The University of Scranton Receives $1 Million Donation From left: Jacquelyn Dionne and John Dionne receive the President’s Medal at the President’s Business Council dinner in 2013. The University of Scranton’s Kania School of Management announced a gift of $1 million from John D. Dionne ’86 and Jacquelyn Dionne ‘89. The generous donation will be used to name and support two Kania honors programs: the Frank P. Corcione Business Honors Program; and the Robert L. McKeage Business Leadership Honors Program. The fund will support the growing Study Abroad program and other activities for students in these two honors programs, as well as other students enrolled in the Kania School of Management. The Frank P. Corcione Business Honors Program and the Robert L. McKeage Business Leadership Honors Program are among the University’s five undergraduate programs of excellence. The Business Honors Program is a selective four-year program geared toward highly-motivated undergraduate students interested in pursuing academic excellence in business who will pursue honors studies in the areas of economics, entrepreneurship, operations management, accounting, finance, international business, marketing and management. The Business Leadership Honors Program is a highly-selective program students enter in their junior year. Participants explore the basic theories and concepts of leadership through special seminars and courses in management, ethics, strategy and analysis, in addition to field trips to learn from top executives and projects in leadership, service and mentoring. For over twenty-five years, the Dionnes have been good friends and generous benefactors of The University of Scranton and the Kania School of Management. The Dionnes were co-recipients of the 2013 University President’s Medal and were the driving force behind creating the Kania School Business Leader Hall of Fame. The green located at the heart of the University’s campus is named in their honor. “I can’t thank you enough for your generosity and steadfast support. You are an example to our students and your fellow graduates and an inspiration to me.” said Joseph G. Marina, S.J., University president, upon announcing the gift at his Inauguration as Scranton’s 29th president on Sept. 24. A native of Scranton, Jackie Dionne is a registered nurse and received her bachelor’s degree in health administration from the University. She currently serves as an RN with elderly and Alzheimer’s patients. Jackie Dionne serves on the University’s Board of Trustees and previously served on its board from 2011 to 2017. She works with numerous charitable organizations, including the National Charity League, Horizons Organization of Bridgeport and Meals on Wheels. A New Hampshire native, John Dionne graduated with a bachelor’s degree in economics/finance and accounting from the University and later earned an MBA from Harvard Business School. A very successful business executive, he retired in 2013 as a senior managing director from the Blackstone Group. He currently serves as a senior advisor to Blackstone, is a senior lecturer at the Harvard Business School, and a director of Fortune 500 companies. A former chair of the University’s Board of Trustees, John Dionne, helped launch the President’s Business Council and the annual award dinner. A frequent speaker in the Kania School of Management’s Executive in Residence program and other leading universities, he was recently ranked among Harvard’s top 50 most prominent alumni. “We are grateful to honor two of the long-time icons of the Kania School in current Professor Dr. Robert McKeage and the late Dr. Frank Corcione. They share a demanding Jesuit philosophical ideal, illustrated by the quote of St. Luke – ‘from whom much is given, much is expected,’” said John Dionne. “Dr. Corcione was demanding but cared, and motivated students to give it their all. Wall Street is awash with ‘Corcione products.’” “Additionally, we are pleased to enhance the rapidly growing demand by students for semesters abroad by making them more affordable. We believe the program is a life-changing experience and an exciting complement to a University of Scranton Catholic and Jesuit education,” added Jackie Dionne. “Dr. McKeage is award-winning, dedicated faculty member, who always places student learning first.”
NET Credit Union Receives Philanthropic Award NET Credit Union is the 2021 recipient of the Meals on Wheels Community Services of NEPA Fifth Annual Founder’s Award for Philanthropy. Clarence Baltrusaitis, CEO of NET Credit Union, accepted the award on behalf of NET at their annual fundraiser, Mix and Mingle at Glenn Oak Country Club. Meals on Wheels Community Services of NEPA provides daily delivered nutritional services to the elderly and disabled individuals in Lackawanna County. The volunteers who deliver these meals daily may be the only human interaction their clients see. Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, Meals on Wheels of NEPA has continued to provide uninterrupted daily services to their clients with an unwavering commitment to quality and service – due largely to the dedication of staff and volunteers, strict adherence to public health protocols and financial support from our wonderful community. Today, Meals on Wheels prepares up to 2,000 hot meals per day. Pictured L to R: Phil Zvirblis, Branch Manager, and Clarence Baltrusaitis, CEO.
Scranton Area Community Foundation to Host NEPA Gives The Scranton Area Community Foundation, in partnership with The Luzerne Foundation, Greater Pike Community Foundation, Wayne County Community Foundation, Carbon County Community Foundation, The Community Foundation of the Endless Mountains, the Northeastern Pennsylvania Nonprofit & Community Assistance Center (NCAC), and other community sponsors, will host NEPA Gives on Friday, June 4, 2021. Promoted as the single largest day of philanthropy in Northeastern Pennsylvania, NEPA Gives is a one-day, 24-hour, online giving extravaganza that’s all about giving back to the community. NEPA Gives aims to raise awareness about the critical work nonprofit organizations carry out across the region and aims to help charitable organizations raise much-needed funds, especially during these challenging times. Over 240 nonprofit organizations from across eight counties in Northeastern Pennsylvania will participate in NEPA Gives. “NEPA Gives is all about supporting charities that are doing important work right here in Northeastern Pennsylvania,” said Laura Ducceschi, President and CEO of the Scranton Area Community Foundation. “We know that during these challenging times, nonprofits need our support especially now. We have teamed up with various community partners and businesses eager to provide support for NEPA Gives and we are thrilled to announce that we have secured over $450,000 in incentives, bonuses, and matching funds available to participating nonprofits which helps make charitable donations go further during NEPA Gives.” Members of the community wishing to make a contribution for NEPA Gives can visit www.nepagives.org anytime between 12:00 a.m. and 11:59 p.m. on Friday, June 4, 2021, to make a secure donation to any of the 240 participating nonprofit organizations. This is the second year for NEPA Gives. Last year, NEPA Gives raised over half a million dollars for 167 nonprofit organizations. Offline donations are also accepted by check made payable to the Scranton Area Foundation indicating “NEPA Gives” in the memo mailed to the Scranton Area Community Foundation, 615 Jefferson Avenue, Suite 102, Scranton, PA 18510. Offline donations to the Scranton Area Foundation via check will be split evenly among all participating nonprofits. Donors wishing to contribute to a specific nonprofit organization offline should contact the specific participating nonprofit for further instructions. The Scranton Area Community Foundation is not able to accept offline donations to specific organizations for NEPA Gives. To learn more about #NEPAGives, visit nepagives.org or contact Brittany Pagnotti, Communications Manager of the Scranton Area Community Foundation at 570-347-6203.
