The Scranton Cultural Center awarded critical needs grant to upgrade smoke alarm system The Scranton Cultural Center at the Masonic Temple recently completed a complete upgrade of their fire detection system. The new system will provide a dual focus for safety, as well as to help prevent unnecessary trips and evacuations, so as not to interfere with patrons’ experience. “This service is specific and unique to performing arts centers hosting large-scale productions that include mood-enhancing fog and smoke techniques for the performance. The utilization of smoke and fog increases the chances of triggering the alarm system exponentially,” said Deborah M. Peterson, Executive Director. The project was funded partly through a Critical Needs grant from the Scranton Area Community Foundation (SACF) in the amount of $5,000. Additional funds were awarded through a Local Share Account (LSA) Grant. While continually maintained to ensure safety of patrons and staff, the Center’s fire detection system was last upgraded in the 1980s.
The Wright Center receives grant to help patients in need with transportation, hygiene supplies, and household items. Getting to doctors’ appointments will be a little easier for some patients in need, thanks to The Wright Centers for Community Health and Graduate Medical Education and a grant from the Scranton Area Community Foundation. The $18,750 grant will be used to buy bus passes, transportation vouchers, and gas cards for patients enrolled in The Wright Center for Community Health’s Healthy Maternal Opiate Medical Support (Healthy MOMS) Program and patients being helped by The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education’s new street medicine program to get to and from appointments at The Wright Center for Community Health’s network of community health centers and at community partners across the region. The grant will also help The Wright Center provide hygiene supplies and essential household items to patients receiving care at its Ryan White HIV/AIDS Clinic. Healthy MOMS focuses on helping mothers-to-be and mothers with substance use disorder, bringing together healthcare, legal, housing, and social services organizations from more than seven counties in Northeast Pennsylvania. Participants can join before giving birth and remain in the program until the child turns 2. An assigned case manager helps with a range of support services, including medications for opioid use disorder, counseling, primary and OB-GYN care, parenting tips, legal advice, and more. Since its launch in August 2018, the program has helped more than 654 mothers and welcomed 355 babies. The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education’s new street medicine team, composed of medical assistants, community health workers, addiction recovery specialists, resident physicians, and more, visits the Community Intervention Center in Scranton twice a week. Since it launched in January, the team has completed more than 547 medical exams aboard the 34-foot mobile medical and dental unit known as Driving Better Health. Often, care provided by The Wright Center’s street medicine team leads to referrals for follow-up care, either at The Wright Center’s community health center in Scranton or with other providers who can assist them. “Transportation assistance is essential to help patients access critical services and reduce barriers to care,” said Dr. Douglas Klamp, who leads the street medicine team and serves as The Wright Center’s senior vice president, chief medical education officer, and physician chair of resident and fellow talent acquisition. “By improving transportation access, patients will be better able to attend appointments, adhere to treatment, and remain engaged in care, especially if they are experiencing financial difficulties, housing insecurity, or other challenges.”
$5,000 grant from Scranton Area Community Foundation helps Girls on the Run expand access in schools Girls on the Run Lehigh Valley and Pocono is pleased to announce that it has received a $5,000 grant from the Scranton Area Community Foundation to support organizational stability and access to Girls on the Run programming in Lackawanna County. The funding will help sustain and expand access to the organization’s evidence-based, physical activity-based youth development programs, which combine physical activity with lessons that build confidence, emotional well-being, healthy relationships and essential life skills. One of the programs benefiting from this support is Francis Willard Elementary School, a new Girls on the Run site in the Scranton School District this fall. Through twice-weekly sessions led by trained volunteer coaches, participants develop important social-emotional skills, build positive relationships and discover the joy of physical activity. The season culminates in a celebratory 5K, providing each girl with the opportunity to achieve a meaningful personal goal. “We are especially excited to welcome Francis Willard Elementary School as a new Girls on the Run site this fall,” said Liz Fones, Executive Director of Girls on the Run Lehigh Valley and Pocono. “The Scranton Area Community Foundation’s continued support helps us bring programming to more girls while ensuring that financial circumstances do not prevent participation. This investment will also help sustain programming in the Scranton School District next spring, creating more opportunities for girls to build confidence, develop healthy habits and recognize their limitless potential.” During the 2026–2027 program year, Girls on the Run aims to serve at least 250 girls throughout Lackawanna County, with approximately 50% receiving full or partial financial assistance. In addition to helping reduce financial barriers, community support helps provide essential program materials, volunteer coach training and the resources necessary to maintain high-quality programming. Girls on the Run addresses important challenges facing young people, including declining physical activity, growing mental health concerns and limited access to affordable after-school enrichment opportunities. Through positive mentoring relationships and a supportive team environment, participants develop the confidence, resilience and skills needed to thrive in school, at home and in their communities. “We are incredibly grateful to the Scranton Area Community Foundation for recognizing the importance of investing in opportunities that support the physical and emotional well-being of girls in our community,” added Fones.
