News & Press

Remembering Jeanne Bovard

07.12.18

The Scranton Area Community Foundation warmly remembers and celebrates the legacy of Jeanne Anderson Bovard, who served as Executive Director of the Scranton Area Community Foundation for 25 years until 2012. Jeanne was a true community leader who will be remembered and appreciated for her dedication, warmth, and kindness.

Jeanne joined the foundation in 1987, where she oversaw the distribution of more than $10 million in grants to assist the educational, human service, environmental, civic and arts and cultural organizations of Lackawanna County. While leading the Foundation, she was a founding member of many successful community development initiatives including Scranton Tomorrow, Voluntary Action Center of Lackawanna County, and Leadership Lackawanna. Jeanne she was instrumental in bringing together organizations to create the Lackawanna County Housing Collaborative, and under her tenure the Foundation served as a partner with the PA Council on the Arts PPA program for ten years.

She was awarded an honorary doctorate by the University of Scranton, was named a Distinguished Daughter of Pennsylvania, was a recipient of the Margaretta Belin Chamberlin Award, and received the Governor Robert P. Casey Medal for a Lifetime of Service.

To honor the immeasurable legacy that Jeanne Bovard has had both on the Foundation and our community, we are planning a tribute to her at the Scranton Area Community Foundation’s Annual Community Celebration on December 6th. All gifts raised through the event this year will be evenly distributed between the Jeanne Anderson Bovard Fund and the Jeanne Anderson Bovard Administrative Endowment Fund.

If you would like to make a contribution in memory of Jeanne Bovard, please make a check payable to the Scranton Area Community Foundation and write the name of the fund on the memo line.

The Board of Governors and staff of the Scranton Area Community Foundation is incredibly grateful to Jeanne for a lifetime of commitment and dedication to our region and to the mission of the Scranton Area Community Foundation. Like so many in our community whose lives she touched, we will remember her passion to serve the community, always.