News & Press

We are pleased to announce that Scranton’s Mayor Paige Cognetti will lead Heart of Scranton: A Virtual Fundraiser to Help our Neighbors—a virtual fundraising event addressing food insecurity—on Thursday, April 30, 2020, in partnership with the NEPA COVID-19 Response Fund at the Scranton Area Community Foundation. All donations made from 12:00 PM (noon) on Thursday, April 30, from 12:00 PM (noon) on Friday, May 1, 2020, will be matched, dollar for dollar, up to $80,000, thanks to generous philanthropic partners, and will go to support CEO/Weinberg Northeast Regional Food Bank, Friends of the Poor, and Meals on Wheels of NEPA through the NEPA COVID-19 Response Fund. 

The hour-long fundraising event will air on Thursday, April 30, 2020, at 7:00 PM on both ECTV Comcast Channel 19 and on ECTV’s YouTube Channel. Mayor Cognetti will team up with Sen. John Blake, Congressman Matt Cartwright, Rep. Marty Flynn, Rep. Bridget Kosierowski, Rep. Kyle Mullins, Commissioner Debi Domenick, Scranton School Board President Katie Gilmartin, Scranton City Council President Bill Gaughan, local musicians, and special guests to raise funds to support CEO/Weinberg Northeast Regional Food Bank, Friends of the Poor, and Meals on Wheels of NEPA through the NEPA COVID-19 Response Fund.

Matching funds will be provided by various funders who will be announced in the coming days.

One hundred percent of all donations (with the exception of credit card fees) will go directly to support CEO/Weinberg Northeast Regional Food Bank, Friends of the Poor, and Meals on Wheels of NEPA, as designated by the donor, through the NEPA COVID-19 Response Fund. 

“We’re pleased to partner with the Mayor of Scranton and other foundations in the region who recognize the importance of charitable giving in these difficult times. This is an incredible opportunity to have your gift matched $1 for $1 to support food insecurity right here in our region,” stated Laura Ducceschi, Scranton Area Community Foundation’s President and CEO.

In response to the coronavirus crisis, the Scranton Area Community Foundation established the NEPA COVID-19 Response Fund to deploy needed resources and respond quickly to the needs of nonprofit organizations in our communities impacted by COVID-19. To date, over $240,000 in emergency grant funding has been provided through the Fund. The NEPA COVID-19 Response Fund provides immediate, responsive, and flexible resources to nonprofit organizations serving our region as well as impacted vulnerable populations. To learn more about how you can make a difference through the NEPA COVID-19 Response Fund please visit safdn.org.