The Greater Scranton YMCA Needs Your Vote The Greater Scranton YMCA needs your help by voting for them to receive a $25,000 grant from State Farm® to help improve their community. Starting August 18th at 12:00 a.m. ET, U.S. residents who are 18 and older with a valid email address can vote for their favorite cause at www.neighborhoodassist.com. The Greater Scranton YMCA has until August 27th at 11:59 p.m. ET to rally votes and anyone voting is allowed up to 10 votes per day. On September 29th, the top 40 vote-receiving causes will be announced at www.neighborhoodassist.com and a $25,000 grant will be awarded to each of the affiliated nonprofits. A $25,000 grant from the State Farm Foundation would allow the Greater Scranton YMCA to hire a full-time staff person who would be dedicated to the success and future development of the Y’s current Food Program. Presently, due to a lack of funding and staff, the Food Program only serves children enrolled in Early Childhood Education Programs at the Greater Scranton YMCA. The addition of a full-time staff person dedicated to the Food Program and its growth would allow the Y to not only provide meals to individuals enrolled in more programs at the Y, for example summer day camp, after school, and programs serving older adults; but provide meals to the community at large, including veterans, as we know food insecurity affects individuals of all ages and backgrounds. To cast your vote for the Greater Scranton YMCA between August 18th and August 27th, visit our cause page here: https://www.neighborhoodassist.com/entry/2038251. “The Greater Scranton YMCA is honored to have been chosen as a State Farm Neighborhood Assist® Top 200 Finalist,” said Trish Fisher, President & CEO, Greater Scranton YMCA. “We would appreciate our community rallying together so we can turn our dream of expanding our Food Program to serve more children, adults and families in need of healthy food into a reality!” State Farm Neighborhood Assist is a crowd-sourced philanthropic initiative that empowers communities to identify issues in their neighborhoods. The State Farm Review Committee selected the top 200 finalists from 2,000 submissions.
NEPIRC’s Annual Manufacturing Day Event The Northeastern Pennsylvania Industrial Resource Center (NEPIRC) announced the return of its regional National Manufacturing Day (MFG DAY) 2021 Manufacturing Best Practices Summit & Expo. This year’s event will be at the Mohegan Sun Pocono Convention Center on October 1st, 2021. The event, which attracted nearly 400 participants in 2019 and garnered over 500 virtual event attendees in 2020, is open to manufacturers, suppliers, and local businesses that serve industrial customers and job seekers. NEPIRC’s 2021 MFG DAY expo will feature four (4) timely-topic breakout sessions, a keynote speaker luncheon, an afternoon industry panel discussion on automation (robotics) implementation, a post-event reception and plenty of networking time for exhibitors and attendees. David Beurle, futurist and founder of Future iQ, will provide the keynote address – The World Ahead: A Decade of Turbulence, Transformation & Triumph – as a follow-up to his 2019 presentation to a capacity audience at NEPIRC’s 2019 gathering. In addition to highlighting the region’s manufacturers, providing networking opportunities and offering world-class content, this year’s MFG DAY event will encourage the creation of localized supply chains and regional business-to-business commerce. “Our manufacturers learned a great deal during the pandemic – including the risks associated with distant supply chains and, conversely, the benefit of localized supplier and vendor relationships,” said Eric Joseph Esoda, NEPIRC’s President & CEO. “In response, our manufacturers are entering the post-pandemic economy eager to create new networks and business relationships with companies within the region and conduct more business locally,” he added. Following NEPIRC’s 2019 MFG DAY event, 83% of attendees indicated that the likelihood of doing business with vendors, suppliers and fellow manufacturers that they met at the event had increased significantly. More than 92% of attendees stated that they planned to attend NEPIRC’s next MFG DAY event. The full agenda for the event, as well as sponsorship, exhibitor and attendee registration information can be found at www.NEPIRCMFGDAY.com or obtained by calling Chelsey Coslett, NEPIRC’s Manager of Marketing & Stakeholder Engagement, at 570.704.0018.
