Meals On Wheels Of NEPA To Hold Celebration Event Following NEPA Gives On Friday, June 5th, from 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM, Meals on Wheels of NEPA will be holding a Closing Celebration at Voodoo Brewing in Scranton to celebrate the end of NEPA Gives! NEPA Gives is the region’s largest giving event. Since its inception in 2020, it has raised over $5 million for over 250 nonprofits in NEPA. Meals on Wheels of NEPA is honored to once again participate in the event. To celebrate another successful NEPA Gives, Meals on Wheels of NEPA will be celebrating at Voodoo Brewing in Scranton. There is no purchase or registration required to attend the event. We hope to see the community there so we can properly thank those who have supported our organization during NEPA Gives. Executive Director, Lindsey Skripka says “We are so grateful to Voodoo Brewing for hosting us as we celebrate the close of an incredible day of giving. NEPA Gives is a wonderful opportunity to support regional nonprofits, and we are so glad to be a part of the historic event for another year!”
Scranton Area Community Foundation To Host PA Navigate Informational Session Scranton Area Community Foundation, through its Center for Community Leadership and Nonprofit Excellence, will host an informational session titled “PA Navigate: What You Need to Know—and Why It Matters Now” on Tuesday, June 9, 2026 from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. in the Foundation’s auditorium. The session will introduce PA Navigate, a statewide initiative supported by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania that is helping identify community needs, service gaps, and unmet demand across the state. Information gathered through the platform is being used to help inform future funding priorities, resource allocation, and statewide planning efforts. Designed for nonprofit leaders, healthcare organizations, educators, government agencies, community partners, funders, policymakers, and frontline providers, the session will provide an overview of how PA Navigate contributes to broader community support and planning initiatives throughout Pennsylvania. “As a community foundation, part of our responsibility is ensuring that Northeastern Pennsylvania is represented in important statewide conversations,” said Laura Ducceschi. “This session is an opportunity for organizations to better understand PA Navigate, how it is being used at the state level, and what it may mean for our region.” Attendees will learn how PA Navigate complements other tools currently being used across the region, how statewide data is helping shape future funding and resource decisions, and what level of engagement may be appropriate for their organization or community. The session will also include time for questions and discussion. “For Community Action, PA Navigate is a natural extension of the work our network has been doing since its inception,” said Beck Moore, CEO of the Community Action Association of Pennsylvania. “PA Navigate gives us another way to educate, support, and strengthen those local connections across Pennsylvania.” A light lunch and refreshments will be provided. Registration is required by June 5, 2026, and space may be limited.
The Wright Center To Host Tinnitus Support Group Meeting In June Tinnitus Support Group of Northeast Pennsylvania will host its next meeting on Friday, June 5 at 2:00 p.m. at The Wright Center for Community Health Mid Valley. Virtual meeting options will also be available for those unable to attend in person. The support group welcomes individuals living with tinnitus, their loved ones, and anyone interested in learning more about the audiological and neurological condition. Participants will have the opportunity to connect with others, share experiences, and discuss coping strategies in a supportive and compassionate environment. There is no fee to attend, and new members are welcome. Tinnitus, commonly described as ringing, buzzing, or whooshing in the ears or head, affects more than 50 million adults in the United States. While some individuals experience temporary symptoms, others face chronic and life-altering effects. The program is supported in part through the Support Group Grant Program of the American Tinnitus Association. For additional information or to obtain the virtual meeting link, contact Joe Kelly at kellyj@TheWrightCenter.org or by phone at 570-230-0019.
