Each month, we’re proud to share highlights from the charitable funds we manage and the initiatives they support—showcasing the impact made possible by generous donors and community partners like you.
Learn more about all of our Funds in greater detail by visiting safdn.org.
Celebrating the 2nd Annual Carbondalien Festival 👽
Mark your calendars for Noviembre 7–8 as the 2nd Annual Carbondalien Festival lights up downtown Carbondale with art, music, and all things otherworldly!
Festivities kick off Viernes night with the Light Parade, followed by the SUPERNOVA Concert at Gravity Hall featuring members of The Menzingers, Gladie, Screaming Females, and more.
On Sábado, explore the Landing Pad Marketplace, the new Alien Art Walk, live music, and photo ops with Star Wars characters. Visit Russell Park for ‘The Russell Park Experience’, a theatrical crash site reenactment, and tethered Alien Hot Air Balloon rides. Don’t miss the Supernatural Speaker Series featuring expert talks on UFOs, the paranormal, and more.
This one-of-a-kind festival celebrates Carbondale’s legendary 1974 UFO incident while supporting local artists, small businesses, and the regional creative economy.
Established in 2025 at the Scranton Area Community Foundation, the Carbondalien Festival Fund supports the mission of the Carbondalien Festival which is to celebrate creativity, curiosity, and community through the lens of the otherworldly.
Support the 2nd Annual Penn State Watch Party & Fundraiser 🏈
Join the Gregory Pascale Foundation on Noviembre 15 at Montage Mountain Resorts for a powerful day of football, fun, and fundraising.
The event supports the Gregory Pascale Foundation’s mission to combat the fentanyl crisis through education, outreach, and advocacy. Founded in memory of Gregory Pascale, who tragically lost his life to fentanyl poisoning in 2022, the Foundation is dedicated to raising awareness about the dangers of fentanyl and counterfeit drugs.
Bring your Penn State pride and be part of a meaningful day that honors Greg’s memory while creating real change in our community!
Established in 2025 at the Scranton Area Community Foundation, the Gregory Pascale Foundation Fund supports the charitable causes and organizations important to The Gregory Pascale Foundation’s mission of eliminating fentanyl poisoning. This includes, but is not limited to, supporting public education and awareness initiatives on the dangers of fentanyl poisoning; advancing advocacy efforts aimed at preventing illicit fentanyl distribution; and promoting harm reduction strategies to mitigate the negative health impacts of fentanyl use.
Lex-Toberfest Concludes with Cheesecake Fundraiser 💜
The Alexis Caviston-Ashmar Memorial Scholarship Fund, established in 2022 through the Scranton Area Community Foundation, continues to honor the life and legacy of Alexis “Lexi” Caviston-Ashmar, a compassionate and determined nursing student at Mansfield University who inspired everyone she met.
Each Octubre, family, friends, and supporters celebrate “Lex-Toberfest” in her memory, raising funds through events like the annual Thanksgiving Cheesecake Fundraiser, with proceeds benefiting the scholarship fund. This community tradition not only honors Lexi’s joyful spirit but also helps future nurses pursue their dreams—just as Lexi had wished.
In her third year of nursing school, Lexi was diagnosed with Glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer. She faced her diagnosis with courage, humor, and grace—earning her degree cum laude in Mayo 2020, marrying the love of her life, Joshua, just weeks later, and passing away that Julio surrounded by family and friends. It was Lexi’s wish to help others pursue their dream of becoming nurses.
Each year, the fund awards two scholarships:
- One to a third- or fourth-year nursing student at Mansfield University from Northeastern Pennsylvania.
- One to a Scranton High School Knight Rhythms graduating senior pursuing a career in healthcare.
Your support helps keep Lexi’s legacy of compassion, courage, and laughter alive for generations to come.
Established in 2022, the Alexis Caviston-Ashmar Memorial Scholarship Fund is a charitable fund administered by the Scranton Area Community Foundation. Through this fund, Lexi’s family and loved ones continue her wish to support others on their path to nursing, providing educational opportunities for students who share her dedication to caring for others.
Judy Tomes Duffy Music Education Scholarship Honoring a Legacy of Music, Education, and Giving 🎶
Created to celebrate the life and legacy of Judy Tomes Duffy, the Judy Tomes Duffy Music Education Scholarship embodies her lifelong love of music, education, and community. A talented musician and dedicated educator from Dunmore, Judy spent her career in special education while sharing her passion for classical music, choral performance, and cultural exploration.
The Judy Tomes Duffy Music Education Scholarship Fund, established in 2024, supports graduating seniors from high schools in Lackawanna County who plan to study music education. This fund reflects Judy’s generosity, her devotion to learning, and her belief in the power of music to uplift and inspire.
This fund was made possible through the thoughtful planning of donor Mary Kopa, who reflects:
“It was my intent to make contributions for scholarships and funds through my will, but I realized I could begin making a difference now. After meeting with the Scranton Area Community Foundation, I learned that I could use my required minimum distributions (RMDs) from my retirement account to establish scholarships and funds during my lifetime while also achieving some tax advantages. Over the past several years, I have created four active scholarships and one fund, including the Judy Tomes Duffy Music Education Scholarship Fund, all designed to reflect my intentions and values. Additional contributions can also be made by others at any time.” – Mary Kopa, Donor and Scholarship Founder
Because of Mary’s generosity, Judy’s passion for music and education will continue to inspire and support future generations for years to come.
The Judy Tomes Duffy Music Education Scholarship Fund is administered by the Scranton Area Community Foundation. Established in 2024, the fund continues Judy’s legacy by supporting local students who share her passion for music and education.
Making NEPA Home Showcases Immigrant and Refugee Stories in Our Community 🎞️
Making NEPA Home, WVIA’s newest original documentary, premiered on Miércoles, Octubre 16 on WVIA TV and online.
Produced and directed by Kara Washington, the film shares the powerful stories of four refugees and immigrants who found safety, opportunity, and community in Northeastern Pennsylvania. Through deeply personal journeys and rich cultural traditions, the documentary explores how these neighbors are shaping the future of our region and redefining what it means to call NEPA home.
Part of WVIA’s We Stand Against Hate initiative, Making NEPA Home also highlights the essential work of local organizations that support refugee and immigrant resettlement.
Through grants from our unrestricted Community Needs Fund, the Scranton Area Community Foundation has been proud to support WVIA in advancing its mission to educate, inform, and inspire.
The Scranton Area Community Foundation’s Community Needs Fund is our unrestricted grantmaking fund that allows us to respond to the region’s most pressing needs and emerging opportunities. Through this flexible fund, we provide vital support to nonprofits serving Northeastern Pennsylvania, helping them strengthen programs, launch new initiatives, and make a lasting impact in our community.