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.