in the region,” stated Laura Ducceschi, Scranton Area Community Foundation’s President and CEO. “The impact of Mr. Spitz’s legacy is transformative, and on behalf of the Foundation trustees, we are proud to help carry out the Foundation’s mission.” In addition to these 2021 grants, the Robert H. Spitz Foundation also provided $100,000 to COVID-19 relief support earlier this year.