Award Winning Journalist Tracey Matisak to Host WVIA Mental Health Initiative Mind Over Matter Award winning journalist Tracey Matisak will host the WVIA and Geisinger presented mental health initiative Mind Over Matter. “We are excited to have Tracey guide conversations and increase awareness of mental illness prevention, treatment, and management in our area” said Ben Payavis II, WVIA’s Chief Content Officer. “Her extensive resume and inquisitive approach make her an ideal partner on this project to inform and engage the people of northeastern and central Pennsylvania.” “Mental health is a topic that, until recently, has not gotten the attention it deserves. While we have all been (rightly) focused on COVID-19, the anxiety and depression that have come along with it have created something of a secondary pandemic. I’m encouraged by those in the public eye who have courageously come forward to share their challenges and spark a national and long overdue conversation around mental health. It’s a topic that has touched my own life, and one that I’m looking forward to exploring with WVIA viewers through Mind Over Matter. My hope is that the series will encourage and challenge us all, and heighten our awareness and sensitivity to this important topic” said Matisak. With more than 30 years of major market television and radio experience, Tracey has anchored numerous special projects for WHYY-TV/PBS in Philadelphia; she also serves as a regular guest host on WHYY-FM’s Radio Times with Marty Moss-Coane. In addition, Tracey serves as moderator for the Philadelphia Speakers Series, where she has shared the stage with the likes of NBC’s Tom Brokaw, former British Prime Minister David Cameron, Equal Justice Initiative founder Bryan Stevenson and acclaimed filmmaker Ken Burns. Tracey is a frequent moderator for the Author Events series at the Free Library of Philadelphia, where she has interviewed former Defense Secretary Robert Gates, entertainer and civil rights activist Harry Belafonte, Huffington Post co-founder Arianna Huffington and Olympic gold medalist Simone Biles, among others. In addition, Tracey travels nationwide hosting live, interactive executive leadership webcasts for Skillsoft Corporation. In that capacity, she regularly interviews some of the most widely respected authors and speakers in the business world, including Daniel Pink, Seth Godin, John Maxwell and Angela Duckworth. Tracey is perhaps best known for her work in television news, having worked for 12 years at FOX 29, Philadelphia. There, she anchored the live morning show Good Day Philadelphia and served as an anchor and reporter for FOX 29’s Ten O’Clock News. She was also a contributor to the HGTV show Design Basics, and has served as a news anchor for a number of Philadelphia radio stations, including KYW Newsradio. A graduate of Temple University, Tracey taught for several years there as an adjunct instructor in the Klein College of Media and Communication. A winner of several local Emmy awards, Tracey was among the first to be inducted into Temple University’s School of Media and Communications Hall of Fame. She has also won the Sarah Award for Excellence in Broadcasting from the Association for Women in Communications and was named Communicator of the Year by the National Black MBA Association. Originally from Hazleton, PA, Tracey and her husband Daniel are the parents of three young adults; they live in suburban Philadelphia. Mind Over Matter is a yearlong initiative which includes programs and presentations created by WVIA. The series goal is to combat the stigma and increase awareness, prevention, treatment and management of a range of mental Illnesses. Like WVIA’s successful Battling Opioids series, this public health initiative aims to improve the mental and physical health of our community through a multi-platform approach that will include TV, radio, and digital content. Major funding for Mind Over Matter is provided by Geisinger. On Thursday, August 26th at 8pm the initiative will present Living with Alzheimer’s & Dementia, a program that explores the effects these diseases have on individuals, families and communities. To find more information and to learn more about Mind Over Matter visit wvia.org/mindovermatter.
Chamber Announces Promotion of Brianna Florovito The Chamber is proud to announce the promotion of Brianna Florovito to IGNITE Program manager. IGNITE is the entrepreneurship and business incubation program of the Chamber, which helps new businesses grow in Lackawanna County. In this role, Brianna will manage the IGNITE Program by fostering entrepreneurs and their companies through education, counseling, networking, and mentorship. Her responsibilities include overall program management, client development, funding, marketing, events, and more. Brianna started at the Chamber in 2019 as the workforce and entrepreneurial development specialist where she focused on economic and workforce strategies for the Chamber and its affiliates – SLIBCO, The Scranton Plan, and Skills in Scranton. Brianna is also an instructor at Lackawanna College teaching GED classes. She recently co-authored an article “Subject Position and Manifestations of Workplace Followership” that was published in the Journal of Organizational Psychology.
