2018-19 ANNUAL REPORT
WE’RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER LIVE UNITED
United Way of Lackawanna and Wayne Counties
OUR MISSION To improve the quality of life for the people of Lackawanna and Wayne Counties and surrounding communities by serving as a catalyst for community problem solving and by conducting an efficient, encompassing volunteer fund raising effort to positively impact the community’s most compelling social problems.
UNITED WAY FIGHTS FOR THE EDUCATION, FINANCIAL STABILITY AND HEALTH OF EVERY PERSON IN LACKAWANNA AND WAYNE COUNTIES.
Children participating at the Summer Learning site at Connors Park, Scranton.
UNITED WE FIGHT. UNITED WE WIN. LIVE UNITED CONTENTS 1 2 3 4 4 5-6 7-14 15-18 19-22
Charity Navigator Leadership Message Board of Directors and Staff About United Way Agency Program Partners Impact at a Glance Education Spotlight Financial Stability Spotlight Health Spotlight
23-24 25-28 28 29-30 31
Working Together in Wayne County Campaign: Year in Review United Way and Organized Labor: Working Together for Impact Volunteer Statements of Financial Position
On the cover: Top left: Dave Tressler, 1982 Campaign Chair, Past Board Chair and long-time United Way volunteer, oversees a ramp construction project during Day of Caring ‘18. Top Right: Two students participate in the NEPA Girls’ STEM Competition at Valley View High School in April, 2019. Bottom left: Veronica Bowen, a Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) intern from Penn State Scranton completes a tax return during the 2019 tax season. Bottom right: Children enjoy playing with kinetic sand during the Summer Learning Series in July, 2018 at Connors Park.
ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY
UNITED WAY OF LACKAWANNA AND WAYNE COUNTIES EARNS 7TH CONSECUTIVE 4-STAR RATING
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or the 7th straight year, the United Way of Lackawanna and Wayne Counties has attained Charity Navigator’s highest possible 4-star rating for demonstrating strong financial health and a stalwart commitment to accountability and complete transparency. Utilizing objective, annual analysis, Charity Navigator has awarded only the most fiscally responsible organizations with a 4-star rating. Our score of 97.87 out of a possible 100 includes a perfect score in the Accountability and Transparency metric which indicates our organization operates in accordance with industry best practices and maintains open transparency with our donors and stakeholders. According to Charity Navigator, only five percent of charities in the country perform at this high level, which demonstrates that the United Way of Lackawanna and Wayne Counties far exceeds industry standards and outperforms most other charities in America.
With our most recent score, the United Way of Lackawanna and Wayne Counties is ranked in the top 20 among United Ways of all sizes across the country, and we’re ranked first among the 12 United Ways in Pennsylvania to receive a 4-star rating last year.
“ Based on its 4-star rating, people can
trust that their donations are going to a financially responsible and ethical charity when they decide to support the United Way of Lackawanna and Wayne Counties. ~ Michael Thatcher
”
President and CEO, Charity Navigator
We remain proud of this achievement and pledge to continue our faithful stewardship of the resources entrusted to us by this very generous community.
Visit Us Online Learn more at uwlc.net/charity-navigator 1 | United Way of Lackawanna and Wayne Counties’ 2018-19 Annual Report
LEADERSHIP MESSAGE Dear Friends, On a Scranton-bound train following a Kiwanis convention, a group of concerned community leaders endeavored to create an all-encompassing fundraising drive to generate enough money to substantially impact the issues of the day facing our community. The year was 1921, and this idea would form the genesis of the Community Chest in Scranton which would ultimately evolve into the United Way of Lackawanna and Wayne Counties as we know it today. Nearly 100 years later, at the heart of our United Way is the same basic tenet that only together — United — can we make our community better. It’s as true today as it was a century ago that solutions to our community’s greatest challenges can only be found when organizations and individuals work together. As we stand on the cusp of a second century of service, a changing market and donor expectations, punctuated by an ever-increasing complexity of community needs, calls us to evolve once more and increase our ability to meet these needs while broadening our reach to impact the lives of everyone in Lackawanna and Wayne Counties. With this in mind, the United Way established a Funding Review Committee which spent more than a year conducting an in-depth study of our current method of fund distribution while exploring new approaches to increase our resources and allow for greater flexibility to broaden our reach on these pressing issues. With the unanimous support of the Board of Directors, the Committee recommended implementing a change to our fund distribution process. Beginning in 2020, we will issue a Request for Proposals within our current program partner agencies placing highest priority on our well-established programmatic pillars of education, financial stability/economic mobility and health. While we know this shift won’t be without its challenges, we are looking toward the future with a renewed sense of purpose, as an ever-evolving grassroots organization nimble enough to change with the changing times — just as we have for nearly 100 years. As you read this report of our work in the past year, we remain humbled by your generous support of the United Way of Lackawanna and Wayne Counties and gratefully thank you for helping us continue to fight for the education, financial stability and health of every person in our community. Warmest regards,
Tom Donohue
Chairman of the Board
Gary Drapek
President and CEO
Learn more at UWLC.NET | 2
LEADERSHIP SPOTLIGHT
2018-19 BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The United Way of Lackawanna and Wayne Counties is governed autonomously by a local Board of Directors comprised of volunteers who are leaders in the community and in their respective fields. The Board meets seven times per year to help the United Way strategically carry out our mission.
Executive Committee
MEMBErS-AT-LARGE
Tom Donohue, Chair
Tracy Bannon
Lamar Advertising
George Lynett, Jr., Senior Vice Chair Times Shamrock Communications
David Raven, Vice Chair, Resource Development
The Honesdale National Bank
Randy Palko, Vice Chair, Community Impact
St. Joseph’s Center Foundation
The Honorable Michael Barrasse
Lackawanna County President Judge
Barbara Bossi
Community Volunteer
Sandy Chickeletti M & T Bank
Community Volunteer
Michael Cordaro
Noelle Lynett, Vice Chair, Community Impact Marketing
Justin Davis
Brown Brothers Harriman & Co.
Community Volunteer
PA Health and Wellness
Lewis Critelli, Treasurer
P.J. Dempsey
Wayne Bank
Dempsey Uniform & Linen Supply
Dr. Erica Barone Pricci, Secretary
Kathie Gaughan
Lackawanna College
Commonwealth Health Moses Taylor Hospital
Alex Fried, Campaign Chair
Jill George
The P&G Paper Products Company
The Dime Bank
Judith Graziano
Jason Kavulich
Honorary Lifetime Member
Lackawanna County Area Agency on Aging
Lisa Berardelli
Gary Drapek
Bill Cockerill
Jack R. Evans
Senior Vice President and CFO
Nikki Keller
Vice President of Community Impact Marketing
Peg Kopko
Director of Education Programs AFL/CIO Community Services Liaison
John Marsico
Community Volunteer
James Mirabelli
Abington Heights School District
Dr. Deb Pellegrino
University of Scranton
Dr. Donald Preate Delta Medix
Attorney Joe Price
Dougherty, Leventhal and Price, LLP
Walter Serafinko
Community Bank, NA
Kelly Scheinman
Healthcare Consultant
Drew Simpson
Carpenter’s Union Local 645
Mark Slayton Penn Foster
Stephen Uliana Dr. Marwan Wafa
Penn State Scranton
Jonathan Watt
Hendrick Manufacturing
Stig Fromm Director of Community Impact
Frank Kincel Campaign Manager
Maripat Kovalkoski
Vice President of Community Impact
Operational Systems Manager
John Orbin
Elena Kozloski
Vice President of Resource Development/ Campaign
Office Services Manager
Angela Bassani, CPA
Campaign Manager
VITA Program Coordinator
Johnson College
Quadrant EPP
PROFESSIONAL STAFF President and CEO
Katie Leonard
Sue Youtz
Members of the United Way of Lackawanna and Wayne Counties staff showing their support for the Go Green for UCP of NEPA awareness event in March, 2019.
