Moses Taylor Foundation Announces New Board Officers

Moses Taylor Foundation, a private foundation with a mission to improve the health of people in Northeastern Pennsylvania, has announced its newly-elected officers for the 2022-23 fiscal year. The officers were elected at the Foundation’s annual meeting in June and will assume their roles beginning July 1, 2022.

William R. Lazor, CPA/PFS, CFE, has been elected Chair of the Board. Lazor joined the Foundation as a board member in January 2016 and served as Vice Chair from July 2019-June 2022. Along with his service to Moses Taylor Foundation, Lazor has contributed in a variety of roles within local government and nonprofit sectors to ensure appropriate oversight and stewardship of resources. As a director with the certified public accounting firm of Kronick Kalada Berdy & Co. PC, he concentrates in the area of taxation, with expertise in local and multi-state taxation. Lazor earned his bachelor’s degree in Commerce and Finance from Wilkes University and is a licensed Certified Public Accountant (CPA) in Pennsylvania and New York.

Lazor assumes the role of Chair following the tenure of Judge Robert A. Mazzoni, who served in the role from July 2019-June 2022. Mazzoni will remain on the Foundation’s board as a general director.

Maria Marsili, Esq., has been elected as Vice Chair of the Board and will also Chair the Governance Committee. Marsili is one of the Foundation’s original board members, beginning her service in 2012. She is currently a Vice President and Special Assets Officer at First National Bank of Pennsylvania while maintaining a limited private law practice. Marsili is a past member of the Kiwanis Club of Scranton and has served on the boards of directors of NeighborWorks NEPA, Moses Taylor Health Care System, and Mid-Valley Hospital.

Kimberly Santarsiero has been re-appointed to the role of Treasurer. Santarsiero joined the Foundation’s board in January 2016 and has contributed her time and expertise to many local nonprofit organizations, including St. Joseph’s Center and Dress for Success Lackawanna. Santarsiero is an Investment Executive for the Santarsiero Investment Group at LPL Financial in Dunmore and has provided financial planning and investment management services for individuals, businesses, pension funds, foundations, and endowments for the past 20 years.

Mary F. Sewatsky, M.D., has been re-appointed as the Foundation’s Secretary. Dr. Sewatsky has served on the Foundation’s board since its inception in 2012 and, prior to the appointment of the Foundation’s current President and CEO in 2022, led the organization as Interim President and CEO for eight months. Sewatsky earned her medical degree from Temple University School of Medicine and has served the Northeastern Pennsylvania community as an internal medicine physician and community-minded servant leader for decades. She is an affiliate faculty member of Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine and volunteers her time and talents with multiple organizations.

“The Moses Taylor Foundation has been through tremendous change during the past two years, including a leadership transition in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. In his role as Board Chair, Judge Mazzoni directed the organization during this period, and I am grateful for his leadership and his plans to continue serving as a board member. I appreciate Mr. Lazor’s acceptance of the Board Chair role and Ms. Marsili’s willingness to step into an officer role as Vice Chair. Mr. Lazor and Ms. Marsili are sincerely dedicated to the mission and vision of the organization and will capably guide the Foundation, complemented by the continued service of Dr. Sewatsky and Ms. Santarsiero,” stated Danielle Breslin, President and CEO, Moses Taylor Foundation.

In response to his recent appointment, Lazor shared, “As a lifelong resident of the area, it is important to me to give back to my community in a variety of ways. Moses Taylor Foundation works with nonprofits throughout NEPA that are providing necessary services to those living in 11 counties. I am honored and look forward to continuing my work with the board and staff in this new role; and, most importantly, continuing to build healthy communities.” 

Moses Taylor Foundation’s officers hold their positions for a one-year term and may be re-elected.

Moses Taylor Foundation Board Approves Grant for Lackawanna College Scholarships

The Moses Taylor Foundation Board of Directors has approved a five-year grant of $250,000 to support Lackawanna College students pursuing degrees in Health Sciences and Human Services. This gift established the Moses Taylor Foundation Annual Scholarship in honor of LaTida Smith, the Foundation’s President and CEO from 2015 to 2021. The Foundation and Lackawanna College have a successful history of collaborating to improve the health and wellness of Northeastern Pennsylvania residents. This generous contribution will provide scholarships to support the success of students preparing for health and human services positions in our region.

Moses Taylor Foundation Names New President and CEO

Philanthropy executive Danielle Breslin has been appointed as President and CEO of the Moses Taylor Foundation, a private foundation whose mission is to improve the health of people in Northeastern Pennsylvania. Breslin has more than 25 years of experience optimizing health outcomes, with a focus on historically marginalized communities. Throughout her career, she has built an extensive network within the healthcare, nonprofit, and philanthropic sectors.

Currently, Breslin is Vice President of Operations and Learning for the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina Foundation. Under her leadership, the Foundation experienced significant growth resulting in a robust portfolio of more than 1,200 grants with $173.8 million invested in communities across North Carolina. Before she transitioned into philanthropy, Breslin spent six years within the Health Care Services Division of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina.

“Danielle’s qualifications and experience are exceptional, but more importantly, her heart and passion for philanthropy and her dedication to those she is entrusted to serve will raise the work of the Moses Taylor Foundation to the next level,” said Maria Marsili, Search Committee Chair. “We believe she is the perfect fit to guide the Foundation and work with our community partners to continue ongoing initiatives and identify and address exciting new philanthropic opportunities for generations to come.”

Breslin is a graduate of Leadership North Carolina, a Fellow of Grantmakers for Effective Organizations’ Change Leaders in Philanthropy, and a Fellow of the Southeastern Council of Foundation’s Hull Leadership Program. She has served on the Board of Directors for the North Carolina Network of Grantmakers, Farmer Foodshare, and Girl Scouts of North Carolina Coastal Pines. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Commerce from the University of Virginia and a Certificate in Nonprofit Management from Duke University.