Women in Philanthropy to Host Panel Celebrating Women Who Shaped Lackawanna County Women in Philanthropy, an initiative of the Scranton Area Community Foundation (SACF), will host Women Who Shaped Lackawanna County: A Panel Discussion Celebrating Past Contributions and Present Impact on Tuesday, September 15, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Scranton Area Community Foundation, 612 Jefferson Avenue in Scranton. The event is free and open to the public and will celebrate the generations of women who have helped shape Lackawanna County through leadership, philanthropy, volunteerism, advocacy, service and civic engagement. Held as part of SACF’s continued America250PA commemoration, the program will bring together leaders from four local organizations with deep connections to the region’s history and community life. Panelists will share stories of women who came before us, the organizations they helped build and the ways women continue to strengthen Lackawanna County today. “For generations, women have played a defining role in shaping Lackawanna County—building organizations, strengthening neighborhoods, responding to community needs, and creating opportunities for others,” said Laura Ducceschi, President and CEO of the Scranton Area Community Foundation. “As we commemorate America’s 250th anniversary, this event gives us an opportunity to celebrate that remarkable legacy while also recognizing the women whose leadership, generosity, and service continue to move our community forward today.” Women in Philanthropy was founded in 2014 on the belief that when women come together, they can make a meaningful difference in their community. The initiative creates opportunities for women to learn, connect, give, volunteer and lead while turning individual contributions into collective impact. Guests attending the program are also invited to visit the America250PA bell located at the Scranton Area Community Foundation before or after the event. Titled A State of Giving, A City of Hope, the one-of-a-kind bell was designed by local artist Cherie Fruehan and unveiled in September 2025. It is one of more than 100 bells placed throughout Pennsylvania as part of America250PA’s statewide Bells Across PA initiative commemorating the 250th anniversary of the United States. The bell was sponsored by SACF with generous support from Susan and Dorrance Belin and celebrates the region’s history, generosity, and hope for the future.
Women In Philanthropy To Host Justice Bell Program Exploring Pennsylvania Women’s Fight For The Vote Women in Philanthropy, an initiative of the Scranton Area Community Foundation, will host a special community event on Monday, June 8, 2026, highlighting the history of women’s suffrage in Pennsylvania through film, storytelling, and conversation. Held in partnership with the Lackawanna Historical Society and as part of the America250PA initiative, Pennsylvania Women and Their Fight for the Vote will take place from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. at the Scranton Area Community Foundation at the Century Club, located at 612 Jefferson Avenue in Scranton. The evening will feature a screening of Finding Justice: The Untold Story of Women’s Fight for the Vote, a 19-minute documentary that is part present-day detective story and part historical account of the movement for voting rights. The film tells the story of the Justice Bell—a one-ton bronze replica of the Liberty Bell with its clapper chained to symbolize women’s silenced voices—and the determined group of women who carried it across all 67 Pennsylvania counties in 1915 to advocate for voting rights. The bell wasfinally rung in Philadelphia in 1920 following the ratification of the 19th Amendment. Following the screening, attendees will have the opportunity to participate in a live Q&A with filmmaker and Justice Bell Foundation Executive Director Amanda Owen. Signed copies of her book, The Justice Bell: Tracing the Journey of a Forgotten Symbol, will also be available for purchase. “This event offers a meaningful opportunity to reflect on the women who helped shape our history, while coming together as a community to learn and connect,” said Laura Ducceschi, President and CEO of the Scranton Area Community Foundation. “Through Women in Philanthropy, we’re proud to create spaces like this that invite people into important conversations and shared experiences.” “We’re honored to partner on this program and to help bring this important piece of Pennsylvania history to our community,” said Mary Ann Savakinus, Executive Director of the Lackawanna Historical Society. “The story of the Justice Bell is a powerful reminder of the determination and courage it took to secure the right to vote, and why preserving and sharing these stories continues to matter.” The evening will also include light refreshments and opportunities to explore several historical and civic features located at the Century Club, including the Inspiration Garden, the America250PA Bells Across PA fiberglass Liberty Bell replica, A State of Giving, A City of Hope, painted by artist Cherie Fruehan, and the Kate Chapman marker on the National Votes for Women Trail, honoring the founder of the Equal Franchise League of Scranton, who led suffrage advocacy in Lackawanna County from 1913 to 1919. The event is free and open to the public, though registration is encouraged