ABOUT UNITED WAY STRONGER TOGETHER
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ach year, the United Way of Lackawanna and Wayne Counties harnesses the caring power of generous individuals, companies, organizations and foundations to improve our community.
Together with numerous community partners, we fight for a quality education that leads to graduation, stable employment and steady, sufficient income to support a family’s financial stability and economic mobility while enjoying good physical and mental health with a solid safety net in times of crisis. Where gaps exist in educational opportunities, financial stability or access to health services, we distribute funds to programs helping to address these issues, or we create innovative initiatives and develop collaborative partnerships that do. Please join together with us and help continue the fight!
AGENCY PROGRAM PARTNERS American Red Cross of Lackawanna County • The ARC of NEPA • Boys and Girls Clubs of NEPA • Catholic Social Services • Day Nursery Association • Greater Carbondale YMCA • Greater Scranton YMCA • Jewish Community Center • Jewish Family Service of NEPA • Lackawanna Blind Association • Meals on Wheels of NEPA • Northeastern PA Council, Boy Scouts of America • St. Joseph’s Center • The Salvation Army • Scranton Primary Health Care Center • Senior Day Services/Telespond • Serving Seniors, Inc. • United Cerebral Palsy of NEPA • United Neighborhood Centers of NEPA • Women’s Resource Center
Wayne County grantees are listed on page 24.
Learn more at UWLC.NET | 4
IMPACT AT A GLANCE
EDUCATION
Providing children and teens with opportunities for quality learning and skill development.
AGENCY PROGRAM PARTNERS
Greater Carbondale YMCA • • •
Boys and Girls Clubs of NEPA • •
After School Shuttle Program and Financial Aid Summer Day Camp Child Care - Financial Aid
•
• •
•
Lekotek
United Neighborhood Centers of NEPA
Day Camp - Financial Aid Day Care - Financial Aid
• • •
Jewish Community Center of Scranton • •
Scouting - Financial Aid
United Cerebral Palsy of NEPA
Greater Scranton YMCA
Day Nursery Association •
NEPA Council, Boy Scouts of America
Day Camp - Financial Aid Preschool Quality Out-of-School Time
Day Camp - Financial Aid Day Care - Financial Aid
91%
of children’s academic achievement improved
87%
Day Care - Financial Aid Leaders in Training Project Hope
90%
of preschoolers were ready for success in Kindergarten
91%
of the children served developed new skills and knowledge
of children participated in quality out-of-school time programming
FINANCIAL STABILITY
Helping families and individuals achieve greater self-sufficiency by empowering them with skills and knowledge.
AGENCY PROGRAM PARTNERS Catholic Social Services • •
Relief Assistance/Counseling St. Anthony’s Haven: Men’s and Women’s Homeless Shelter
97%
St. Joseph’s Center •
Mother/Infant Home
The Salvation Army •
of families received help with basic needs
Comprehensive Emergency Assistance
United Neighborhood Centers of NEPA • •
Community Services Heating and Utility Assistance
Women’s Resource Center •
Domestic Violence
99%
of families in need obtained affordable housing
91%
of families improved their savings and assets
90%
of individuals were referred for appropriate benefits
76%
of households secured employment
89%
of families learned how to better manage expenses
85%
of households participated in programs to improve their financial stability and safety
HEALTH
Providing all residents the opportunity to achieve optimal physical and mental health while promoting healthy lifestyles and communities.
AGENCY PROGRAM PARTNERS Disaster/Emergency Services
The Arc of NEPA • •
Adult Day Care Advocacy Services
Boys and Girls Clubs of NEPA • •
Core Program Park It Program
Catholic Social Services •
St. Joseph’s Center
Jewish Community Center of Scranton
Scranton Primary Health Care Center
•
American Red Cross of Lackawanna County •
Greater Carbondale YMCA
General Counseling Purchase of Service
• • •
Youth
Education & Recreation - Adults Senior Adults Youth
Jewish Family Service of NEPA • • •
Counseling Purchase of Service Free Dental Clinic Older Adult Services and Casework Management
Lackawanna Blind Association • • • •
Client Support Services Prevention of Blindness Radio Reading Service Social Activity Program
Meals on Wheels of NEPA •
Fast Track Home-Delivered Meals
97% 98%
of people improved their lives by choosing healthier behaviors
of individuals had access to safe homes and healthy communities
• •
Maternity Services Unemployed/Uninsured Financial Aid Program
Senior Day Services / Telespond • • •
Adult Day Care Dementia Care/Respite Services Senior Companion Respite
Serving Seniors •
Community Services
United Cerebral Palsy of NEPA • •
Assistive Technology Home Services
United Neighborhood Centers of NEPA •
Center Services - Teens/Adults
Women’s Resource Center •
Crisis Intervention Hotline
87%
of the people served had access to physical and behavioral healthcare
84%
of individuals increased their physical activity levels and improved their healthy eating habits
TO LEARN MORE, PLEASE VISIT US ONLINE AT UWLC.NET. Learn more at UWLC.NET | 6
EDUCATION SPOTLIGHT
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very child deserves the opportunity to achieve their full potential and fulfill their dreams. Quality education, beginning at birth, gives children that opportunity. The United Way of Lackawanna and Wayne Counties is focused on ensuring all area children are prepared for success in school and life. 7 | United Way of Lackawanna and Wayne Counties’ 2018-19 Annual Report
Together with our partners, we work to give children a strong start and to help parents and caregivers turn everyday moments into brain building ones. We work to ensure preschoolers are prepared to enter kindergarten with the tools they need to succeed, and we work to help them stay on that path to a successful future and a lifetime of learning.
Creating pathways to success for all children TRANSFORMING CHILDREN’S FUTURES
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he United Way of Lackawanna and Wayne Counties is proud to lead Transforming Children’s Futures (TCF) — a high impact collaboration that is actively building networks with like-minded organizations to improve the third grade reading proficiency of children in Lackawanna County. TCF is taking our lead from the Campaign for Grade Level Reading—a national initiative which strives to disrupt generational poverty by mobilizing communities to find solutions to help third grade students read on grade level. Research shows that reading proficiency by the end of third grade is the most important predictor of high school graduation and career success. If this critical milestone is missed, the trajectory of the child’s future changes dramatically.
Children are learning to read from birth through third grade. From fourth grade on, they are reading to learn. In Lackawanna County, 38 percent of third grade students scored below proficient in reading on the last two Pennsylvania System of School Assessment (PSSA) exams. At the same time, county-wide high school graduation rates have become unstable. During the 2010-11 school year, 90 percent of high school seniors graduated while only 83 percent graduated in 2018, according to the County Health Rankings from that year. In response to these alarming trends, the United Way is proud to lead our partners from the Lackawanna County Office of Youth and Family Services, Scranton Lackawanna Human Development Agency (SLHDA) Head Start and the Scranton Public Library to provide supports for struggling early grade readers; promote healthy growth and development in younger children; engage families to help their children read, grow and develop and mobilize the community to take action and improve early grade reading success. A TCF Cabinet of concerned stakeholders was launched in January.
OUR VISION Every child in our community will have access to the supports needed to attain third grade reading proficiency.
OUR MISSION Develop and implement a comprehensive and collaborative system of support which ensures pathways to reading proficiency by the end of third grade for all Lackawanna County students.
OUR BOLD GOAL 90 percent of Lackawanna County third grade students will read on grade level by 2023 as measured by the Pennsylvania System of School Assessment (PSSA).
