Geisinger Health Foundation Launches Beyond the Bricks Campaign

Geisinger has provided unwavering care to the community for more than 100 years, including for mothers and families. With the launch of the “Beyond the Bricks”fundraising campaign, Geisinger Health Foundation plans to “go beyond” by providing more impactful, innovative and patient-centered care that addresses many of the most pressing needs faced by young people and families from our region.

“Throughout its first quarter-century, Geisinger Janet Weis Children’s Hospital has been synonymous with excellent care,” said Gary and Sandy Sojka, campaign co-chairs for Beyond the Bricks. “With philanthropic support, we will empower care providers as they address emerging concerns in pediatric medicine and work in our communities to combat growing problems. We hope you will recognize the importance of these and other pressing issues — and join with the pediatric and women’s health teams at Geisinger to make a difference for your friends and neighbors.”  

The campaign aims to continue Janet and Sigfried Weis’ mission to provide the best care to children and families across the Geisinger footprint through the creation or expansion of programs and services that align with the campaign’s five guiding commitments:

  • Protecting our children
  • Enhancing care across our footprint through access and innovation
  • Improving access to behavioral healthcare
  • Caring for mothers and babies
  • Promoting education and scientific inquiry 

YMCA’s Golf Tournament & Dinner Celebration on September 16th

The Greater Scranton YMCA’s 3rd Annual Harry P. McGrath Memorial Golf Tournament & Dinner Celebration will take place Friday, September 16th at Glen Oak Country Club. While the golf portion of the day is sold out (interested golfers can be added to a waiting list), the evening portion of the event is open to everyone, not just golfers, and dinner tickets and sponsorship opportunities are still available.

Following the completion of the golf tournament, the evening celebration will begin with cocktails at 6:00 p.m. and the dinner/program at 7:30 p.m.

Harry McGrath was a proud member of the Greater Scranton YMCA. He specialized in education law, advocating for the rights of all students, particularly those with special needs. It became his passion to improve the quality of education for children living in Northeastern Pennsylvania. Proceeds from the tournament will support the Y’s Summer Learning Loss Prevention Program, a six-week program serving rising first and second grade students who are struggling with reading and are attending the Dunmore and Mid Valley School Districts.

“Our dad worked tirelessly so that children in this area had the necessary tools to succeed in school,” said Betsy McGrath Ardizoni, Event Coordinator and Greater Scranton YMCA Board Member. “The Summer Learning Loss Prevention program is consistent with his goal of using his legal career to positively impact the lives of the children he was privileged to represent, and our family is humbled and grateful to honor his legacy through a program he would undoubtedly support.”

Committed sponsors thus far include:

  • Gold Sponsors: Universal Printing Company LLC
  • Silver Sponsors: Jen Ricci State Farm; Haggerty, McGrath, Collins, O’Rourke and James Families
  • 19th Hole Sponsors: J. Conrad Bosley Appraisal Services; NET Credit Union; Fellerman & Ciarimboli; Northeastern Envelope Company
  • Backpack Sponsors: The Perry Law Firm LLC; Vanston & James Funeral Home; Malone & Rosetti Wealth Management; Northeastern Rehabilitation Associates, PC; Topp Business Solutions; Titan Tree Service, Inc.; Atlas Landscape Contractors; Matrix Fitness; Fidelity Bank
  • Additional Sponsors: Thomas Lyons; P&W/Washo, Inc.; Energy Smart; Barrett Law, LLC; Alliance Wealth Management; Mesko Glass; O’Donnell Law Offices; Joanne Cantafio & Family in Memory of Anthony “Taps” Cantafio; Community Bank; A Gift in Memory of Cody Jude Barrasse; Shrive Law, LLC; Judge Robert Mazzoni; PNC Bank; Pat & Christine Philbin; Wasco Insurance; University of Scranton Athletics; Bender Private


Steam Excursion to Carbondale on September 24th

Join Steamtown NHS on Saturday, September 24, 2022 for a steam-powered excursion to Carbondale for the city’s Autumn Market. The Baldwin Locomotive Works No. 26 will depart Steamtown NHS at 9:30 a.m., arriving to Carbondale around 11:15 a.m. Passengers will then have a two-hour layover in Carbondale to enjoy events being offered.  The returning train ride will depart Carbondale at 1:30 p.m., arriving to Steamtown around 3:30 p.m.

