Wednesday, March 4 | 12:00 – 1:30 PM
The Green Ridge Club
1645 Wyoming Avenue, Scranton, PA 18509
Keynote Speaker: Mary-Pat Ward, Development Director, Catherine McCauley Center
Mary-Pat Ward is a powerful example of resilience, hope, and the strength of community. After losing both of her parents early in life, she moved to Northeastern Pennsylvania with her infant daughter, Izzy, determined to build a better future.
When Izzy became seriously ill and spent weeks in the hospital, Mary-Pat lost her job for missing work. Soon after, the mother and daughter found themselves homeless. Their lives changed when the Catherine McAuley Center offered them shelter and the support they needed to begin again.
Today, Mary-Pat serves as the Center’s Development Director, giving back to the organization that helped her family survive and rebuild. Izzy is now thriving as a student at Rutgers University, and together they have used their story to inspire others through philanthropy and service.
In honor of International Women’s Day 2026 and the theme “Gain to Give,” Mary-Pat shares her journey as a reminder that empowerment grows when women lift one another up, and that compassion and opportunity can transform lives.