“I am so grateful for this opportunity to work alongside the Moses Taylor Foundation Board and staff to build upon their outstanding reputation and to advance the important work happening throughout Northeastern Pennsylvania,” said Breslin. “The organization’s core values mirror my own, and we share a foundational commitment to listening to, and learning alongside, the communities we serve. I am thrilled for what lies ahead and look forward to making this area my home for years to come.”

Breslin will assume her responsibilities as President and CEO of Moses Taylor Foundation on March 14, 2022.

For more information, visit www.mosestaylorfoundation.org.

Lackawanna College Grows Medical Assistant Program with $150K Grant

Lackawanna College has received a $150,000 grant from Moses Taylor Foundation to launch a certified clinical medical assistant (CCMA) certificate program at the main campus in Scranton and the Lake Region Center in Hawley. Funds from the grant will be used for the purchase of equipment and supplies for hands-on teaching laboratories and to upgrade lab equipment at the College’s Towanda Center. 

“This grant will provide state-of-the-art equipment to students, giving them the hands-on experience, they need to enter the workforce as skilled medical assistants,” said Christine Martin, Program Director. “Thanks to the generosity of the Moses Taylor Foundation, Lackawanna College can meet Northeastern and Central Pennsylvania’s need for certified medical professionals.”  

Lackawanna College’s program is matching the growing demand for medical assistants which stems from several factors including an aging population, rising chronic disease rates, and advancements in healthcare. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment opportunities in this field are expected to grow 19% by 2029.

The certified clinical medical assistant (CCMA) certificate program at Lackawanna College is one of only a few of its kind available in Northeastern and Central Pa. For more information on the Lackawanna College medical assistant program, visit lackawanna.edu/certificates/.

Moses Taylor Foundation Grants Support Marywood University Health and Wellness Initiatives

Marywood University has received two grants from the Moses Taylor Foundation to support the University’s comprehensive Health and Wellness initiatives. Marywood, ranked among the 2021 Best Allied Health Professions Schools according to Health Care Degree Search, prepares its Health and Wellness students for a variety of healthcare fields.

The first of these grants supported students participating in “The Healthcare Discovery Camp: An Interprofessional Camp,” which ran from June 29-July 1. This program offered middle school and high school students an opportunity to learn more about a variety of healthcare fields and how each discipline works together to provide optimum care for their clients.

The second grant, in the amount of $79,054, will support Marywood’s College of Health and Human Services in the purchase of a Laerdal SimMom Birthing Simulator. The equipment will be used by the Nursing and Physician Assistant Programs. This advanced full body simulator, with accurate anatomy and functionality, will facilitate training for teaching prenatal, birthing and postpartum care, and will allow students to gain more experience with more complex and unpredictable circumstances that may not be common in a traditional hospital setting.

The healthcare field is rapidly growing, demanding well-prepared professionals and practitioners. Marywood University’s comprehensive focus on health and wellness programs, including nearly 30 programs of study, prepares students for these in-demand careers. For additional information about the Health and Wellness programs at Marywood University, please contact the Office of Admissions at www.marywood.edu/admissions/, or call (570) 348-6234.

Johnson College Receives Grant from the Moses Taylor Foundation

Johnson College has been awarded a $75,000 grant from the Moses Taylor Foundation. This grant, which will be disbursed over a three-year performance period, will support the Foundation and College’s goal to address the critical growing need for health care professionals by promoting opportunities for careers in health care and training for traditional and non-traditional students.

Using a motorhome shell customized to demonstrate various health care training modalities, Johnson College plans to give potential students a hands-on experience to see and feel what it would be like to work in a health care environment. In addition to the hands-on encounter, Johnson College staff will be available to answer questions and help potential students resolve or eliminate common barriers to educational access.

With this new program, Johnson College will be able to show participants that there is a path to meet their needs. Johnson College offers pathways to healthcare careers with associate degree programs such as physical therapist assistant, radiologic technology, and biomedical equipment technology as well as continuing education programs like certified nursing assistant and medical billing and coding.

With the focus on engaging non-traditional students, Johnson College will broaden opportunities for students who represent diverse age, economic, educational, and cultural backgrounds. These potential students include displaced workers due to COVID-19, non-English speaking individuals, those who want/need to return to the workforce post-retirement or family, and those seeking a new career path.

“This project illustrates exactly what we do so well here at Johnson College. We think of innovative and new ways to provide people with the education and job training that they need to obtain a family-sustaining career,” said Dr. Katie Leonard, President & CEO of Johnson College. “With this mobile lab, we will be able to demonstrate to people in the region that a career in health care is attainable and give them a taste of what hands-on education at Johnson College is like.”

For additional information on Johnson College, please call 1-800-2-WE-WORK, email enroll@johnson.edu, or visit Johnson.edu.

Moses Taylor Foundation Awards $140,000 Grant to The Northeast Regional Cancer Institute

The Moses Taylor Foundation recently awarded the Northeast Regional Cancer Institute a $140,000 grant to support the Community-Based Cancer Screening Navigation Program.  

This investment will ensure the continuation and expansion of the existing Community-Based Cancer Screening Navigation Program (Navigation Program). The Navigation Program is a cancer screening initiative focused on education, barrier reduction and facilitation of screenings for breast, cervical, colon and lung cancer targeting low income, un/underinsured and underserved residents of northeast Pennsylvania, while connecting/reconnecting all participants to a medical home to ensure ongoing preventative care. 

“We are very grateful to receive this grant from the Moses Taylor Foundation. It allows us to continue helping residents of Northeast PA access potentially life-saving cancer screenings” said Laura Toole, Executive Vice President at the Northeast Regional Cancer Institute.