Scranton Area Community Foundation To Host PA Navigate Informational Session Scranton Area Community Foundation, through its Center for Community Leadership and Nonprofit Excellence, will host an informational session titled “PA Navigate: What You Need to Know—and Why It Matters Now” on Tuesday, June 9, 2026 from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. in the Foundation’s auditorium. The session will introduce PA Navigate, a statewide initiative supported by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania that is helping identify community needs, service gaps, and unmet demand across the state. Information gathered through the platform is being used to help inform future funding priorities, resource allocation, and statewide planning efforts. Designed for nonprofit leaders, healthcare organizations, educators, government agencies, community partners, funders, policymakers, and frontline providers, the session will provide an overview of how PA Navigate contributes to broader community support and planning initiatives throughout Pennsylvania. “As a community foundation, part of our responsibility is ensuring that Northeastern Pennsylvania is represented in important statewide conversations,” said Laura Ducceschi. “This session is an opportunity for organizations to better understand PA Navigate, how it is being used at the state level, and what it may mean for our region.” Attendees will learn how PA Navigate complements other tools currently being used across the region, how statewide data is helping shape future funding and resource decisions, and what level of engagement may be appropriate for their organization or community. The session will also include time for questions and discussion. “For Community Action, PA Navigate is a natural extension of the work our network has been doing since its inception,” said Beck Moore, CEO of the Community Action Association of Pennsylvania. “PA Navigate gives us another way to educate, support, and strengthen those local connections across Pennsylvania.” A light lunch and refreshments will be provided. Registration is required by June 5, 2026, and space may be limited.
Scranton Area Community Foundation Receives National Re-Accreditation The Scranton Area Community Foundation has officially been re-accredited under the Community Foundations National Standards®, the nation’s highest standards for philanthropic excellence. This distinction affirms the Foundation’s continued commitment to transparency, integrity, accountability, and effective stewardship of charitable resources. Community Foundations National Standards® establish rigorous legal, ethical, and operational benchmarks for community foundations nationwide. “Meeting the National Standards benchmarks is a comprehensive and demanding process,” said Susie Nelson, Board Chair of the Community Foundations National Standards Board. “This re-accreditation is a significant achievement and demonstrates the Scranton Area Community Foundation’s strong commitment to quality, transparency, and accountability in carrying out its mission.” The accreditation process requires community foundations to document and regularly review policies and practices related to donor services, investments, grantmaking, governance, and administration. More than 500 community foundations nationwide have achieved this designation, which serves as an important assurance to donors, nonprofit partners, and professional advisors. “This re-accreditation is critically important to our donors and our community,” said Laura Ducceschi, President and CEO of the Scranton Area Community Foundation. “When individuals and families choose to establish a charitable fund or leave a legacy gift, they are placing a high level of trust in us. National Standards® re-accreditation confirms that we are honoring that trust with strong governance, sound financial management, and a deep commitment to donor intent.” The Scranton Area Community Foundation works to meet critical community needs and strengthen Northeastern Pennsylvania by supporting a wide range of causes, including education, health and human services, arts and culture, animal welfare, workforce development, and community leadership. The Scranton Area Community Foundation works to meet critical community needs and strengthen Northeastern Pennsylvania by supporting a wide range of causes, including education, health and human services, arts and culture, animal welfare, workforce development, and community leadership. The Foundation offers a variety of charitable giving options, including donor-advised funds, designated funds, scholarship funds, field-of-interest funds, and unrestricted funds that address the region’s most pressing needs. In addition to affirming philanthropic services for donors, National Standards® accreditation validates the Foundation’s grantmaking practices and financial oversight for the nonprofit community it serves. “Strong grantmaking requires the same discipline and care as sound investing,” said David J. Price, Chair of the Scranton Area Community Foundation Board of Governors. “This re-accreditation assures our community that the Foundation operates with rigor, fairness, and long-term vision as we steward charitable resources.” Community Foundations National Standards® is the first program of its kind for charitable foundations in the United States. The National Standards Board is a supporting organization of the Council on Foundations and oversees the quality, value, and integrity of the accreditation process. More information is available at www.cfstandards.org. Through philanthropic services, strategic investments, and community leadership, the Scranton Area Community Foundation helps people support the causes they care about—now and for generations to come.