NOTICE:

  • Travel times may change due to slow orders or other delays along the route.
  • While steam is planned, Steamtown NHS may be required to change out locomotives due to unforeseen mechanical issues.
  • Masking requirements on passenger coaches are based on local conditions. Updates are posted weekly, on Fridays, to www.nps.gov/stea.

In addition to Carbondale’s Autumn Market, S. Robert Powell, President of the Carbondale Historical Society and Museum, will be at the Carbondale Station to welcome passengers aboard Steamtown’s excursion, and to direct them to the center of town. Powell will lead a walk from the Carbondale Station to Main Street and the center of town, with a stop at Delaware & Hudson Caboose No. 35964, Carbondale City Hall, and Memorial Park. The Carbondale Historical Society (3rd floor of Carbondale City Hall) will be open to visitors from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.; guided tours of the museum will be available.

Ticket prices for Carbondale Excursion: Adult (ages 12-61) $25.00; Senior (ages 62+) $23.00;  Youth (ages 3-11) $18.00; Child (ages 2 and under) $1.00. Visitors can purchase advance tickets for this excursion online through recreation.gov or on-site at our Information Kiosk, credit card only, during regular business hours of 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., daily.

NET Credit Union Announced as Sponsor of Johnson College’s First Cornhole Tournament

Johnson College announces Net Credit Union as the sponsor of its first-ever cornhole tournament. This tournament will take place during the College’s inaugural Fall Fest event on October 1, 2022, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the Johnson College campus in Scranton, PA.

The tournament will feature both Social ($20/team) and Competitive ($40/team) divisions with double elimination. A team will consist of two players, and anyone from beginners to pros can play. Prizes for the Social division will include: 1st place, $100 cash; 2nd place, $50 in gift cards. Prizes for the Competitive division will include: 1st place, $300 cash; 2nd place, $150 cash. There will be food and non-alcoholic beverages available for purchase. Teams can pre-register online at johnson.edu/cornhole-registration-form/ or register at the door from 11 a.m. to 11:45 a.m.

The Wright Center for Community Health and Luzerne County Community College Collaborate on Program for Certified Recovery Specialists

Seventeen students enrolled in the collaborative certified recovery specialist (CRS) credential program at Luzerne County Community College recently completed the educational component to become professionals in the recovery field. The students now are eligible to take the Pennsylvania Certification Board examination to become a state-certified CRS.

The Wright Center for Community Health and Luzerne County Community College worked in partnership on the program to train about 40 CRSs in the regional program with the assistance of grant funding from the Appalachian Regional Commissioner under its own INSPIRE initiative. The initiative is a regional partnership that provides recovery opportunities for growth, education and sustainable success.

Through the grant initiative, the new CRSs will obtain new employment or enhance their current positions and about 50 businesses will be improved through employee education and/or hiring of a CRS.

A CRS credential qualifies peers who are living in recovery with drug and alcohol substance use disorders to help others in their journey through the recovery process. Recovery specialists are able to share similar life experiences by offering insight into their own recovery process. These professionals acknowledge their lived experience as a person in recovery with colleagues, patients and others. Through certification and their unique experiences, CRSs are able to serve as role models, advocates and motivators for others to live a successful life in recovery.

Certified recovery specialists also advocate to reduce stigma, eliminate barriers, increase support systems and build community. Overall, the services aim to substantially improve an individual’s ability to sustain recovery and wellness.

Tobyhanna’s Employee Services Center Draws Awareness to Suicide Prevention

September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month and members of Team Tobyhanna have many resources available to them and their families at Tobyhanna Army Depot (TYAD).

One such resource is the Employee Services Center (ESC), which is available 24/7 via the ESC Hotline at (570) 615-5591 for immediate assistance. The ESC offers brief, solution-focused counseling to help employees or their families balance the struggles they may be having.

When someone calls the Hotline, ESC personnel will confirm if the person in need is a threat to themselves or anyone else. If they are, emergency first responders will be called to get them immediate assistance. ESC personnel ask the same who, what, when, where, and why questions to all who call in so they can learn what the individual is doing and where they are. They make sure to stay engaged in the conversation and try to obtain crucial information that can be used to ensure safety. When the crisis is over, ESC personnel work with the individual to connect them to community resources.

