News and updates about charitable funds making a difference in our communities!
PGA Tour Golfer Brandon Matthews Donates $200,000 during 3rd Annual NEPA Invitational to support Geisinger Janet Weis Children’s Hospital
“The Scranton Area Community Foundation is honored that Brandon and the NEPA Invitational have partnered with us to carry out the charitable goals of this event. His desire to give back is truly making a difference right here in our communities.”
– Laura Ducceschi, President and CEO of the Scranton Area Community Foundation.
The third annual NEPA Invitational, hosted by PGA Tour player Brandon Matthews, was held at the Country Club of Scranton on September 22-24. This charity pro-am golf event attracted current and former PGA Tour pros, amateurs, and supporters, all united by a shared mission to raise funds for the Geisinger Janet Weis Children’s Hospital and Jack Nicklaus’ Play Yellow Campaign benefitting the Children’s Miracle Network.
Following the NEPA Invitational, on October 15, Matthews was honored by Jack and Barbara Nicklaus at the signature Play Yellow Invitational where he was named the 2023 Play Yellow Ambassador of the Year.
To date, the NEPA Invitational Fund at the Scranton Area Community Foundation has provided over $365,000 to support a variety of charities including the Boys & Girls Clubs of Northeastern Pennsylvania, Children’s Advocacy Center of NEPA, Meals on Wheels of NEPA, Inc., Outreach, and United Way of Lackawanna and Wayne Counties, in addition to Geisinger Janet Weis Children’s Hospital. Additionally, the NEPA Invitational and Matthews have worked closely with the Scranton Area Community Foundation to establish the William Lawler Scholarship, awarded to a NEPA area junior golf who is going on to play collegiate golf.
Learn more here
Apply for a Grant from the Humor Therapy Fund
The Humor Therapy Fund at the Scranton Area Community Foundation is currently seeking grant applications from nonprofit organizations who wish to promote laughter and/or humor for the therapeutic benefit of their clients, staff, and/or the community at large.
Whether a nonprofit organization wants to bring smiles to children, hold a comedy improv workshop to improve staff morale, or create a humor toolkit, the Humor Therapy Fund of the Scranton Area Community Foundation can provide the necessary support.
Grant applications for this fund will be accepted until November 13th, 2023, and will then be reviewed by a committee. Grants of up to $750 will be available.
Apply Now
The Humor Therapy Fund at the Scranton Area Community Foundation was created in 2006 by Jeannine Luby, who started the fund as a graduate student to promote therapeutic laughter. Over the last several years, Ms. Luby has spearheaded numerous fundraisers to build the fund, including comedy shows and local events on World Laughter Day.
To date, the fund has provided support to organizations, including Laughing at My Nightmare, Volunteers in Medicine, Deutsch Institute, and VNA Hospice and Home Health.
Defenders of Democracy Hosts Community Forum Addressing Violence
“A Community Confronts Violence: A New Vision” was held at Marywood University
The Defenders of Democracy, a nonpartisan grassroots advocacy organization currently focused on a collaborative community approach to violence prevention, recently hosted a forum in response to the growing epidemic of violence in our country. The forum, “A Community Confronts Violence: A New Vision,” was held in the evening on Thursday, October 12, at Marywood University. The forum was sponsored by Munley Law.
Michael Fanone, the former District of Columbia Metropolitan Police Officer who was critically injured on January 6, 2021, at the Capitol in Washington D.C., was the keynote speaker. Officer Fanone recounted his experiences during the January 6th United States Capitol attack and spoke about his bestselling book, Hold the Line, which addresses many of today’s most critical issues, and how they impact our lives.
“The Scranton Area Community Foundation supports events that bring the community together to work on solutions that enhance the quality of life for all people in Northeastern Pennsylvania,” stated Laura Ducceschi, President and CEO of the Scranton Area Community Foundation. “This event convened the community to work on solutions as we continue to address violence within our communities. It is an important topic that has come up more and more frequently in community conversations, both locally and nationwide.”
Joining Officer Fanone was Dr. Matthew Schaffer, the Director of Psychological Services at Marywood University and an expert in threat assessment, who led a discussion about creating a community initiative to prevent violence in our region. The event’s goal was to bring together the various governmental, public, and private entities working on violence prevention and to explore models that have been effective in other communities and countries.
The event was free to attend and was open to the public. The Defenders of Democracy was established and is administered through the Scranton Area Community Foundation to foster issues in civic engagement.Donate to the Defenders of Democracy Fund
Picnic in the Park: Paperback Edition
On Sunday, October 15th, the Paperback Foundation hosted their first annual Picnic in the Park in Lackawanna County’s McDade Park.
The event featured local food vendors, crafts, and live music by Daddy-O & the Sax Maniax. In keeping with the Paperback Foundation’s mission to promote positive environmental initiatives in communities across Pennsylvania, the event promoted the importance of revitalizing natural areas, creating habitats for biodiversity, and improving communities.
Learn more about the Paperback Foundation
Community Foundation of Monroe County Launches
The Community Foundation of Monroe County is a brand-new community foundation launched to address community needs for the residents of Monroe County.
On Thursday, October 19, the Community Foundation of Monroe County hosted its official public launch event at ESSA Bank and Trust Corporate Center in Stroudsburg.
The Community Foundation of Monroe County’s administrative, investment, development, and grants management services are administered by the Scranton Area Community Foundation. This agreement enables the Community Foundation of Monroe County to draw on the nearly 70 years of experience and expertise that the nationally-recognized Scranton Area Community Foundation possesses.
Staff members of the Scranton Area Community Foundation attended the public launch event to support the Community Foundation of Monroe County.
“We are grateful to support the Community Foundation of Monroe County as they begin to accept charitable donations and provide grant support to the communities in Monroe County,” stated Laura Ducceschi, Scranton Area Community Foundation President and CEO.
To learn more about the Community Foundation of Monroe County, please visit cfmcpa.org.