Northeast Regional Cancer Institute Received $900 from Fundraising by St. Nicholas St. Mary’s Students St. Nicholas St. Mary’s School National Junior Honor Society students presented the Cancer Institute with a $900 check from their fundraising efforts. Students paid $3 for a dress down day and $1 to purchase various cancer ribbons to wear during the day to show support for someone affected by that type of cancer. Additional donations were accepted to support the Northeast Regional Cancer Institute. It was important to the students to donate locally. From left to right: Karen M. Saunders, President, Northeast Regional Cancer Institute,St. Nicholas St. Mary’s National Junior Honors Society students, Gianna Bongarzone, Vice- President, Nina Lombardi, Secretary, Amanda E. Marchegiani, Community Relations Coordinator, Northeast Regional Cancer Institute, Ryan Pugh, President, and Mr. Chris Tigue, Principal, St. Nicholas St. Mary School.
The Northeast Regional Cancer Institute’s Spirit of Hope Event Raises Over $48,000 The Spirit of Hope Celebration Board of Ambassadors presented the Cancer Institute with a $48,540 check from their 2024 Spirit of Hope event. “On behalf of the Ambassadors who truly exhibit the ‘Spirit of Hope’ we are thrilled to present you with these funds to help individuals receive early detection and free screenings,” said Leo Vergnetti, Chairman of the Board of Ambassadors. The Board of Ambassadors, a group of community volunteers, hosted the twelfth annual Spirit of Hope Celebration in November 2024 at Mohegan Pennsylvania. More than 300 people were in attendance. The event featured cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, music and a silent auction. Peter A. Danchak was the Tribute to Courage Honoree. Proceeds from the event benefited the Cancer Institute’s Community-Based Cancer Screening Navigation Program. This program helps low income and underinsured individuals in northeast Pennsylvania get their recommended colorectal, breast, cervical, and lung cancer screenings. The 2025 Spirit of Hope Celebration will take place on Friday, November 14, 2025, at Mohegan Pennsylvania. More details can be found at www.spiritofhopecelebration.org. 2024 Spirit of Hope Celebration Front row, seated from left to right: Amanda E. Marchegiani, Community Relations Coordinator, Northeast Regional Cancer Institute, Maria Donahue, Karen M. Saunders, President, Northeast Regional Cancer Institute, Leo Vergnetti, Spirit of Hope Board of Ambassadors Chair, Laura Toole, Executive Vice President, Northeast Regional Cancer Institute, Vanessa Vergnetti Thomas, Robin Long and Hon. Tom Munley. Second row, standing from left to right: Casey Quinn, Angela Rempe Jones, Tammy Saunders, Marta Gomes, Dino Campitelli, AAC, Vito Pizzo, Vince Scarpetta, Nevin Gerber, Kristie Hynoski, Jim Gorman, Mark Mesko, Bill Davis, Matt Beynon, Joe Ferguson, Nick Colangelo. Ph.D., and Pat Sicilio. Ambassadors Absent from the Photo: Clarence Baltrusaitis, Tom Blaskiewicz, Jim & Susan Brady, Brigitte Baum, Richard P. Conaboy, Edward Cosgrove, Tom DePietro, PharmD, Traci Fosnot, Greg Gagorik, Meghan Gagorik, JoAnn Romano Hallesky, John Heil, Jennifer Heil, Charles C. Jefferson, John Mack, Linda Marino-Brooks, Joe Mattioli, IV, Brian McQuestion, Philip Medico, Dan Meuser, Dana D’Angelo Morris, David Nape, Christopher Peters, MD, William F. Rinaldi, John P. Rodgers, Esq., P. Richard Scheller, Frank Sepko, Dr. Steven J. Syzdlowski, Joe Van Wie, Tony Vergnetti, Sonya Eddings, Patty Vergnetti, Mary Erwine, and Atty. Charles J. Volpe.
