Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine’s Gala Raises More Than $100,000 for Student Scholarships

Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine celebrated a monumental success with its annual Black Ties for White Coats Gala, raising more than $100,000 in support of student scholarships. Held at Mohegan Pennsylvania on Saturday, April 20, the event brought together esteemed guests, faculty, students, and community members for an evening of philanthropy and celebration.

Geisinger Commonwealth would like to thank the Diamond Sponsor of this year’s event, Mericle Commercial Real Estate Service/Discover NEPA and the Gold Sponsor, Whiting-Turner Contracting Company. The annual gala serves as a cornerstone fundraising event for the school and is aimed at supporting the next generation of healthcare leaders. “We are thrilled by the overwhelming generosity and support shown at this year’s Gala”, said School President and Dean Julie Byerley, MD, MPH. “The funds raised will directly impact our students by enabling them to pursue their dreams of becoming a healthcare provider who will make a difference in the communities they serve.”

The success of the Black Ties for White Coats event underscores Geisinger Commonwealth’s commitment to fostering a diverse and inclusive learning environment where students from all backgrounds can thrive. By providing scholarships, the school aims to alleviate the financial burden of medical education and empower students to focus on their studies and clinical training.

Each year Geisinger Commonwealth selects a Founders, Wel-lbeing and Community honoree. This year’s honorees include:

Founders: Tom Churilla, MD

Well-being: Shubhra Shetty, MD

Community: The Scranton School for Deaf & Hard of Hearing Children 

Sky Zone Holds Fundraiser for Detective Gilmarten Tonight

Join Sky Zone in Supporting Detective Kyle Gilmartin and His Family.

On January 11th, 2024, Detective Kyle Gilmartin, while on patrol in the streets of Scranton, PA, was injured by a heartless act. In his commitment to protecting our community, he took swift action, demonstrating true heroism.

In light of these events, we are coming together to host a fundraiser for Detective Kyle Gilmartin and his family. This dedicated officer has not only served our community with unwavering dedication but has also gone above and beyond the call of duty.

20% of all Proceeds Will Be Donated To The Scranton FOP Wellness Fund  

Thursday, January 18th
4:00pm – 8:00pm

Sky Zone Pittston, 195 Enterprise Way, Pittston, PA 18640, United States

NEPA Inclusive’s Fundraising Event Scheduled for May 12

The public is invited to attend the Campaign for Inclusion, the largest fundraising event of the year for the non-profit organization NEPA Inclusive. The event will take place on Friday, May 12 from 6 to 9 p.m. at Susquehanna Brewing Company, 635 South Main Street, Pittston. The 2023 Campaign for Inclusion raises awareness about the importance of inclusion for people with diverse abilities and Autism in schools, businesses and housing throughout Northeastern Pennsylvania.

Co-chairpersons for this year’s event are Vanessa Vergnetti Thomas and Matthew Krispin.

Thomas is the mother of five children, including her sons Benjamin and Tristan who have Autism. A certified K-12 special education teacher, certified personal trainer and master colorist, she knows her way around the IEP and disability service system. She wants to share the mission of how NEPA Inclusive makes a difference in the lives of children and adults with disabilities.

Krispin was diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome at a very young age but has never let it slow him down. A graduate of Tunkhannock Area High School and Luzerne County Community College, Krispin is the administrative assistant for NEPA Inclusive. He is also very active in his community, serving as treasurer of the Northmoreland Township Volunteer Fire Department and a reader at St. Theresa’s Church in Shavertown.

Tickets are $50 each, which includes two beverages and food provided by iconic local restaurants from around the greater Pittston area and Wyoming Valley. Tickets can be purchased in advance through the NEPA Inclusive website, nepainclusive.org or at the door; advanced ticket purchases or requests are recommended.

Entertainment will be provided by Pittston’s popular Phyllis Hopkins Electric Trio. Emcees for the event will be longtime WBRE-TV 28 news anchor Mark Hiller and local personality Lizzie Breznay. Dozens of area businesses have donated baskets that will be raffled off during the event.

In addition to food, music and raffles, the Campaign for Inclusion will present several awards:  

  • Volunteer of the Year: Jimmy Dalkiewicz;
  • Inclusive Business Partner of the Year: AnthraCycle
  • Inclusive Business of the Year: The Salt Barre
  • Direct Support Professional of the Year: Esther Ross

“We have a great evening planned for this year’s Campaign for Inclusion,” said Frank Bartoli, president and CEO of NEPA Inclusive. “This event is a wonderful way to bring together the community with the individuals and families we help to celebrate the progress we’ve made to make Northeastern Pennsylvania a more inclusive, welcoming community for everyone. We are excited to partner with Susquehanna Brewing Company as the location for this year’s event.”

