Women in Philanthropy (WIP), the initiative of the Scranton Area Community Foundation that focuses on empowering and transforming the lives of women, girls, and their families in Northeastern Pennsylvania, announces the recipients from its 2023 grants cycle, awarded after a highly competitive grant process. A total of $35,000 in grant funding was awarded to eight local nonprofit organizations during the Women in Philanthropy Quarterly Meeting held at the Century Club of Scranton on Thursday evening, April 20.

The recipients included nonprofits Catherine McAuley Center ($6,000), Outreach Center for Community Resources ($5,500), United Neighborhood Centers of NEPA ($5,000), Center for the Living City ($4,500), Penn State Scranton ($4,500), The University of Scranton ($3,500), Junior Achievement of NEPA ($3,000), and Saint Joseph’s Center ($3,000), all to support innovative projects and/or programs that work to transform the lives of women or girls across the Northeastern Pennsylvania region.

The grant award recipients and grant amounts were selected by Women in Philanthropy supporters, who had the opportunity to vote after hearing presentations from each of the nonprofit organizations.

The Women in Philanthropy (WIP) initiative is comprised of a group of over 120 supporters committed to transforming the lives of women, girls, and their families in Northeastern Pennsylvania. WIP engages its supporters in collective decision making to help move women in the region to levels of personal empowerment and economic self-sufficiency. Since its inception in 2014, WIP has provided over $130,000 in grant funding to local nonprofit organizations; STEAM education to over 2,000 students in K-12 local public schools; $25,000 in full ‘STEAM Stars’ Scholarships to the nationally-recognized Level Up Program at Lackawanna College; loan capital and training support to help launch 15 local women-owned businesses; grant support to 21 women business owners in Lackawanna County facing COVID-19 hardships; a dollar for dollar match to women with low-to-moderate-incomes trying to build a savings; and more. To date, Women in Philanthropy has raised over $1.6 million to benefit women, girls, and their families in Northeastern Pennsylvania. Women in Philanthropy is an initiative of the Scranton Area Community Foundation. To learn more about Women in Philanthropy, visit www.supportnepawomen.org.

PHOTO: Women in Philanthropy Supporters gather to listen to presentations by grant recipients during the Women in Philanthropy Quarterly Meeting and Reception held at the Century Club of Scranton on Thursday, April 20, 2023.

PHOTO: The Women in Philanthropy initiative of the Scranton Area Community Foundation awards a $3,000 grant to St. Joseph’s Center during the Women in Philanthropy Quarterly Meeting and Reception held at the Century Club of Scranton on Thursday, April 20, 2023. (l-r): Tamara Murray Leety, Women in Philanthropy Supporter; Tamara Hall, Director of Maternity/Family Services at Saint Joseph’s Center; and Amy Betts, Women in Philanthropy Supporter and Scranton Area Community Foundation’s Community Impacts Manager.

PHOTO: The Women in Philanthropy initiative of the Scranton Area Community Foundation awards a $3,500 grant to the University of Scranton during the Women in Philanthropy Quarterly Meeting and Reception held at the Century Club of Scranton on Thursday, April 20, 2023. (l-r): Patty Thomas, Women in Philanthropy Supporter; Avianna Carilli, Coordinator of Domestic and International Service Programs at the University of Scranton; and Donna Barbetti, Women in Philanthropy Supporter and Board Governor at the Scranton Area Community Foundation.

PHOTO: The Women in Philanthropy initiative of the Scranton Area Community Foundation awards a $6,000 grant to the Catherine McAuley Center during the Women in Philanthropy Quarterly Meeting and Reception held at the Century Club of Scranton on Thursday, April 20, 2023. (l-r): Laura Ducceschi, President and CEO of the Scranton Area Community Foundation and Women in Philanthropy Supporter; Ammie Feduchak, Catherine McAuley Center Board Member; Krista Somers Murray, Executive Director of the Catherine McAuley Center; and Jana Nelhybel, Scranton Area Community Foundation’s NEPA Thrives Manager and Women in Philanthropy Supporter.

PHOTO: The Women in Philanthropy initiative of the Scranton Area Community Foundation awards a $5,500 grant to Outreach Center for Community Resources during the Women in Philanthropy Quarterly Meeting and Reception held at the Century Club of Scranton on Thursday, April 20, 2023. (l-r): Laura Ducceschi, President and CEO of the Scranton Area Community Foundation and Women in Philanthropy Supporter; Susan Jeffery, Women in Philanthropy Supporter; Lori Chaffers, Executive Director of Outreach Center for Community Resources; Liz Ratchford, Development Director of Outreach for Community Resources; Dawn Talley, Women in Philanthropy Supporter; and Ellen Burkey, Women in Philanthropy Supporter and Board Vice Chair of the Scranton Area Community Foundation.