Scranton Area Community Foundation Launches 2026 Community Support Initiative Nonprofit organizations across Lackawanna County are navigating a period of significant uncertainty marked by rising costs, staffing challenges, policy changes, funding delays, and increased demand for services. In response, the Scranton Area Community Foundation (SACF) has launched its 2026 Community Support Initiative, inviting nonprofit partners to share candid insight into the realities they are facing through a Letter of Inquiry (LOI) process. The initiative is designed as a listening and learning effort—not a competitive grant application—to help the Foundation better understand sector-wide challenges and determine how future grant opportunities can be structured to respond thoughtfully, effectively, and equitably. “Nonprofits are experiencing interconnected pressures that extend beyond any single funding source,” said Laura Ducceschi, Scranton Area Community Foundation President and CEO. “This initiative allows us to listen closely, identify shared trends, and shape our response in a way that reflects what organizations are truly experiencing right now.” As the Foundation enters 2026, it does so having already taken deliberate steps to meet heightened community needs. After careful consideration, SACF’s Board of Governors approved deploying significantly more grant funding in 2026 than in a typical year, balancing urgent community response with long-term fiduciary responsibility. That approach began in 2025, when the Foundation’s distribution (grantmaking) committee expanded its definition of critical needs to better reflect current realities—such as emergency operational support, coverage of unforeseen budget gaps, and bridge funding for sudden revenue shortfalls. “As we face ongoing uncertainty, the role of a community foundation is both clear and complex,” said David Price, the Foundation’s Board Chair. “We must respond to urgent needs today while stewarding resources to serve this region for generations to come. Listening to our nonprofit partners is essential to doing both well.” The Community Support Initiative is part of a broader strategy through which SACF is working to strengthen community stability and resilience. In addition to grantmaking, the Foundation continues to convene partners, explore mission-aligned investments such as flexible capital and bridge funding, and advance regional initiatives focused on workforce development, food security, health system monitoring, and place-based economic opportunity. “We recognize that uncertainty places an added burden on nonprofit organizations,” Ducceschi shared. “We are grateful to our partners for taking the time to share their experiences. Their insight will help guide how the Foundation listens, learns, and responds in the months ahead.” The Foundation is inviting Lackawanna County 501(c)(3) nonprofits to submit a brief Letter of Inquiry (LOI) by January 31, 2026, sharing current challenges, emerging needs, and anticipated impacts in the next 6–12 months. Organizations can apply through the SACF grant portal at safdn.org/grants and learn more about the Letter of Inquiry process at safdn.org/SACF2026LOI.
SACF Supported by Minooka Subaru’s Share the Love Minooka Subaru recently presented the Scranton Area Community Foundation with a $46,470 check from their most recent Subaru Share the Love® event, continuing a six-year partnership that is making a meaningful impact throughout Northeastern Pennsylvania. This year’s contribution brings Minooka Subaru’s total giving to the Foundation to more than $250,000, raised through Share the Love® since first selecting the Scranton Area Community Foundation as their hometown charity partner six years ago. Funds contribute to the Minooka Subaru Fund of the Scranton Area Community Foundation, which provides charitable support to strengthen community programs and nonprofit organizations throughout the region. “We are incredibly grateful for Minooka Subaru’s longstanding partnership and generosity,” said Laura Ducceschi, President and CEO of the Scranton Area Community Foundation. “Their commitment allows us to continue supporting initiatives that help build a vibrant, thriving community here in Northeastern Pennsylvania.” As Minooka Subaru launches the 2025 Subaru Share the Love® Event, which runs through January 2, 2026, customers once again have the opportunity to direct a portion of vehicle purchases to support the Foundation and local impact. For more information about the Minooka Subaru Fund of the Scranton Area Community Foundation, please contact Mary Joyce, Communications Manager at the Scranton Area Community Foundation. mary@safdn.org Minooka Subaru presents a check to the Scranton Area Community Foundation as part of the Subaru Share the Love® event, bringing total contributions to more than $250,000 over six years. (from left to right): Pat Corbett (Minooka Subaru); Joe Corbett (Minooka Subaru); Brittany Pagnotti, Director of Donor Relations & Communications (Scranton Area Community Foundation); Laura Ducceschi, President and CEO (Scranton Area Community Foundation).