OUR CORE FOCUS AREAS • • • •
School Preparedness Regular School Attendance Summer Learning Growing Healthy Readers
SCHOOL PREPAREDNESS Kindergarten Dialogue. The United Way of Lackawanna and Wayne Counties is working with a dedicated team of educators and community stakeholders to help better align Early Childhood Education (ECE) and school districts while building a strong bridge for families to help ensure every child in our community is supported through all stages of growth and development. To nurture the creation of this alignment, the United Way and PNC Bank sponsored the first-ever Lackawanna County Kindergarten Dialogue at PNC Field in November. Over 100 people were in attendance, including 39 teachers and administrators from 20 elementary schools with 52 early care teachers and administrators from 32 early learning centers. The United Way’s Success By 6 team designed and implemented the program to unite Lackawanna County elementary school staff and the quality early care centers which support them and encourage a collaborative approach to ensuring alignment and improving school readiness skills as well as introducing a unified Community Transition Packet, available to view and download at uwlc.net/kindergartentransition.
VROOM. TCF is pleased to offer VROOM to help parents, caregivers, early learning providers and others with simple activities to help make everyday moments with children from birth to age 5 into brain building moments. Whether it’s mealtime, bathtime, bedtime or anytime, there are always easy ways to nurture a child’s growing mind. VROOM offers tools, resources and a Daily VROOM app to help spark these brain building moments with thousands of simple activities right at your fingertips. Visit uwlc.net/vroom to sign up as an individual or to become a VROOM Brain Building Corporate Partner and receive a starter kit to share VROOM tools, resources and the app with your employees.
Kindergarten Transition. We continued our proven Kindergarten Transition program with custom “What Do You Wonder About Kindergarten” books reaching more than 825 families in the Dunmore, Lakeland, Riverside, Scranton and Valley View School Districts. With the help of a Scranton Area Foundation grant, we supported a Kindergarten Readiness program for 16 children at John Adams Elementary over a two-week period and provided transition materials for 66 families at Kindergarten Orientation. We also participated in WVIA’s Be My Neighbor Day at Viewmont Mall in August and shared information about kindergarten transition and VROOM with more than 250 families.
T
ransforming Readers is a volunteer tutoring program for Kindergarten - 2nd grade students who are reading just below grade level and provides a strong foundation for improved early grade reading success. In partnership with the Voluntary Action Center and Lackawanna County Area Agency on Aging, 44 volunteers were recruited and trained to work in 25 classrooms at Sumner, Adams, Kennedy, McNichols Plaza and Whittier Elementary Schools in the Scranton School District. These caring volunteers gave over 1,105 hours of time to work one-on-one or in small groups with the children using materials and curriculum developed by each school’s reading specialist. The reading specialist and teachers evaluate individual student need and select appropriate materials for each session. With two sessions during the 2018-19 school year, our Transforming Readers program reached 501 young students in kindergarten - 2nd grade. Initial results indicate 98 percent of Transforming Readers students demonstrated academic progress in their student learning objective. Consider the example of one first grade student from Kennedy Elementary who was Strategic on the Dibels evaluation in September. After working one-on-one, twice per week with his Transforming Readers volunteer, the student progressed to Core and went from earning a C in Reading on his report card to an A. Transforming Readers is generously sponsored by the PPL Foundation.
501
Children
44
Volunteers
1,105 Hours
Learn more at UWLC.NET | 10
REGULAR SCHOOL ATTENDANCE
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very Student, Every Day. A student missing an average of just two days of school monthly, whether excused or unexcused, is chronically absent and at risk of academic failure. Chronic absence during the foundational early learning years can cause a child to fall behind by as much as a full month at the end of the school year. Children with high risk factors such as poverty, homelessness, frequent moves and chronic health issues can least afford to miss school. Good attendance matters for school success, starting as early as Kindergarten and throughout elementary school. By middle and high school, poor attendance is a leading indicator of dropout so developing the habit of good attendance at a young age prepares students for success in school, on the job...and in life! The United Way of Lackawanna and Wayne Counties is working with the Lackawanna County Office of Youth and Family Services and their S.T.A.R.S. Truancy Program Liaisons to address this important issue with schools, families and the community as we work together to identify and overcome barriers to regular school
11 | United Way of Lackawanna and Wayne Counties’ 2018-19 Annual Report
attendance as early as preschool. To increase awareness about this issue, we worked with WNEP and morning news anchor Mindi Ramsey to develop an Attendance Awareness campaign that featured a public service announcement filmed in Mrs. Cabot’s 6th grade Social Studies class at Northeast Scranton Intermediate School. The PSA ran throughout the school year and was aired more than 500 times. With funding from the Scranton Area Community Foundation, we also provided Attendance Mini Grants to Dunmore High School, North Pocono Middle School and Mid Valley High School to implement chronic absentee systems and encourage regular school attendance.
SUMMER LEARNING
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unch and Learn. Children can lose up to two months of essential math and reading skills during the summer months. Last year, the United Way continued our pledge to keep kids learning and healthy in the summer so they can thrive in the upcoming school year. More than 550 children enjoyed our “Shaping Into Summer” Lunch & Learn series at nine sites throughout Lackawanna County once per week over four weeks for Summer Learning fun. Based on “The Greedy Triangle” by Marilyn Burns, the children learned through play with
The Summer Learning program was sponsored by the Scranton Area Community Foundation, and our partners included the Commission on Economic Opportunity (CEO), Boys & Girls Clubs of NEPA, Friends of the Poor, United Neighborhood Centers of NEPA, Elm Park United Methodist Church and volunteers at Connors and Fellows Parks in Scranton. The United Way also worked with the Scranton School District to provide an intensive summer reading camp targeted to help 140 students in kindergarten - 2nd grade reading below grade level. Of the 72 students who attended the program regularly, 100 percent improved their reading scores as demonstrated on pre and post assessments.
fun activities such as making shapes out of kinetic sand, on geoboards and with marshmallows and toothpicks. Each child also received books to take home.
Learn more at UWLC.NET | 12
GROWING HEALTHY READERS Comprehensive Community Developmental Screening and Referral System. The United Way is proud to be part of a community collaborative that seeks to improve quality referrals among early intervention, the medical community and other early childhood providers. We’re working with the Wright Center to incorporate information and parental consents into their established electronic medical records system to allow for a seamless, automated referral system for families such as early intervention and early childhood programs. With the help of the Wright Center, we’re working to share this system with all pediatricians and medical providers in the community. To ensure the implementation and accuracy of this community-wide system, our Success By 6 program partnered with Community Services for Children to offer a comprehensive training program surrounding the Ages and Stages Developmental Screening Questionnaire (ASQ). In November, 24 human service providers and 68 early childhood educators received the ASQ training at the Anthracite Heritage Museum in Scranton. In March, we offered a Positive Connections Workshop at the Albright Memorial Library in Scranton during which 35 participants explored positive methods of communicating with families regarding their child’s developmental progress. Later in the spring, United Way’s Success By 6 team partnered with NEIU 19 to offer a course called Teaching Children with Challenging Behavior: An Introduction to Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS). Success By 6 provided the 120 participants with classroom kits to help implement the PBIS program with their students. The kits were assembled by on-site workplace volunteers from VaxServe.
INNOVATIVE LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES Educational Tax Credits: FY 2018-19. Our United Way is approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development as a Pre-K, Educational 13 | United Way of Lackawanna and Wayne Counties’ 2018-19 Annual Report
Improvement, Scholarship and Opportunity Scholarship Organization. Thanks to the generosity of these local companies, hundreds of children from preschool to high school are on the path to a bright future. Please visit uwlc.net/tax-credits for more information. Tax Credit Supporting Businesses • Brown Brothers Harriman • Community Bank, N.A. • Dempsey Uniform & Linen Supply • The Dime Bank • Fidelity Bank • FNCB Bank • The Honesdale National Bank • Lackawanna Casualty Co. • M & T Bank • Mariotti Building Products • NBT Bank • PNC Bank • PPL Utilities • UGI Storage Company • UGI Utilities, Inc. • UHS of Fairmont, Inc. • Waste Management • Wayne Bank • Weis Markets Thanks to this outstanding generosity, the United Way awarded 82 scholarships for students attending fee based schools last year. We also supported Environmental Education, Robotics and Music and Arts after-school programs for students in Wayne County. Additionally, we leveraged more than $197,000 in tax credits to help 133 Pre-K students in four counties attend quality preschool programs. In addition, we sponsored the inaugural Lackawanna County Family STEM Night at Valley View High School. This program was designed and organized entirely by an all-girl leadership team of six Valley View High School students and was open to area families with children in 5th-8th grade. More than 20 families participated in this event and worked together to program Sphero robots while also designing their own electrical circuit robot card.