In an effort to better the community around them, the ESC works to promote educational awareness, conducts annual training, normalizes conversations about suicide, and runs a Peer 2 Peer Proactive Education Program. These are all great resources that provide beneficial training for mental health and suicide awareness.

The Peer 2 Peer Program is designed to train employees on mental health, substance abuse, sexual assault, sexual harassment, and suicide prevention to better understand the signs and symptoms of each. Once employees are trained, they receive a yellow lanyard that will allows other employees to identify them as a person they can talk to about what may be bothering them. If more assistance is needed, Peers can escort the employee to the ESC or call 911 to get them immediate assistance.

Currently, the ESC is preparing a training called LivingWorks ASIST. ASIST stands for Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training. The training is a two-day face-to-face workshop featuring powerful audiovisuals, discussions, and simulations. Participants learn how to prevent suicide by recognizing signs, providing a skilled intervention, and developing a safety plan to keep someone alive. Three ESC employees recently received certification to conduct the workshop and will schedule trainings for the Tobyhanna community in the upcoming months.

ESC personnel caution that the signs of suicide are not black and white. They are complex and can look different depending on the person. Suicidal thoughts can occur to anyone, even if they do not have any mental health illnesses. Statistics show that about 5 percent of the United States population are having suicidal thoughts at any given time. Showing others empathy and letting them know they are not alone is a huge step in letting those with suicidal thoughts know their thoughts are common and treatable.

ESC Supervisor Ricardo Horn said that people with suicide thoughts are often in pain, isolated, and unsure of what to do. “Asking a person if they are thinking about suicide shows them you care and that there may be another option. Although it is an uncomfortable question to ask, it just may save a life.”

Becoming more informed about suicide can help prevent it. Looking for the signs and letting others know they are not alone is important.

Bryanne Caruso Promoted To Retail Branch Manager at Fidelity Bank

Daniel J. Santaniello, President & CEO, Fidelity Bank, is pleased to announce the promotion of Bryanne Caruso to Retail Branch Manager of the Wyoming Branch of Fidelity Bank.

A member of the Fidelity Bank team since 2017, Caruso plays an integral role in the success of the Wyoming Branch, overseeing daily operations to provide exceptional service to Fidelity Bank clients. She participates in outside sales and customer service calls with current and prospective clients, and ensures compliance with operating policies, procedures, and regulatory requirements.

Caruso earned an Associate’s degree in Business Studies from Lackawanna College, Scranton, and she is pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting from The Pennsylvania State University. An active member of the community, she is enrolled in Leadership Northeast, Class of 2023.

She resides in Dunmore with her fiancé, Charles Salvo, and her daughter, Emery. When she isn’t working, Caruso enjoys spending time with family and pursuing a variety of interests. Crafting, country music concerts, and watching her daughter play softball are among her favorite activities. She also enjoys outdoor recreation with her fiancé, including kayaking, riding quads, and hunting. With an adventurous spirit, Caruso has been sky diving, snorkeling, and white-water rafting, and she aspires to add ziplining, swimming with sharks, and rock climbing to this list in the future.

Now Accepting Letters of Intent for Fall 2022 Innovative Impact Grants

The Scranton Area Community Foundation is now accepting grant applications for Fall 2022 Innovative Impact Grants, and invites charitable organizations working to address the needs of people living in the Lackawanna County region to complete a Letter of Intent by Friday, September 30th.

Innovative Impact Grants(up to $25,000) seek to provide resources for a nonprofit, or collaboration of nonprofits and other partners, to make a measurable improvement in the region.

These competitive grants are made to those applying organizations that are committed to new, innovative, transformational, and/or collaborative efforts to:

  • Carry out an important goal or address a specific challenge;
  • Become more impactful, effective, and sustainable in their work;
  • Achieve a greater impact in the community they serve;
  • Meet their organizational missions.

Applications must meet the following requirements:

  • Impact: Applicants must demonstrate how this program/project will make the community better, what data will be collected in order to measure success, and what goals have been set for the program/project to achieve
     
  • Budget: Applicants must supply a detailed program/project budget, which includes the uses and sources of funds. The organization’s budget must also be included.
     