Chamber Announces Two Promotions Aaron Whitney Bruce Reddock The Chamber is proud to announce the promotion of two of its employees, Aaron Whitney and Bruce Reddock, who will both expand their roles with the Scranton Lackawanna Industrial Building Company (SLIBCO), the economic development affiliate of the Chamber. Aaron Whitney is now the director of facilities and asset management and is responsible for the administration of finances, design, and construction of SLIBCO real estate. Aaron will also manage all properties and utilities owned by SLIBCO, as well as manage the Chamber’s IGNITE entrepreneurship program. Bruce Reddock is now the director of economic development. In this role, Bruce will manage aspects of SLIBCO development activities, oversee relationships with private companies, real estate brokers and developers, local officials, economic development organizations and more, plus oversee all aspects of the site-selection process. Bruce also recently graduated as a fellow from the Industrial Asset Management Council’s Leadership Development Program.
Scranton Cultural Center at the Masonic Temple Receives National Endowment for the Arts Funding The Scranton Cultural Center at the Masonic Temple (SCCMT) was invited to submit a Fiscal Year 2021 application for the Arts Engagement in American Communities Grant Program (AEAC) and has received a $10,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Arts to support teaching artists salaries for its upcoming Youth Theatre Program Summer Camp. The Arts Endowment identified the Scranton Cultural Center as eligible to apply for and receive this grant and after submitting the application, was awarded the funding. The National Endowment for the Arts is the independent federal agency whose funding and support gives Americans the opportunity to participate in the arts, exercise their imaginations, and develop their creative capacities. Through partnerships with state arts agencies, local leaders, other federal agencies, and the philanthropic sector, the Arts Endowment supports arts learning, affirms and celebrates America’s rich and diverse cultural heritage, and extends its work to promote equal access to the arts in every community across America. Arts Engagement in American Communities (AEAC) supports arts projects in all artistic disciplines, extending the National Endowment for the Arts’ reach to communities across the United States. These grants engage the public with diverse and excellent art in geographic areas underrepresented in our grant making portfolio. Grants are available for professional arts programming, including, but not limited to, presentation of artists or artworks, marketing and promotional activities, educational programs, and organizational planning. The Scranton Cultural Center Youth Theatre Program Summer Camp offers in-person and virtual opportunities for young performers in PreK through 12th grade. The program is open to all students, regardless of experience or financial means. This year’s program runs from July 12 through August 21. To learn more about session details and registration, please visit SCCMT.org/camp.
Moses Taylor Foundation Grants Support Marywood University Health and Wellness Initiatives Marywood University has received two grants from the Moses Taylor Foundation to support the University’s comprehensive Health and Wellness initiatives. Marywood, ranked among the 2021 Best Allied Health Professions Schools according to Health Care Degree Search, prepares its Health and Wellness students for a variety of healthcare fields. The first of these grants supported students participating in “The Healthcare Discovery Camp: An Interprofessional Camp,” which ran from June 29-July 1. This program offered middle school and high school students an opportunity to learn more about a variety of healthcare fields and how each discipline works together to provide optimum care for their clients. The second grant, in the amount of $79,054, will support Marywood’s College of Health and Human Services in the purchase of a Laerdal SimMom Birthing Simulator. The equipment will be used by the Nursing and Physician Assistant Programs. This advanced full body simulator, with accurate anatomy and functionality, will facilitate training for teaching prenatal, birthing and postpartum care, and will allow students to gain more experience with more complex and unpredictable circumstances that may not be common in a traditional hospital setting. The healthcare field is rapidly growing, demanding well-prepared professionals and practitioners. Marywood University’s comprehensive focus on health and wellness programs, including nearly 30 programs of study, prepares students for these in-demand careers. For additional information about the Health and Wellness programs at Marywood University, please contact the Office of Admissions at www.marywood.edu/admissions/, or call (570) 348-6234.
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.