“Thank you for the opportunity to help my children achieve great from a thank you letter things.” ~ Excerpt received from the mother of two of our scholarship recipients.
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EPA Girls STEM Competition. The United Way once again leveraged Educational Improvement Organization (EIO) tax credit dollars to power the NEPA Girls STEM Competition at Valley View High School, led by Marisa Barilka, Valley View’s STEM coordinator. Giving girls the opportunity to explore the fields of science, technology, engineering and math helps them explore career pathways that previously may have seemed unlikely. This year’s competition grew to 163 students in 5th - 8th grades, an increase of 60 percent over the previous year. The students competed on 58 teams representing Abington Heights, Delaware Valley, Dunmore, Forest City Regional, Lackawanna Trail, Mid Valley, MMI Prep, Mountain View, Scranton, Valley View and Western Wayne School Districts. The annual NEPA Girls STEM Competition exposes girls to science, programming, engineering and math through four different events, including designing, building and operating a “Mousetrap car” in the engineering event. The competition, now in its 4th year, has inspired coaches across the region to create after-school STEM clubs to engage the students in the months leading up to the competition. The competition continues to grow each year, empowering female students to reach their full potential and pursue careers in STEM fields that they may not have considered. “The generous support provided by the United Way allows the mission of increasing interest and involvement of girls in STEM education to continue. With the ongoing commitment from the United Way, we’ve been able to reach a growing number of girls in NEPA helping to improve their lives through education,” said Mrs. Barilka.
Learn more at UWLC.NET | 14
FINANCIAL STABILITY SPOTLIGHT
S
ince 1921 and our founding as the Community Chest in Scranton, the United Way has been looked to as a leader to help our most vulnerable residents during times of crisis. Nearly 100 years later, we distribute more than $500,000 to address basic and emergency needs many of us take for granted such as food, clothing and shelter. Yet, we know 15 | United Way of Lackawanna and Wayne Counties’ 2018-19 Annual Report
the best way to break the cycle of poverty is through new initiatives and time-tested programs that help hard-working individuals and families achieve their dreams by increasing income, building savings, establishing or repairing credit and gaining assets for greater economic independence and mobility. Everyone benefits when financial stability leads to a better workforce and a healthier, stronger community.
hELPING INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES ACHIEVE ECONOMIC MOBILITY INCOME TAX PREPARATION ASSISTANCE
A
s the cornerstone of our commitment to Financial Stability, the United Way of Lackawanna and Wayne Counties offers two options for low and moderate income individuals in our community to file their local, state and federal taxes for free. Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA). In our 12th year, the United Way’s VITA program offers free and confidential tax preparation services for households with income of $54,000 or less. Our VITA program is under the direction of Angela Bassani, CPA along with Richard Kokas, CPA and Dillon Lukas, Enrolled Agent. Expanding upon our long-time partnership with the University of Scranton, the United Way’s VITA program continues to grow and serve an ever-increasing number of tax clients. With the help of Lackawanna College and Penn State Scranton, we’ve added numerous student interns to our team of dedicated, IRS-trained and certified volunteer tax preparers. Last year, we expanded our VITA satellite office at the United Way in Scranton as well as a week-long “VITA on the Road” Tax Tour to six mobile sites throughout Lackawanna and Wayne Counties during which our team completed over 600 tax returns. Once again, our volunteers also provided one-on-one VITA service in New Milford at the request of the United Way of Susquehanna County and on-site to patients at Clarks Summit State Hospital. In support of the VITA program’s continued growth, we once again received a federal grant from the IRS and received a perfect 100 percent score during our unannounced IRS Site visit during the 2019 tax season. Appointments are available beginning January 2 on our website at uwlc.net/taxes or by calling 2-1-1, our area’s regional information and referral helpline.
2,745
FREE tax returns filed
$841,914
in Earned Income Tax Credits
$411,750
Saved in tax prep fees
$2,796,330
in Federal refunds back to our community $2,318,763
My Free Taxes. For households with income of $66,000 or less comfortable filing their own taxes online, the United Way offers My Free Taxes, a free, online tax filing option powered by H&R Block. Last year, 165 returns were filed in Lackawanna and Wayne Counties through My Free Taxes with an average Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) of $2,370 and an average refund of more than $1,884. Learn more at UWLC.NET | 16
Workforce Development. To help our community thrive in a changing and growing economy, the United Way is part of a long-range, regional Workforce Development Planning Committee. We also participated in an intensive four-day workshop sponsored by the Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation and presented by the Aspen Institute. The sessions brought together regional business, educational and community leaders to develop a working group that begins closing the skills gap in our region and fills highly in-demand job openings while further enhancing and improving upon workforce development activities in Northeastern Pennsylvania.
Gift of Warmth. The Gift of Warmth program, established in 2008 by former United Way board member Patrick McMahon of One Point, raises additional funds for the United Way’s Emergency Heating program. Through this innovative initiative, business leaders and individuals are encouraged to give the Gift of Warmth in lieu of holiday gifts to vendors, clients, and friends. With this generous support and that of several area foundations, Gift of Warmth funds are used to provide emergency fuel/utility assistance and emergency furnace repair as well as meeting other emergent needs to keep people of all ages safe and warm. Over $60,000 was utilized to more than 150 families in Lackawanna and Wayne Counties last year as approximately 460 people received the Gift of Warmth during last year’s frigid winter. Over 60 percent of the households receiving the Gift of Warmth had a senior citizen living in the home.
17 | United Way of Lackawanna and Wayne Counties’ 2018-19 Annual Report
ALICE in Northeastern Pennsylvania. Our United Way is part of an advisory council led by the United Way of Pennsylvania to launch a state-wide data project called ALICE, an acronym for Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed. ALICE is a new way of defining and understanding the struggles of hard-working households that earn above the Federal Poverty Level, but not enough to afford a bare-bones survival household budget. Released in June, the PA ALICE report includes a website and interactive simulation as well as statewide and county level data to help our United Way lead community engagement and guide ALICE families along the path to financial stability. According to the report, the number of ALICE households in both Lackawanna and Wayne Counties exceeds the state average of 24 percent with 25 percent of Lackawanna County households and 30 percent of those in Wayne County earning more than the Federal Poverty Level but less than the basic cost of living for the county. Multicultural Acclimation Program (MAP). The United Way provided a grant to United Neighborhood Centers of NEPA to implement the MAP program with two main goals: helping new immigrants and refugees acclimate to life in this country and in our community as well as educating our community about cultural awareness and differences. The program helps these new residents overcome employment, cultural, and language barriers as they work towards assimilation. Last year, 87 individuals participated in ESL and Citizenship classes with 10 completing the Immigrant Leadership Education and Development program. In addition, the 2nd Annual Welcoming Scranton event was held in September, bringing together more than 25 community partners and over 400 people to promote cross-cultural understanding. At this event, five graduates of the leadership program created a “Language Lounge” to showcase three different languages and countries: Spanish (Mexico), French (Democratic Republic of Congo), and Gujarati (India). This student-driven initiative brought community members together to learn new phrases in various languages, share information about each participant’s native country and encouraged cross-cultural dialogue between participants and Welcoming Scranton attendees.