PHOTO: The Women in Philanthropy initiative of the Scranton Area Community Foundation awards a $4,500 grant to Penn State Scranton during the Women in Philanthropy Quarterly Meeting and Reception held at the Century Club of Scranton on Thursday, April 20, 2023. (l-r): Ryanne Jennings, Women in Philanthropy Supporter; Susan Jeffery, Women in Philanthropy Supporter; Shelly Egan, Principal at Old Forge School District; Dr. Melissa Labuda, Assistant Teaching Professor at Penn State Scranton; Christine Ostroski, Director of Development at Penn State Scranton; Amy Betts, Women in Philanthropy Supporter and Scranton Area Community Foundation’s Community Impacts Manager; Laura Ducceschi, Women in Philanthropy Supporter and President and CEO of the Scranton Area Community Foundation.

PHOTO: The Women in Philanthropy initiative of the Scranton Area Community Foundation awards a $4,500 grant to Center for the Living City during the Women in Philanthropy Quarterly Meeting and Reception held at the Century Club of Scranton on Thursday, April 20, 2023. (l-r): Donna Nelson, Women in Philanthropy Supporter; Laura Ducceschi, Women in Philanthropy Supporter and President and CEO of the Scranton Area Community Foundation; Maria MacDonald, Center for the Living City Executive Director; Sarah Effertz, Women in Philanthropy Supporter; and Bella Ceccoli, Scranton Area Community Foundation’s Administrative Coordinator and Women in Philanthropy Supporter.

PHOTO: The Women in Philanthropy initiative of the Scranton Area Community Foundation awards a $3,000 grant to Junior Achievement during the Women in Philanthropy Quarterly Meeting and Reception held at the Century Club of Scranton on Thursday, April 20, 2023. (l-r): Laura Ducceschi, Women in Philanthropy Supporter and President and CEO of the Scranton Area Community Foundation; Amy Betts, Women in Philanthropy Supporter and Scranton Area Community Foundation’s Community Impacts Manager; Fran Langan, Women in Philanthropy Supporter; Susan Magnotta, President of Junior Achievement of Northeastern PA; Bella Ceccoli, Scranton Area Community Foundation’s Administrative Coordinator; and Donna Barbetti, Women in Philanthropy Supporter and Board Governor at the Scranton Area Community Foundation.

PHOTO: The Women in Philanthropy initiative of the Scranton Area Community Foundation awards a $5,000 grant to United Neighborhood Centers of NEPA during the Women in Philanthropy Quarterly Meeting and Reception held at the Century Club of Scranton on Thursday, April 20, 2023. (l-r): Laura Ducceschi, Women in Philanthropy Supporter and President and CEO of the Scranton Area Community Foundation; Dr. Patricia Fox, Women in Philanthropy Supporter and Board Governor at the Scranton Area Community Foundation; Lisa Durkin, President and CEO of United Neighborhood Centers of NEPA; Laurie LaMaster, United Neighborhood Centers of NEPA Director of Development and Communications; Kelly Langan, United Neighborhood Centers of NEPA Director of Children and Teens; Ellen Burkey, Women in Philanthropy Supporter and Board Vice Chair of the Scranton Area Community Foundation; Ryanne Jennings, Women in Philanthropy Supporter.

PHOTO: Women in Philanthropy 2023 grant recipients/presenters gather for a photo during the Women in Philanthropy Quarterly Meeting and Reception held at the Century Club of Scranton on Thursday, April 20, 2023. (l-r): Maggie Martinelli, Women in Philanthropy Supporter and Chief Operating Officer of the Scranton Area Community Foundation; Maria MacDonald, Center for the Living City Executive Director; Ammie Feduchak, Catherine McAuley Center Board Member; Krista Murray, Catherine McAuley Center Executive Director; Shelly Egan, Old Forge School District Elementary Principal; Dr. Melissa Labuda, Penn State Scranton Assistant Teaching Professor; Avianna Carilli, University of Scranton Coordinator of Domestic and International Service Programs; Susan Magnotta, Junior Achievement of NEPA President; Tamara Hall, St. Joseph’s Center Director of Maternity/Family Services; Kelly Langan, United Neighborhood Centers of NEPA Director of Children and Teens; Liz Ratchford, Outreach Center for Community Resources Development Director; Lori Chaffers, Outreach Center for Community Resources Executive Director; and Laura Ducceschi, Women in Philanthropy Supporter and President and CEO of the Scranton Area Community Foundation.