Individuals and area businesses that would like to support the event by donating a basket for the raffle or making a monetary donation can contact Nicole Ross, executive assistant, at 570-855-5355 or via email, nross@nepainclusive.org. Donations are 100% tax deductible. Donor levels are Friend, $100; Community, $250; Bronze, $500; Silver, $1,000; Gold, $2500 and Platinum, $5,000. Donations can also be made specifically for Coffee Inclusive, the new coffee shop in downtown Pittston operated by NEPA Inclusive. 

NEPA Inclusive is a provider agency that works with the PA Office of Developmental Programs’ Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (ODP IDD) wavier system to design services to help people achieve an inclusive life. The organization is also a vendor with the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation for pre-employment transition services for high school students, supported employment for adults and offers a variety of educational, advocacy, and social programs all designed to help people live truly inclusive lives.

NEPA Inclusive is a 501c3 charitable organization with headquarters in Pittston. NEPA Inclusive serves all of northeastern Pennsylvania, the Poconos, Lehigh Valley and Berks County. Founded in 2013, its unique person-centered approach to inclusion provides people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and Autism the most inclusive life, including working in local businesses, living with their families and living in their own apartments.

Greater Wyoming Valley Area YMCA Giving Tuesday Campaign

The Greater Wyoming Valley Area YMCA turns no one away for an inability to pay. We believe all children deserve to enter kindergarten ready to succeed, all seniors deserve to grow stronger together through membership to the Y and all people deserve to take part in lifesaving swim lessons.

That’s why on GivingTuesday, November 29, 2022, we’re asking for support. GivingTuesday is a global generosity movement unleashing the power of people and organizations to transform their communities and the world. On GivingTuesday, our goal is to raise the funds needed to ensure those most in need from our community can benefit from our services.

“Through our GivingTuesday fundraising campaign, our goal is to raise the funds needed to allow us to carry out our mission. We feed hundreds of children and youth through child care and camp programs across five locations. We’re also serving seniors in chronic disease prevention programs and providing swim lessons to hundreds of children this fall,” said Jim Thomas, CEO, Greater Wyoming Valley Area YMCA. “We are so grateful to our community for continuing to rally around our Y to provide support for programs that so many people need.”

As part of the Greater Wyoming Valley Area YMCA’s fundraising efforts, the non-profit organization is proud to participate in AllOne Charities’ GivingTuesday Match Day initiative. From midnight November 28th through November 30th at 4:00pm, AllOne Charities will match contributions participating organizations raise up to $1,000. Donations can be made on AllOne Charities’ GivingTuesday donation form or mailed to 83 East Union Street, Wilkes-Barre, PA 18701. Checks must be made payable to AllOne Charities. When donating online, be sure to choose either the Wilkes-Barre Family or Greater Pittston YMCAs.

For more information or for questions on how to donate to the Greater Wyoming Valley Area YMCA, contact Lindsay Landis, Financial Development Director, at lindsay.landis@wvymca.org or call (570) 970-5048.

Geisinger Janet Weis Children’s Hospital Fundraiser

Lackawanna College and Scranton’s Bartari Bar and Restaurant are teaming up to raise money for Geisinger Janet Weis Children’s Hospital through Children’s Miracle Network’s Extra Life program.

Extra Life is a gaming marathon where gamers pledge to play games for 24 hours and ask family, friends and social media followers to donate to their fundraising goal for their local children’s hospital.

On Sunday, Nov. 6, Lackawanna College’s E-sports team will hold a gaming event from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. at Bartari, located at 101 Adams Ave. in Scranton. The public is welcome to attend in person or watch the team’s live stream on Twitch. The gamers will have challenges throughout the day to encourage people to donate to their cause.

Bartari will offer food and drink specials, and through their “Quarters for Kids” event, will donate all proceeds from games played during the day to Children’s Miracle Network at Geisinger.

The Extra Life program began in 2008 as a fundraising effort for Children’s Miracle Network hospitals and has raised more than $100 million nationwide through the program since its inception.

Money raised through Children’s Miracle Network at Geisinger programs stays local and supports pediatric care throughout Geisinger by providing funds for equipment, services and programs for the care of local children. Visit the CMN website, to see a complete list of items and programs provided by donations.

Net Credit Union Donates $20K to Allied Services

NET Credit Union accomplished another successful fundraising year for a local deserving organization. Due to COVID-19, NET Credit Union held the 7th Annual NEToberfest Golf Tournament and raised funds virtually. NET Credit Union donated $20,000 to The dePaul School at Allied Services.

The dePaul School’s mission is to teach students with dyslexia and other related learning disabilities how to learn. Their dedicated staff and specially trained faculty offer a well-structured system of programs aimed at maximizing abilities and compensating for disabilities. All funds raised will benefit the students and staff of The dePaul School.

Allied Services is a Preferred Partner Group of NET Credit Union. All employees (and family members) are eligible and welcome to bank at NET Credit Union. Those interested can get started now: https://www.netcreditunion.com/membership-application/

Pictured Left to Right: Jim Brogna, Vice President of Strategic Partnership Development at Allied Services and Clarence Baltrusaitis, CEO of NET Credit Union.