State and Federal Aid Programs. The United Way of Lackawanna and Wayne Counties continued its role as local administrator for the State Food Purchase Program (SFPP) and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The United Way chairs a local board responsible for the funding decisions, concentrating on direct service hours and client access to healthier food options, shelter and utility assistance. Board members include: Sheila Nudelman Abdo
Noelle Lynett
William Browning
Mary Theresa Malandro
Jewish Family Services of NEPA
Community Volunteer
Lackawanna County Department of Human Services
Catholic Social Services
Barbara Durkin
Community Volunteer
John Nalevanko
Office of Drug and Alcohol Programs
Randy Palko
Brian Ebersole
Patricia Sack
Geisinger Springboard Health
Bill Goldsworthy
American Red Cross of Lackawanna County
John Kaminski
Community Volunteer
Jason Kavulich
Lackawanna County Area Agency on Aging
Stig Fromm, Chair
United Way of Lackawanna and Wayne Counties
Peg Kopko
Community Volunteer
Emergency Food and Shelter Phase 35 FY 2018-19. Awarded $107,672 to the following organizations: • Catherine McAuley Center • Catholic Social Services • Friends of the Poor • United Neighborhood Centers of NEPA • Women’s Resource Center
State Food Purchase Program FY 2018-19. Awarded $358,777.79 to the following organizations: • Bread Basket of NEPA Jeff Smith • Catherine McAuley Center Moses Taylor Foundation • Catholic Social Services Major Robert Schmig • Commission on Economic Opportunity (CEO) The Salvation Army • Friends of the Poor Siemong Wang • Meals on Wheels Safety Net Ministry • St. Francis of Assisi Kitchen Jeremy Yale Lackawanna County Department • The Salvation Army of Behavioral Health/Intellectual • United Neighborhood Centers of NEPA Disabilities/Early Intervention • Women’s Resource Center Lackawanna County Department of Human Services
United Way of Lackawanna and Wayne Counties
Listen for Good Grant. The United Way is in the final year of a two-year, $30,000 grant from the Fund for Shared Insight’s Listen for Good initiative dedicated to helping nonprofits listen more effectively to the people we serve. The United Way was nominated for this competitive, nation-wide grant by the Moses Taylor Foundation which provided $15,000 in matching funds. With the help of students from Marywood University, we are closing the loop and have surveyed the consumers of 10 area food pantries within six local organizations—Bread Basket of NEPA, United Neighborhood Centers of NEPA, Friends of the Poor, Catholic Social Services, Commission on Economic Opportunity and the Salvation Army—to better understand their needs and value their feedback. Among the findings is a need for more dairy and fresh produce in many of the pantries. Based on the responses we’ve received, we are working with the Food Policy Council to implement the requested changes. The Moses Taylor Foundation assisted with the creation of bilingual, reusable posters in each of the pantries to report back to the consumers that their voices were indeed heard and how the pantries are working toward implementing the suggestions to better meet the consumer’s needs.
Pictured from left are: Meghan Loftus, Sister Ann Walsh, both from Friends of the Poor; Jeff Smith, Moses Taylor Foundation and Stig Fromm, United Way of Lackawanna and Wayne Counties with one of the posters being shared with consumers of the food pantry at Friends of the Poor to communicate how we are closing the loop and responding to their valuable feedback.
Learn more at UWLC.NET | 18
HEALTH SPOTLIGHT
M
aking the health of everyone in our community a priority, the United Way of Lackawanna and Wayne Counties remains committed to promoting healthy behaviors and improving access to high-quality physical and mental health services, safety and overall well-being. The effects of good health last a lifetime from how well children are able to learn
19 | United Way of Lackawanna and Wayne Counties’ 2018-19 Annual Report
to whether older adults can safely stay in their homes. With numerous partners, the United Way works to expand access to preventative care for all ages, encouraging healthy eating and physical activity, while offering support to victims of violence and people with special needs to build strong families and a healthier community.
hELPING INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES LEAD HEALTHIER, SAFER AND BETTER LIVES TELEHEALTH PROGRAMS FOR SENIORS
A
s part of our ongoing commitment to improving health for our community’s older adults, the United Way expanded our two telehealth programs to help seniors self-manage chronic health conditions such as cardiovascular illnesses and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). Both our Telehealth Program for Seniors (TIPS) and Remote Older Adult Monitoring (ROAM) initiatives utilize student technicians from the University of Scranton who are trained to use non-invasive, FDA-approved medical devices to measure the seniors’ vital signs including weight, pulse oximetry and blood pressure weekly. In full HIPPA compliance, the readings are transmitted remotely to a nurse who reviews the results and will contact the senior directly at the first sign of an alert. Thanks to support from the Lackawanna County Area Agency on Aging, our program expanded to 11 sites this year throughout our two counties.
Telehealth participants had a 30 percent reduction in emergency room admissions. Of the more than 7,800 vital signs taken last year, 28 percent of these fell outside the scope of a healthy reading and were referred remotely to one of the nurses. In most cases, the issues were handled by the nursing staff or with referrals to the seniors’ physician for a change in medication, dosage or identification of an underlying health issue. However, this innovative program is not merely lifechanging but is truly life-saving. Consider the story of an elderly gentleman who believed his declining health was simply due to aging. Through the persistence of one of our student technicians and at the urging of the nurse, he
Tyler Bielinksi, Telehealth Supervisor, explains the ROAM program to United States Senator Robert P. Casey during a visit to the Dunmore Senior Center in May.
521
older adults monitored
7,850
vital signs taken
2,250 alerts shown
Learn more at UWLC.NET | 20
visited his doctor and was diagnosed with a small brain bleed. With rehab and family support he was ultimately able to return home and live independently. He’s now back to being a regular program participant and proudly carries a note from his student technician everyday to remind him how lucky he is. Another gentleman admitted to initially disregarding the call when he too alerted, but thought better of it and contacted his doctor only to be diagnosed with pneumonia. With treatment, he has fully recovered and is back to good health. Lastly, another participant was observed to have a continually low heart rate. With the coaxing of his student technician and nurse intervention, he visited his doctor and ultimately received an implantable cardiac device to regulate his heart rate. He reports feeling much better and is even more active now than he was prior to the procedure. FamilyWize Prescription Discounts. The United Way continued to offer FamilyWize Prescription Discount cards for people in Lackawanna and Wayne Counties with little or no prescription coverage. Last year 2,006 prescriptions were filled with savings of more than $250,000 through this free program. More information and downloadable cards are available at uwlc.net/familywize.
MOM-n-PA. The United Way was pleased to help sponsor the Mission of Mercy in Pennsylvania, a free two-day dental clinic held in June at Mohegan Sun Arena in Wilkes Barre. This free clinic provided donated dental care such as cleanings, X-rays, fillings, tooth extractions and root canals to help thousands of local people relieve pain and achieve better oral health. The patients received information about oral hygiene and available programs for follow-up and future dental care. While many of the patients were working families who do not qualify for assistance or cannot afford dental insurance, the service was offered to people of all ages.
Dental Health Project. Last year, more than 17,500 free dental health bags were distributed to people in need of all ages throughout Northeastern and Central Pennsylvania. Thanks to a generous community sponsor, dozens of organizations and numerous dedicated volunteers, recipients of the bags ranged from young children to homeless veterans. This regional project even had a global reach as bags were also distributed to school children in Ghana, West Africa.
21 | United Way of Lackawanna and Wayne Counties’ 2018-19 Annual Report
Longitudinal Community Health Intervention Projects (L-CHIP). In the second year of a three year study and unique community partnership with the Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine, the United Way worked with more than 40 first-year medical students. The students formed two teams with one group studying the impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) on children’s health and the other identifying ways to help area seniors better manage their blood pressure and understand risk factors for hypertension such as obesity and added salt to food. The students developed and distributed an informational brochure and conducted on-site presentations in area senior centers. The L-CHIP experience is designed to meet service learning goals by actively engaging students with the community, public health and nonprofit organizations such as the United Way and regional healthcare delivery systems.
Top: More than 40 first year medical students at Geisinger Commonwealth Medical School gathered at the United Way for an orientation. Middle: Medical students present their findings regarding the impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences on children’s health during a symposium. Bottom: A medical student discusses the study on blood pressure with a participant at United Neighborhood Center’s Active Older Adult Community Center.