  • Sustainability: Applicants must demonstrate how the program/project will continue after grant funds are expended and what the plan is to build sustainability for the future.
     
  • Timeline and Evaluation: Applicants must describe when the desired impact might be realized and which populations will benefit from the program/project. Additionally, applicants need to detail how the program/project will be evaluated both during the course of the program/project, and also following the program/project’s completion.
     
  • Applicants are also strongly encouraged to establish collaborative partnerships
Deadlines:
  Interested applicants must complete a Letter of Intent (LOI) by Friday, September 30th through SAF’s online grant management portal.

If invited to apply, applications will be due Tuesday, November 1st.   All grants must be used for a charitable purpose and be granted to a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
Complete an LOI for Fall 2022 Innovative Impact Grants

Ready to apply? As part of our ongoing commitment to building the capacity of our nonprofit professionals and to better serve our grant seekers, our grant application process is now streamlined through our online grant management portal. All grant requests are handled through the online portal.

No paper or emailed applications will be accepted.

The grant application process generally begins with submitting a Letter of Intent (LOI) through the online portal. To submit an LOI, you will need to log on to your organization’s account in our online grant management portal. If your organization does not have an account established, you will need to create an account. If you are unsure of your organization’s account credentials, please contact your organization’s leadership to inquire or email us at grants@safdn.org for further instruction. 

ACCESS ONLINE GRANT MANAGEMENT PORTAL

1. At the login page, please follow the appropriate next step:
a. If you have already created a login: you must login using the credentials you’ve utilized for previous grant applications. NOTE: username is always an email.
b. If someone else in your organization has already created a login: please email grants@safdn.org to have a new user added to your organization.
c. If your organization has never accessed our online grant portal, create your account using the following information:

  • A username that is an email address
  • Your contact information
  • Your organization’s information, including the EIN/Tax ID number (required)
  • Contact information for the organization’s Executive Officer

2. On the applicant dashboard, select “Apply” along the top menu to view available grants.
We have provided additional resources, including a written tutorial, to help you with our new grant application process. To access the written applicant tutorial, visit the Applicant Tutorial – Grants

All submitted LOIs will be reviewed and select organizations will be invited to submit a full grant application through the online portal before the grant application deadline.

If you have any questions about our grant application process, please contact us via email at grants@safdn.org.

The Dime Bank Celebrates its Steamtown Community Branch in Scranton

The Dime Bank celebrated its newest addition to the community bank’s branch network with a ribbon cutting ceremony at 300 Lackawanna Avenue, at the Marketplace at Steamtown. This branch brings high-tech, concierge banking to the community.  With concierge banking, customers have high-tech, personal customer service with cross-trained staff to take care of their needs by one person in one place. With an iPad in the branch for customer’s convenient access to their accounts online and an ATM in the bank’s vestibule bringing 24/7 access to funds, customers have high-tech convenient access to finances. Spanish speaking staff are also available to assist customers as needed.  The community is invited to visit The Dime Bank Steamtown branch to tour the facility, meet the staff, and to enter a drawing to win one of 20 gift certificates to local merchants. Winners are being drawn and contacted the week of October 31, 2022. The Steamtown branch offers customers access to trusted, dependable financial professionals who bring financial solutions to the community Monday through Friday, 9:00 am – 5:00 pm.

President and Chief Executive Officer Pete Bochnovich thanked the attendees and the participants who worked so diligently to make this new state-of-the-art banking facility a huge success. Bochnovich stated, “We’re elated to be in Scranton and look forward to servicing the needs of all in the community by providing an ultimate customer experience. We’re very excited about the development going on in Scranton and the ongoing repurposing of the Marketplace at Steamtown. The Dime Bank is very fortunate to have been involved in several revitalization projects in the greater Scranton downtown area, and this location is a perfect fit for us to assist with the expanding financial needs in the community. We are firmly committed to our existing customers and look forward to cultivating new relationships in the Lackawanna County area. To further enrich the quality of life for all in the region, The Dime Bank will continue to support the community and nonprofit programs, as we have done since 1905. Our mission to serve the financial needs of all, continues to hold true as we strive to build strong partnerships for years to come.”