Outreach Awarded $75,000 Grant from William McGowan Fund

The William G. McGowan Charitable Fund has graciously awarded Outreach – Center for Community Resources $75,000 to support Adult General Educational Development “GED” programming at Outreach’s Seventh Avenue Center. The McGowan Fund has provided tremendous support to Outreach and its programming for adults in Lackawanna County.

Left to right: Jennifer Shoemaker, Outreach Prison, Reentry, and GED Manager; Nikki Price, Court, GED, Young Adult, Prison, Reentry, and Workforce Development Program Director; Leo McGowan, William G. McGowan Charitable Fund Board of Directors President; and Lori Chaffers, Outreach President/CEO.

Outreach provides GED services to community members at the Outreach Seventh Avenue Center and in 2025 re-initiated GED classes and testing at the Lackawanna County Prison. Attaining a GED is not only a milestone achievement for many, but it also has the potential to increase earnings by 25%. More than 600,000 adults in Pennsylvania lack a high school diploma. This equates to 9.4% of residents aged 25 to 65 who have not completed their high school education or obtained a GED (US Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2022).

Outreach began providing GED services at its Seventh Avenue Center in Scranton during the COVID-19 pandemic, pivoting from providing services at the Lackawanna County Prison. This proved to be a critical moment in the development of Outreach’s GED program, allowing them to serve not only individuals reentering the community from incarceration, but many others from young adults to seniors. Outreach employs two full-time GED instructors who work directly with participants, providing one-on-one and small-group sessions. Outreach is the educational provider at the Lackawanna County Prison, and connects individuals to Outreach’s programs upon release, including GED. Many GED participants are justice-involved individuals. Achieving a GED can significantly alter an individual’s life trajectory and help families achieve stability.

The GED is a four-part exam that is certified as equivalent to the academic knowledge required for a high school diploma. The average individual takes 240 hours of studying to pass all sections. Many Outreach participants’ schedules are busy with family, work, and other obligations. Outreach GED instructors work with each individual to create a GED tutoring and preparation plan that best suits their needs.

Outreach’s GED programming aligns with the William G. McGowan Fund’s priority of providing adults with the building blocks they need to flourish and address the root causes of poverty. The McGowan Fund’s continued support of Outreach GED programming has made a significant difference in the lives of individuals and families, enabling them to advance their careers and futures by achieving a GED.

Allied Services Receives $15,000 Grant from William G. McGowan Charitable Fund

Allied Services Foundation is honored to announce a generous grant of $150,000 from the William G. McGowan Charitable Fund. The grant will support general operations in sustaining access to pediatric therapies at their John P. Moses, Esq. Pediatric Rehab Centers, a vital part of Allied Services’ continuum of care for children across Northeastern and Central Pennsylvania.

This essential funding reaffirms the Fund’s commitment to expanding access to critical healthcare services. On May 21, Gert C. McGowan, Esq., Board Member of the McGowan Charitable Fund, toured the John P. Moses Pediatric Rehab Center in Scranton and witnessed firsthand the transformative care being provided.

“You are doing more than therapy – you are truly changing lives,” said Gert C. McGowan, Esq., following the visit.

The grant will help Allied Services continue delivering high-quality, evidence-based therapies for children facing developmental delays, neurological conditions, and physical disabilities.

“We are incredibly grateful for the William G. McGowan Charitable Fund’s ongoing support,” said Atty. Bill Conaboy, President and CEO, Allied Services. “This funding is vital to ensuring that children in our community – regardless of their financial circumstances – can continue to receive the life-changing therapies they need to reach their fullest potential.”

The support comes at a time when demand for pediatric rehabilitation services continues to grow, making it imperative for Allied Services to maintain both access and excellence in care. The partnership with the McGowan Charitable Fund will allow Allied Services to invest in resources that strengthen outcomes for children and their families.

 
Pictured left to right: Jim Brogna, Vice President Strategic Partnership, Allied Services; Bob Cole, Ph.D., Senior Vice President, Chief Analytics Officer, Director of Graduate Medical Education, Allied Services; Katie Colosimo, MS, CCC/SLP, Allied Services; Gertrude C. McGowan, Esq., Board of Directors, William G. McGowan Charitable Fund; Ashley Monetta, MS, CCC/SLP, Allied Services; Cathy Guzzi, PT, DPT, MS, Assistant Vice President of Rehab Therapies, Allied Services; Atty. Bill Conaboy, President & CEO, Allied Services