The Luzerne Foundation announces recipients for Spring 2008 Grant Cycle

Since January 2008 The Luzerne Foundation Donors Provide $1.4 Million to Charities

The Luzerne Foundation recently announced the recipients for its Spring Grant Cycle, they are: Central Susquehanna Intermediate Unit-Hazleton Welcome Center; Help create a welcome reception center in Hazleton to service the Latino/Hispanic population. The center would act as an orientation to community services; funded by: Ben Franklin Fund & Fund for Luzerne County. Foundation for Free Enterprise Education - Pennsylvania Free Enterprise Week 2008; Students learn the fundamentals of business and group leadership and are challenged to manage a company covering such entities as marketing, budgets, research and development; funded by: Fund for Luzerne County. Serento Gardens/Alcoholism and Drug Services, Inc. - Communities United/Comunidades Unidas; program provides an innovative approach to address the services of the non-English speaking community; funding will be used to develop a team of volunteer translators who will accompany agency staff on community presentations and translate services brochures; funded by: Fund for Luzerne County.

You Are You - Athena Project; program provides information and supports self-esteem in young women at a time in their lives when issues of drugs, sex, alcohol, self respect and peer pressure are testing them every day and to increase participation in the program each year by expanding it to additional schools within Luzerne County; funded by: Fund for Luzerne County. The Care and Concern Free Health Clinic of Pittston - Free Health Clinic; diagnostic services to meet the medical needs of uninsured and underinsured individuals from the Greater Pittston Area in a more appropriate manner; funded by: Fund for Luzerne County. Foundation for Free Enterprise Education - Pennsylvania - Pennsylvania Free Enterprise Week 2008; participants form teams of 18 students and one business executive in a computer simulated program; students are challenged to manage a company covering such entities as marketing, budgets, research and development; funded by: Fund for Luzerne County. The Arc of Luzerne County - Community Education for Mental Retardation; program will educate individuals with MRDD, their families and other community members on the services available within the Mental Retardation System in Pennsylvania; funded by: McGowan Fund and The Fund for Luzerne County. The Greater Wilkes-Barre Association for the Blind - Time Management Skills Training for the Blind; provide legally blind individuals (including children) with aids and training needed to enhance their ability to function independently; funded by: McGowan Fund. Ballet Northeast - The Nutcracker Ballet; funding will cover choreography and other areas such as purchasing of costumes and new theater drops for the annual production of The Nutcracker Ballet; funded by: Maslow Fund for the Arts. Cori’s Place - Sounds of the Season; organization provides a meaningful transition from adolescence to adult life for individuals with special needs. Funding will be used to support Cori’s Place fine arts program, which culminates in Sounds of the Seasons Community Concert & Choral Programs for John Heinz and nursing homes; funded by: Maslow Fund for the Arts. Fine Arts Fiesta - Fiesta 2008; production, programming and arts displayed during the 2008 Fiesta; funded by: Maslow Fund for the Arts. Plymouth Historical Society, Inc. - Facilities Improvements; provide a safe and inviting environment for the Society to continue serving the community through the educational programs and assisting the public in their historical research; funded by: Historic Landscape and Preservation Fund. The Foundation’s Grants Committee reviewed 43 grant applications that in total requested $268,000 in funding for programs and services valued at $3.5 million.