Scranton Area Community Foundation and Lackawanna Leadership Announce Grant Recipients

The Scranton Area Community Foundation, in partnership with Leadership Lackawanna, is proud to announce the nonprofit organizations selected to receive grants through the 2024–2025 Tomorrow’s Leaders Today (TLT) grant cycle. These awards support initiatives in Lackawanna County that assist individuals affected by domestic violence, promote environmental preservation and education, and address food insecurity.

Funded by a $15,000 allocation from the Scranton Area Community Foundation, these grants were determined by the high school juniors of the TLT Class of 2024–2025, who selected the priority areas and reviewed applications as part of their philanthropy curriculum.

The 2025 Tomorrow’s Leaders Today Grant Recipients are:

• Lacawac Sanctuary Environmental Education Center – “Environmental Stewardship Institute of

Lackawanna County” – $2,500.00

• WRC – “Empowering Survivors of Domestic Violence” – $2,575.00

• Child Hunger Outreach Partners (CHOP) – “CHOP Out Hunger – Supporting Our Programs” –

$5,000.00

• Saint Joseph’s Center – “Saint Joseph’s Center Maternity Residential Services” – $2,575.00

• Imagine Performing Arts Center – “Countryside Conservancy & Imagine Collaboration – Exploring

the Environment through the Arts” – $2,350.00

Tomorrow’s Leaders Today is a youth leadership program of Leadership Lackawanna that allows high school juniors to meet with community leaders and decision-makers. In addition to leadership development, the students must complete a philanthropy curriculum conducted by the Scranton Area Communication Foundation. TLT seeks to help participants realize what they can do to make a difference in their community as young philanthropists and to develop their leadership skills further.

SACF accepted funding applications through its online grant portal from December 4, 2024, to January 17, 2025. Eligible organizations were invited to request up to $5,000 in support.

Back Row (l-r): Frank Caputo, Grants & Scholarships Manager; Rebecca Farrell, Grants & Scholarships Associate; Cathy Fitzpatrick, Director of Grants & Scholarships; Jennifer Strzelec, Program Coordinator, Leadership Lackawanna; Nicole Morristell, Executive Director, Leadership Lackawanna.

Front Row (l-r): Rachel Santoro, Director of Development & Communications, CHOP Out Hunger; Samantha Christ, Chief Operating Officer, Founder, Imagine Performing Arts Center; Mac McCrory, Director of At Ease Veteran Program, Lacawac Sanctuary Environmental Education Center.