Learn more at UWLC.NET | 22
WAYNE COUNTY
Volunteers spend the day helping at the Wayne County Public Library in Honesdale during the Nancy Jackson Memorial Day of Caring in September.
WORKING TOGETHER IN WAYNE COUNTY
S
ince 2006, the United Way has worked together with business and community leaders, local government officials and nonprofit organizations in Wayne County to fight for the education, financial stability and health of everyone in this vibrant and caring community.
and a new Music and Arts program to explore the students’ creativity as 15 students wrote an original piece of music and performed it for the others while also creating art to display and take home.
During that time, nearly $650,000 has been distributed to more than a dozen organizations providing critical services to advance the common good for Wayne County residents. Those dollars have been leveraged with direct and in-kind funds such as educational tax credits, the Gift of Warmth, tax preparation services, remote older adult health monitoring and more for a total impact of United Way in Wayne County of well over $1.4 million since 2006.
Financial Stability. In the 9th year of the Gift of Warmth program in Wayne County, more than 50 families in need received emergency fuel/utility assistance last winter.
Education. During the 2018 campaign, local companies— including The Dime Bank, The Honesdale National Bank and Wayne Bank—contributed to the United Way’s Educational Tax Credit program. These funds helped 35 children in Wayne County and one from Pike County attend quality area preschools. In addition, the tax credit dollars supported innovative learning opportunities during after school programs for Wayne County students in Environmental Education to learn about natural resources, Robotics to gain confidence in math and science skills 23 | United Way of Lackawanna and Wayne Counties’ 2018-19 Annual Report
After school Environmental Education program at the Wayne County YMCA
Marking the 10th year of our Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program expansion in Wayne County, volunteers prepared 151 tax returns for Wayne County residents with another 12 filed online through My Free Taxes. Health. Now in our second year, the Remote Older Adult Monitoring (ROAM) program served more than 60 people at the Honesdale Senior Center. ROAM is a voluntary program held weekly that offers Wayne County residents age 60 or older an opportunity to have their vital signs such as blood pressure, pulse, blood oxygen and weight monitored between visits with their physician. Thanks to the generous support of the Villaume Foundation as well as United Way funds, there is no cost to
participate in the ROAM program. Trained ROAM technicians use FDA-approved, non invasive medical devices to conduct the vital sign monitoring. The results are remotely reviewed by a nurse who will contact the senior at the first sign of an alert. Additionally, Wayne County residents saved over $96,300 on nearly 1,100 prescriptions through the FamilyWize Prescription Discount program. Learn more at uwlc.net/familywize.
2018 Grant Recipients
T Wendall Kay, Wayne County Commissioner; Justin Valinski, Wayne County Risk Manager; Lew Critelli, president of Wayne Bank and 2019-20 United Way Campaign Chair; Brian Smith, Wayne County Commissioner and John Orbin, vice president of Resource Development/ Campaign for United Way with a Certificate of Appreciation presented to Wayne County employees for their support of the 2018 United Way Campaign.
“The United Way and those who sustain it need to know how very much your support means to us. Thank you for your commitment to local families and programs. We simply couldn’t do it without your thoughtful generosity.” ~ Tracy L. Schwarz Director, Wayne County Public Library
he United Way’s Wayne County Fund Distribution Committee is comprised of individuals who live and work in the county and is responsible for awarding grants to Wayne County organizations. The funds are raised through workplace campaigns, corporate donations, individual gifts and foundation awards during the prior year’s campaign. • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
The ARC of NEPA :: Advocacy Services Catholic Social Services :: Nativity Place Family Shelter Community Action - Lehigh Valley :: Expanded Food Access The Cooperage Project :: Coop Cash Devereux Pocono Center :: Community Integration Educational Opportunity Centers :: SAT/ACT Preparation Habitat for Humanity :: House #19, Riverside Drive Honesdale Communities That Care :: Scholarship Program Hose Co. No. 1 - Honesdale Fire Department :: Life-saving Tools Lacawac Sanctuary :: STEM Salvation Army :: Back to School Clothing Senior Day Services/Telespond :: Wayne County Adult Daycare Victims’ Intervention Program :: In-School Counseling Project Wallenpaupack Area School District :: Junior Achievement BizTown Wayne County Area Agency on Aging :: Wayne County Food Pantry Wayne County Public Library :: Full STEAM Ahead Wayne County YMCA :: Repair and Restore
Learn more at UWLC.NET | 24
CAMPAIGN: YEAR IN REVIEW Your gift to the United Way of Lackawanna and Wayne Counties has the power to change someone’s life—someone like me. In 1968, at just 3 years old, Alex Fried — 2018-19 United Way Campaign Chair — and his family escaped the Soviet invasion of their native Czech Republic and fled to Paris with little more than the clothes on their back. They applied for immigration to the United States and within a year resettled in the Scranton area with the help of the local Jewish Federation. As his parents learned the language and worked to provide for the family, the Fried family utilized services Alex would later discover had been funded in part by the United Way—crucial services such as day care at the Day Nursery Association and day camp at the Scranton Jewish Community Center. Despite being a young child in a completely new land, Alex had safe and welcoming places to go while his parents worked.
The Fried Family
Thanks to the United Way and this generous community, we got the help we needed 50 years ago, and my family and I are forever grateful. As an adult, Alex began his professional career at the Procter & Gamble Plant in Mehoopany, Pennsylvania where he would eventually be tasked with running the plant’s United Way employee campaign. Seizing the opportunity to repay the life-changing generosity he and his family experienced, Alex helped the P&G campaign grow over the course of 10 years from $180,000 to raising more than $600,000 to benefit six regional United Ways during the 2018 campaign. And, 50 years after the United Way impacted Alex and his family, he was honored to pay it forward even further when he served as the chair of the very campaign that made such an indelible difference in his life. Last summer, Alex and his wife Ruth had the honor of meeting Attorney Morey Myers who served as the United Way Campaign Chair in 1968, helping to raise the funds that had such a profound impact on Alex and the Fried family as Attorney Myers was presented with the prestigious Tocqueville Society Award for his continued dedication to our United Way.
From left: Sondra and Attorney Morey Myers meet Ruth and Alex Fried as Attorney Myers was presented with the United Way’s prestigious Tocqueville Award in recognition of his chairmanship 50 years ago and continued dedication.
Your generous support of the United Way makes a life-changing impact. I’m living proof.
25 | United Way of Lackawanna and Wayne Counties’ 2018-19 Annual Report
United Way of Lackawanna and Wayne Counties
BETTER TOGETHER: 2018 CAMPAIGN HIGHLIGHTS
S
ince the original Community Chest Campaign in 1921, each year hundreds of area companies and thousands of local people join together to create the most powerful philanthropic network in our region. Whether as the Community Chest, Lackawanna United Fund or the United Way, the annual campaign is the heart of the United Way movement and fuels our work to impact the community all year long. 2018 Campaign Review. Inspired by the incredible personal story of our 2018 Campaign Chair — Alex Fried of Procter & Gamble — this year’s campaign raised $3,254,018 and was anchored by a Campaign Cabinet comprised of more than 60 business and community leaders working together to help our community. The campaign was bolstered by the thousands of individuals that donated and the hundreds of area companies that made corporate contributions while also conducting employee campaigns at their workplaces. The Pillars. Ten companies whose corporate culture of philanthropy is synonymous with charitable giving in our community emerged as the Pillars of the campaign and were honored in April at the Annual Celebration of Caring Awards breakfast. With combined corporate and employee giving, these 10 companies joined together to raise more than $1 million last year. • • • • • • • • • •
Fidelity Bank Gentex Corporation Peoples Security Bank & Trust The P&G Paper Products Company - Mehoopany Plant PNC Bank PPL Utilities The Scranton Times-Tribune UGI Utilities/UGI Energy Service United Parcel Services/UPS Global Business Services Wayne Bank
Spirit of Caring Chairman’s Awards. Also presented at the Awards celebration, the Spirit of Caring Chairman’s Awards are the highest honor bestowed by the United Way Top: Alex Fried, 2018 Campaign Chair, addresses the audience during the Celebration of Caring Awards Breakfast in April which featured an Austin Powers theme from our snowed out Campaign Celebration event in November. Second: The Community Impact Band entertains the crowd during the annual Campaign Kickoff/Day of Caring Celebration and Clam Bake at Cooper’s in Scranton. Third: Volunteers Joyce Tressler and Deb Kolsovsky of PNC Bank during a Campaign Cabinet meeting. Bottom: Alex Fried shares his inspirational personal story of United Way impact at UPS Global Business Services to kickoff their employee campaign.