Celebration of Leadership Honors Exemplary Graduating Class Leadership Lackawanna will host its annual Celebration of Leadership on Thursday, June 18, 2026, at the Hilton Scranton & Conference Center from 11:45 AM to 1:45 PM. This milestone event will honor Leadership Lackawanna’s 43-year history of developing visionary leaders, fostering excellence, and creating lasting impact throughout northeastern Pennsylvania. Most importantly, the celebration will recognize and honor the graduates of the 2026 Core Program. Community members, alumni, business leaders, and supporters are invited to attend and join in the celebration. Over the past 10 months, participants in this year’s Core Program completed several community service projects benefiting nonprofit organizations throughout the Greater Scranton region. Projects included bridge construction and outdoor enhancements for Countryside Conservancy, the “A Room to Grow” classroom renovation for Friendship House Autism Center, modernization efforts at United Neighborhood Centers of Northeastern Pennsylvania’s Angel Attic, and the launch of significant outdoor improvements at the Greater Scranton YMCA. In addition to celebrating the accomplishments of the graduating class, the event will feature business networking opportunities, an end-of-year program review and video presentation, basket raffles, and recognition of the many individuals and organizations that make Leadership Lackawanna’s mission possible. All are welcome to attend and celebrate another year of leadership, service, and community impact. Tickets for this event are currently on sale and can be purchased at www.LeadershipLackawanna.com Leadership Lackawanna extends thanks to the sponsors of the 2026 Core program: designBLD, Penn East Federal Credit Union, Quandel Construction, Maximus Foundation, Geisinger, Times Shamrock Communications, PNC Bank, Center City Print, Friendship House, Golden Technologies, and PPL Electric. Graduates of Leadership Lackawanna’s 2026 Core Program include: Amanda Friday – Peoples Security Bank Amanda Lyn Brown – Penn East Federal Credit Union Anthony Salva, LCSW – Integrative Mind and Body Services Brittani Pulse – Nunzi’s Advertising Christopher M. Pahoski – Benco Dental Courtney Rittenhouse – Children’s Advocacy Center of NEPA Daneece A. Jones – Greater Scranton YMCA Deanna Smith – AAA North Penn Diana Latsko – Maximus Federal Services Douglas A. Hein – Scranton Counseling Center Eric Eiden – Lackawanna College Haley Houck – Fidelity Bank Jason Carpenter – designBLD John Conte lll – The Honesdale National Bank John P Joyce – Lackawanna County Jose Santiago de los Rios – Tuxedo by Sarno Joshua Cole Howells – Allied Services Julianna Cardillo – Penn State University (Scranton) Linda Beck – United Neighborhood Centers Madison Theobald – Penn East Federal Credit Union Maria Day – Penn State University (Scranton) Mateo Arroyopabon – Procter & Gamble Matt Coolbaugh – Quandel Construction Group LLC Pete Gentile – City of Scranton Sarah Bauman – Montage Mountain Resorts Walter Kosak – Plaskolite
Leadership Lackawanna Awards Abington Heights Student with TLT’s Senior Scholarship Leadership Lackawanna, the professional development division of The Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce, is excited to award this year’s Tomorrow’s Leaders Today (TLT) Senior Scholarship to candidate Lauren Bartell. “It has been a privilege to work with Lauren Bartell during her time in the program,” states Nicole Morristell, executive director of Leadership Lackawanna. “Watching Lauren’s personal and professional growth throughout the program has been incredibly rewarding, and she has made a lasting impression on both her peers and our organization. Lauren has demonstrated all the qualities of an outstanding leader and will no doubt accomplish great things in the next steps of her education and career.” A part of TLT’s 2025–26 class, Bartell is a dedicated learner and a worthy recipient for this award. After her upcoming graduation from Abington Heights High School, Bartell will take her talents to the University of Pittsburgh to pursue a degree in Mechanical Engineering. Tomorrows Leaders Today fosters young business professionals who are sure to become leaders of northeastern Pennsylvania. With the help and generosity of over 2,600 Leadership Lackawanna alumni, this scholarship and additional funding initiatives continue to sustain and strengthen our six programs. The Senior Scholarship is awarded annually to an alumnus of the program who showcases exemplary leadership skills to support their school and community. Leadership Lackawanna is a 501(c)(3) charitable, nonprofit organization in northeastern Pennsylvania dedicated to community leadership and professional development. Its five programs enhance the skills, connections, and knowledge of emerging and established leaders, enabling them to better serve in our communities, workplaces, and organizations. Established in 1982, Leadership Lackawanna has graduated more than 2,700 community leaders. For more information, visit www.leadershiplackawanna.com.
