WILKES-BARRE — Jessica Cronauer, Executive Director of Leadership Northeast, said the organization’s Community Impact Project component is an experience meant to serve several purposes.
“Program participants work together to design and execute a project that fulfills an important community need,” Cronauer said. “In doing so, participants learn to combine their strengths and resources, and to utilize the leadership development skills they learn during the LNE program to affect critical and positive change in the community.”
Cronauer said that partnering with nonprofit organizations, project teams find solutions, raise awareness, funds and support for the populations most in need throughout Northeast Pennsylvania.
Cronauer said that area nonprofit organizations and community groups are invited to submit a Request for Proposal (RFP) to Leadership Northeast for implementation as a class Community Impact Project for both the Core and Junior Leadership Northeast programs.
Cronauer said Leadership Northeast have selected six projects for the Core class to work on throughout the program year.
“Our participants can apply their skills, talents and servant leadership responsibility to help meet these needs and contribute to the betterment of Northeastern Pennsylvania,” Cronauer said.
There have been many significant projects done over the years, Cronauer said, including:
• Creation of a technology lab for the Salvation Army’s Kirby House.
• Renovation of the Martz Pavilion in Kirby Park
• Addition of comfort stations along the Seven Tubs Nature Area.
• Raising awareness and collaboration with Keystone Mission to help grandparents raising grandchildren.
• Food, book and supply drives.
• Children’s literacy campaigns and hundreds of others.
Cronauer said projects must have a reasonable scope and budget and cannot include capital campaigns or raising large sums of money.
Core program participants are restricted to raising no more than $5,000/project. In-kind donations are not considered within that restriction.
Boasting an alumni base of more than 2,000 servant leaders, Leadership Northeast — formerly Leadership Wilkes-Barre — was founded as a community leadership development organization in 1981.
A non-profit organization, Leadership Northeast is dedicated to developing informed and committed leaders from all segments of the community who will serve, strengthen, and improve Northeastern Pennsylvania.
Leadership Northeast held a “meet the media” session this week at the Friedman Jewish Community Center in Kingston where each committee discussed their projects with members of the area media.
The projects and committee members are:
Anything is PAUsible
Anything is PAUsible is assisting with the design and implementation of a working retail space in the Parenting Autism United (PAU) ‘PAU’sitively Unique Gift Shop that will be adapted for individuals with autism looking to obtain realistic work experience and become more independent.
The mission of PAU is to create programs for our community to help families and individuals with Autism live a positive, healthy, and integrated lifestyle through education, support, and understanding.
Team Members:
Rob Gawlas – Rosenn, Jenkins & Greenwald, LLP
James Gildea – Mobiniti
Rocio Huerta – The Hershey Company
Bobby Judge – UGI Utilities
Daniel Kang – Procter & Gamble
Sierra Marsh – Maternal and Family Health Services
Shelby Monk – Diamond City Partnership
Fred Rosencrans – Luzerne County 9-1-1
Tiffany Wiernusz – Misericordia University
Advisor – Kevin Harger-Blizzard – Berkshire Hathaway GUARD Insurance Companies
Arts & Harmony
Partnering with the Greater Wyoming Valley Area YMCA, Arts & Harmony is renovating the third floor of the Charlotte L. Casterline Early Learning Center in order for the YMCA to provide quality care along with music and arts education for their students.
The Greater Wyoming Valley Area YMCA is a cause-driven organization that is for youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility.
Team Members:
Steven Cooper – Catalyst Power Holdings
Stephanie Fernandes – Luzerne County Public Defender’s Office
Ashley Hoffman – Geisinger
Caitlin Jones – Step by Step, Inc.
Suzanne Kennedy – Community Bank, N.A.
Therese Paxton – Tobyhanna Army Depot
Joanne Quaglia – Geisinger
Michael Thomas – M&T Bank
Advisor – Abby Moules – Borton-Lawson
Kirby Super Stars
The Kirby Super Stars are working with the Salvation Army Kirby House to provide families in transition the support and resources needed to grow and thrive.
The Salvation Army Kirby House is a transitional housing facility that combines counseling, education, training, and coordinates the various human services available in the Wyoming Valley.
Team Members:
Erica Acosta – Wilkes University
Taelor Allen – Procter & Gamble
Gene Axton – F.M. Kirby Center for the Performing Arts
Bryanne Caruso – Fidelity Bank
Kelly Clisham – Wilkes University
Danielle Dominick – Benco Dental
Nicole Gilligan – Benco Dental
David Pearson – NEPA Rainbow Alliance/Highlights for Children Magazine
Megan Valkenburg – Wilkes University
Advisor – Seth Dupler – All-Phase Electric Supply
Pantry Raiders
The Pantry Raiders are creating a personal care product pantry at the Hazleton Office of Maternal and Family Health Services (MFHS) which will allow MFHS clients to access supplies not commonly found at food pantries or offered by their other programs (such as feminine hygiene and general hygiene products).
As a private non-profit health and human services organization, MFHS works to meet the health and nutrition needs of Northeastern Pennsylvania’s women, children, and families with information, education, and quality care.
Team Members:
Pricilla Cabral – Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine
Shaun Daney – Benchmark McCabe Division
Danielle Ems – Martz Group
Jeannette Hontz – Family Service Association of NEPA
Lauren Jason – Berkshire Hathaway GUARD Insurance Companies
John Jurosky – Geisinger
Meghan Miller – Baker Tilly US, LLP
Heather Pliska – CVS Caremark
Kathryn Wilk – Clem-Mar House, Inc.
Advisor – Jyllian Marinelli – Benco Dental
The Snack Pack
The Snack Pack is supporting the Sydney and Pauline Friedman Jewish Community Center (JCC) Summer Camp Food Backpack Program by providing backpacks with fresh ingredients and nutritious food to children in the JCC Summer Day Camp. From building body and mind through athletics and wellness, educating children and youth, sparking excitement through informative programs and entertaining events, engaging young people with the JCC Camp and celebrating all aspects of Jewish culture and life, the JCC has got it covered.
Team Members:
Anthony Bartoli – AssuredPartners of Northeastern Pennsylvania
Regina Graham – Geisinger
Johnyne Hoyes – Comcast Cable
Jesse Macko – Coal Creative
Tiziana Mazzarella – DeMazz, Inc.
Michelle Pack – Blu Door Financial
Rocky Selenski – Intermetro Industries
Katie Spencer – Greater Wyoming Valley Chamber of Commerce
Advisor – Melissa Youngblood – Luzerne Bank
Whisker Warriors
Whisker Warriors are raising awareness for Rescue Warriors Cat Rescue in order to help generate funds and find loving homes for kittens currently in foster care. The Rescue Warrior Cat Rescue is a non-profit, foster-based shelter that has a mission to help cats have a quality of life above a mere existence and respect the species as a living creature.
Team Members:
Craig Bound – Borton-Lawson
Craig Champi – Navient
Cara Green – Penn-State Wilkes-Barre
Lois Miller – FNCB Bank
Ryan Rostocki – Borton-Lawson
Rachael Stull – Shooze Boutique
Stacey Sturdevant – Luzerne County Head Start
Cassidy Taylor – Leadership Northeast
Ashley Wellington – Wells Fargo Bank
Advisor – Matt Nicholas – Power Engineering Corporation
Reach Bill O’Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle.
Source: news.google.com