Learn more at UWLC.NET | 26
employees reside. This level of support is the largest of any organization in our area. The Employees of UPS Global Business Services received this award as they put the fun in fundraising and raised more than $20,000 in monthly special events in addition to their award winning level of employee giving through the annual campaign. Leadership Giving. The extraordinary generosity demonstrated by our Leadership Givers has propelled them to new heights of philanthropy and continues to further our work in making the community better, stronger and healthier. The Rhoda Higgins Warren Association is named after a visionary volunteer with the inaugural Scranton Community Chest campaign in 1921 who went on to dedicate her life to making a better life for others less fortunate than she. Members of the leadership giving society bearing Mrs. Warren’s name contribute $1,000 or more annually and believe in the philanthropic spirit she embodied for more than 70 years. Additionally, the United Way Tocqueville Society of Lackawanna and Wayne Counties was established in 1994 to recognize those generous donors who contribute $10,000 or more annually to the United Way. The members of the United Way’s Tocqueville Society fulfill the 19th Century writings of the French aristocrat, Alexis de Tocqueville, by exhibiting the American philanthropic spirit. Last year, 27 Tocqueville Society members contributed $575,679 to the United Way. Combined with those gifts, the Rhoda Higgins Warren Association had 243 members, giving nearly $960,000 last year.
27 | United Way of Lackawanna and Wayne Counties’ 2018-19 Annual Report
Mike Munchak Charity Golf Classic. The United Way was honored to welcome Scranton native Mike Munchak, 2001 Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrinee, former all-pro Guard for the Houston Oilers and current Offensive Line Coach for the Denver Broncos, for the 23rd annual golf tournament bearing his name. Held at the Country Club of Scranton, the 2018 tournament was our third consecutive sell-out since expanding the field to a 27 hole format in 2016 to accommodate more foursomes as more than 200 golfers teed it up and raised nearly $57,000. For the first time in the 23 year history of the tournament, a hole-in-one was made. Congratulations to Russell Preno who hit the prize-winning shot. While Mike has enjoyed a storied career as a player and as a coach, it is his unwavering commitment to the people of Northeastern Pennsylvania that inspired the establishment
SOURCES OF REVENUE 2018 CAMPAIGN Educational redits Tax C % Employee Giving 13.3 7.4% Initiatives 33% Bequests Community
& Misc. 8.6%
Corporate Giving 21.5%
Individual Giving 8.5%
and the Campaign Chair each year for service above and beyond. For the second consecutive year, the Employees of The Arc of NEPA received this award as their employee campaign increased by more than 20 percent over the prior year’s record-setting effort. With a 26 percent increase, the Corporate and Employees of Penn Foster were honored as their leadership and employees continue to revitalize their fundraising and partnership efforts with the United Way. Thanks to a continued increase in employee giving combined with a matching corporate gift, the Corporate and Employees of Peoples Security Bank and Trust were honored as their overall support grew by more than 14 percent during last year’s campaign. The Corporate and Employees at P&G in Mehoopany celebrated their 10th year in a row of growing their campaign to a remarkable level – more than $600,000 in 2018 – supporting the six regional United Ways serving communities where their
Non FOUN -CorpO DATI RATE ON 7.7% Giving
of the Mike Munchak Community Services Scholarship awarded annually to a local high school senior who embodies Mike’s commitment to serving the community. The one-time award of $6,300 pays homage to Mike’s #63, retired by the Houston Oilers following his Hall of Fame career. Last year’s recipient was Erin Barrett, a Scranton High School graduate who is attending Schreyer Honors College at Penn State and pursuing a dual Bachelor of Science and Masters of Business Administration degree. Erin was an active volunteer with numerous organizations including St. Joseph’s Center and the United Way’s Nancy Jackson Memorial Youth Day of Caring. She served as Student Council President and was active in a number of clubs as well as a member of both the Varsity Basketball and Track & Field Teams and was named Valedictorian of her class. Past recipients include: Phil Mosolino and Joe Gigliotti, both graduates of Carbondale Area High School; Sarah Wagner, a graduate of Holy Cross High School; Alison Barrett, a graduate of Scranton High School; Collin Cooper, a graduate of Lakeland High School and Nori Zaccheo, a graduate of West Scranton High School.
Gary Drapek, president and CEO of United Way, presents Erin Barrett with her scholarship.
$44,100
AWARDED IN PAST SEVEN YEARS
UNITED WAY AND ORGANIZED LABOR: WORKING TOGETHER FOR IMPACT
L
ast year, the United Way’s Department of Labor Participation continued successful partnerships with the Lackawanna and Pocono Workforce Investment Boards as well as the Northeast Pennsylvania Industrial Resource Center to promote manufacturing in our region, retain jobs and create new employment opportunities for displaced workers. The Department also supported the Letter Carrier Branch 17’s Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive and the Scranton Lackawanna Human Development Agency’s Veteran’s Resource Council.
Local 130 and former Labor Liasion for the United Way of Wyoming Valley. Whether helping guide dislocated workers, handling information and referral calls or helping to fill food pantries, Walter’s career exemplified service above self.
The Department continues to be an integral part of the Commonwealth’s Rapid Response Team—meeting immediately with displaced workers to quickly help them access important services during unemployment. The Department proudly carried on the tradition of honoring an individual or group from the ranks of organized labor with the William E. Cockerill, Sr. award, presented this year to Walter Klepaski, a retired member of Laborers’ International Union
The United Way presented a Labor Award to the Pennsylvania Social Service Union (PSSU) Local 668, employed by the Lackawanna County Area Agency on Aging in recognition of their outstanding support through the annual campaign. Pictured from left are: Gary Drapek, United Way president; Bill Cockerill, United Way’s AFL/CIO Labor Liaison; Stacy White, aging care manager and union steward for PSSU Local 668 and Jason Kavulich, director of the Lackawanna County Area Agency on Aging.
Learn more at UWLC.NET | 28
VOLUNTEER
Volunteers from NBT Bank and Alex Fried, 2018 Campaign Chair, during the Nancy Jackson Memorial Day of Caring in September working with the Arc of NEPA.