SACF: Northeastern Pennsylvania Health Care Foundation Honored The Northeastern Pennsylvania Health Care Foundation has been recognized with the Outstanding Foundation Award by the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) Northeastern Pennsylvania Chapter at the annual National Philanthropy Day Luncheon held on Friday, November 21, 2025, at The Woodlands Inn & Resort. This prestigious award celebrates the Foundation’s extraordinary leadership, strategic philanthropy, and deep commitment to advancing the health and well-being of Northeastern Pennsylvanians. The Board of the Northeastern Pennsylvania Health Care Foundation accepts the Outstanding Foundation Award at AFP NEPA’s National Philanthropy Day Luncheon on November 21, 2025. (L–R: Kerry O’Grady, Dr. Chris Dressel, James Clemente, Michael Clemente, Marie Roke Thomas, Laura Ducceschi, Dr. Peter Cognetti, Michele McGowan, Jason Woloski, M.D., Cathy Mihalick, Hon. Terrence R. Nealon.) Established from the sale of Mercy Hospital, the Northeastern Pennsylvania Health Care Foundation has continued to uphold its mission: reducing health disparities, improving access to care, and fostering collaboration across Lackawanna, Luzerne, and Wyoming Counties. Since its inception, the Foundation has invested millions in programs that address both immediate health needs and long-term, systemic change, always through a lens of equity and community partnership. “The Northeastern Pennsylvania Health Care Foundation is an extraordinary force for good in our region,” said Laura Ducceschi, President and CEO of the Scranton Area Community Foundation. “Beyond its generosity, the Foundation is a true convener—listening deeply, responding compassionately, and leading collaboratively to strengthen the healthcare system for everyone in our community. We were honored to nominate them for this well-deserved recognition.” A defining pillar of the Foundation’s impact is its highly successful Careers in Care initiative, designed to address critical workforce shortages across the health care economy. Since 2020, the Careers in Care Nursing Scholarship Program has awarded over $975,000 in scholarship funding to 131 individuals, many of whom are now employed in local healthcare settings. The initiative expands opportunities for underrepresented and economically disadvantaged students to pursue family-sustaining careers in nursing and the health professions—creating long-term benefits for the region’s workforce and patients alike. The Foundation also established the Northeastern Pennsylvania Health Care Foundation Scholars Program at the Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine (GCSOM), a multi-year $3.2 million commitment that has supported 20 medical students from the tri-county region who are dedicated to practicing medicine in Northeastern Pennsylvania. These investments strengthen the long-term physician pipeline and ensure access to high-quality care for future generations. “The Foundation’s leadership has been especially crucial during the ongoing hospital crisis in Lackawanna County. The Northeastern Pennsylvania Health Care Foundation partnered with regional philanthropic organizations to provide emergency support, sustain critical services, and advocate for solutions that prioritize community well-being. This timely and strategic response exemplifies what community-centered philanthropy looks like in action,” Ducceschi added. Beyond workforce development and crisis response, the Foundation has made targeted investments in youth mental health, nonprofit capacity building, rural health access, and community collaboration, uplifting innovation and directing resources where they are most urgently needed. “This award reflects the Board’s integrity, compassion, and unwavering belief that meaningful change happens when we work together,” Ducceschi added. “Their impact is felt in classrooms, hospitals, clinics, and communities throughout Northeastern Pennsylvania.” For more information about the Northeastern Pennsylvania Health Care Foundation, visit nepahealthcarefoundation.org.