MAKING EVERY DAY A DAY OF CARING
I
n 1921, a group of volunteers on a Scranton-bound train following a Kiwanis convention were inspired to join together and form a community based approach to impact the most pressing issues of the day. Those first volunteers possessed a true visionary spirit that lives on in the thousands of people who carry on their tradition of caring by volunteering with United Way annually. We owe our existence to the volunteers on that train, and we owe our success to those among us today who continue to follow in their footsteps and roll up their sleeves to make a difference for those most in need. Nancy Jackson Memorial Days of Caring. The Nancy Jackson Memorial Day of Caring is an annual, organized day of service named after the long-time United Way volunteer who founded the program in 1994 and chaired Day of Caring each year until her passing in 2016. Day of Caring mobilizes hundreds of volunteers into United Way partner agencies and grant recipient organizations to provide much-needed assistance. On September 6, nearly 350 volunteers rolled up their sleeves to make a difference as part of the 24th Annual Nancy Jackson Memorial Day of Caring, presented by NBT Bank. The volunteers gave of their time and talents at the United Way and at 19 of our partner agencies. They completed 45 projects including landscaping, painting, 29 | United Way of Lackawanna and Wayne Counties’ 2018-19 Annual Report
cleaning, friendly visitation with older adults, painting a mural for children and building a handicap accessible ramp among others. Additionally, 55 people volunteered at five different sites in Wayne County. Over the past 24 years, nearly 12,000 volunteers have given more than 63,000 hours of service, and the value of the more than 1,000 projects they’ve completed during Day of Caring is nearly $3 million! To encourage volunteerism among the next generation of young leaders, the United Way hosted the 18th Annual Nancy Jackson Memorial Youth Day of Caring in May. More than 100 students from Carbondale Area High School; Northeast Scranton Intermediate School; Holy Cross High School and St. Clare/St. Paul’s School were mobilized among 14 sites in eight United Way partner agencies. The volunteer projects for the day included painting, landscaping, general cleaning and spruce-up, clerical work, and direct interaction with clients and consumers from the local health and human service agencies. President’s Advisory Council. Chaired by United Way board member Michael Cordaro, this newly formed group of community leaders meets regularly to engage the next generation of volunteers to more meaningfully connect with the United Way’s work.
Community Impact Fund Distribution Volunteers . The United Way’s Community Impact Fund is dedicated to ensuring lasting, collaborative solutions to the critical problems that stand between us and a better quality of life. Our Community Impact Fund Distribution volunteers invest donor dollars where they will do the most good for people in need in our community, addressing the critical issues that no one organization can address by itself. The investment decisions are made through a rigorous process by these dedicated volunteers representing all walks of life in Lackawanna and Wayne Counties. They come together every year to guide Community Impact Fund Distribution investments and make sometimes difficult decisions on where the dollars will make the most impact. Investments are directed toward programs delivered by partner agencies with proven effectiveness in creating measurable and sustainable results in our community.
ADMINISTRATIVE COMMITTEE Randy Palko, UW Board, Vice Chair, Community Impact Kathie Gaughan RN, Community Impact Chair Patricia Dunleavy, Community Impact Vice Chair Beth Servas, Community Impact Vice Chair
HEALTH I COMMITTEE Molly Scocozzo, Chair Wendy Worobey , Vice Chair Tony Donato Dragan Jokic John Lamberton Christine Rinaldi Sarah Weber Lisa Widenor
EDUCATION COMMITTEE Karen Clifford, Chair Richard Read III, Vice Chair Larry Crimi Tom Didato Glenn Knarr Jennifer Saunders Mark Slayton Narda Tafuri
HEALTH II COMMITTEE John Marsico, Chair Tammy Jackson, Vice Chair Heidi Bockelkamp Sam Ceccacci Theresa Curto Kelly Hadley Justin MacGregor Matthew Perry Diane Ross
INCOME/FINANCIAL STABILITY COMMITTEE Jeffrey Witts, Chair Maureen Gibbons, Vice Chair William Burke Lisa Cavage Chris Eboli Suzanne Kennedy Richard Kokas Carmen Lopresto Amy Paciej-Woodruff Jaime Ryan Stephanie Saam Walter Sarafinko
Total Community Investment of Funds :: 2018 FUND DISTRIBUTION VOLUNTEERS
FINANCIAL STABILITY 30%
EDUCATION 35.8%
HEALTH 34.2% These percentages account for the Community Impact Fund Distribution to partner agencies, Wayne County grantees and our special initiatives such as ROAM, Gift of Warmth, Educational Tax Credits, FEMA and State Food, VITA and other programs detailed in this report.
FUND DISTRIBUTION VOLUNTEERS This year’s Community Impact Fund Distribution volunteers represent: Bank of America • Community • Community Bank, NA • Commonwealth Health Moses Taylor Hospital • Commonwealth Health Regional Hospital of Scranton • The Dime Bank • Fidelity Bank • Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine • Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield • HM Health Solutions, Inc. • Johnson College • Lackawanna College • Lackawanna County • Marywood University • NBT Bank • NET Federal Credit Union • Northern Lights Espresso Bar and Cafe • O’Malley Harris Durkin & Perry, PC • Penn Foster • PNC Bank • SLHDA • Times Shamrock Communications • TMG Health, A Cognizant Company • University of Scranton
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FINANCIALS
STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL POSITION
For the Fiscal Year ended June 30, 2018 with summarized comparative information for Fiscal Year 2017.
ASSETS
2018
2017
Cash - unrestricted Cash subject to donor restrictions Cash and cash equivalents $ Pledges receivable, net of allowance for uncollectible pledges of $202,297 and $220,575 Investments Fixed assets, net of accumulated depreciation Prepaid expenses Other receivables Beneficial interest in assets held by a community foundation
$ 3,971,498 82,799 4,054,297 $
$ 3,924,000 76,887 4,000,887
669,528 2,563,514
539,538 2,733,138
$ 7,459,224
Total assets
19,523 36,718 61,000
17,733 25,014 77,759
54,644
51,546 $ 7,445,615
LIABILITIES AND NET ASSETS
Liabilities Accounts payable Accrued payroll and payroll taxes Allocations payable Agency funds Due to designated agencies Reserve for community service Total liabilities Net assets Unrestricted Board designated Undesignated Net investment in land, buildings and equipment Total unrestricted net assets Temporarily restricted Time restricted Purpose restricted Total temporarily restricted net assets Total net assets Total liabilities and net assets
An independent audit was completed by McGrail, Merkel, Quinn and Associates for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2018 and is available for review at the United Way office or by visiting uwlc.net/accountability. The official registration and financial information of the United Way of Lackawanna and Wayne Counties may be obtained from The Pennsylvania Department of State by calling toll free, in Pennsylvania, 1(800) 732-0999. Registration does not imply endorsement.
31 | United Way of Lackawanna and Wayne Counties’ 2018-19 Annual Report
$
$
80,733 13,761 1,001,037 162,567 197,700 11,464 1,467,262
$
99,787 12,840 977,534 190,843 163,080 14,129 1,458,213
2,692,198 1,652,579
2,710,884 1,510,522
63,273 4,408,050
61,182 4,282,588
929,684 654,228 1,583,912 5,991,962 7,459,224
1,046,037 658,777 1,704,814 5,987,402 $ 7,445,615
2
3
1
5
4
6
WE’RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER THESE ARE FACES OF IMPACT. YOU CAN BE ONE TOO. JOIN THE FIGHT. LEARN MORE AT UWLC.NET.
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1. Children enjoying summer at United Neighborhood Center’s Project Hope. 2. Lackawanna Blind Association clients displaying their handmade crafts. 3. Three clients enjoying the garden at Senior Day Services/Telespond. 4. A group of Transforming Readers volunteers at Kennedy Elementary school. 5. Metlife employees conduct a book drive for United Way. 6. Consumers from the ARC of NEPA volunteer at the United Way. 7. One of our volunteers during the 24th Annual Nancy Jackson Memorial Day of Caring. 8. A student participating in the Transforming Readers program. 9. Students at Northeast Intermediate School during our Every Student, Every Day PSA filming with WNEP. 10. One of our Summer Learning program participants builds 3D shapes with marshmallows and toothpicks. 11. Children enjoying a healthy snack at the Greater Scranton YMCA. 12. A member plays basketball at the Boys and Girls Clubs of NEPA. 13. A child receives a visit through the Home Services program at UCP of NEPA. 14. First year medical students at Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine gather to learn more about the United Way before beginning year-long studies on health issues for seniors and children.
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IT’S AMAZING WHAT WE CAN ACCOMPLISH WHEN WE’RE IN IT TOGETHER.
615 Jefferson Avenue Scranton, Pennsylvania 18510 PO Box 526 • Scranton, Pennsylvania 18501-0526 PO Box 328 • Waymart, Pennsylvania 18472 P: 570.343.1267 • F: 570.969.2977 www.uwlc.net