The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines opportunity as “a favorable juncture of circumstances or a good chance for advancement or progress.”
Would you believe me if I told you that The Luzerne Foundation wishes to provide a special opportunity to local nonprofits in the form of brief, 5-minute, well-crafted speeches that succinctly summarize their mission and goals? It’s true – time is valuable and the community’s needs are great, so we will not linger over PowerPoint presentations or visual aids of any kind. In fact, they are not permitted during the forum, and no question-and-answer sessions will be offered. Sounds like a refreshing change, doesn’t it?
Our third annual Nonprofit Forum on March 30 at the Luzerne County Community College’s Educational Conference Center in Nanticoke creates “five minutes of opportunity” for 33 area nonprofit organizations. The event will begin at 8:30 a.m. and conclude around noon. A continental breakfast will be served. Selected nonprofits will share their mission, discuss the needs and challenges they face, and highlight their programming efforts, all in five-minute time frames.
The organizations selected for this opportunity are the Wyoming Valley Children’s Association, North Branch Land Trust, The Hope Center of Wyoming Valley, The McGlynn Center, Harris Conservatory, Greater Hazleton Area Civic Partnership, Newport Township Community Organization, Camp Orchard Hill, United Way of Wyoming Valley, The Center for Landscape Design, West Pittston Library, Cori’s Place, Stuart Tank Memorial, Fine Arts Fiesta, CASA of Luzerne County, Riverfront Parks Committee, Luzerne County Head Start, Dinners for Kids, Northeast Regional Cancer Institute, Step by Step, Pittston Memorial Library, Helping Hands Society, F.M. Kirby Center for the Performing Arts, The Commonwealth Medical College, SPCA of Luzerne County, Camp Cadet Troop “N,” United Way of Greater Hazleton, Sophia Coxe Memorial Foundation & Education Center, Catherine McAuley Center, Downtown Hazleton Alliance for Progress, Camp Koala, Commission on Economic Opportunity and The Hazleton Area Education Foundation.
From a funding perspective, The Luzerne Foundation foregoes its traditional spring grant cycle and holds the forum to gain a “fresh perspective.” By keeping our finger on the pulse of the most pressing needs faced by our area’s nonprofit organizations, we can take a more strategic and creative approach to funding.
As a result, we are awarding seven $1,000 bonus grants the day of the forum – one for each organization whose mission represents social services, education and scholarships, arts and culture, neighborhoods and community development, youth issues, historic preservation and the environment, and health and wellness.
The Luzerne Foundation encourages its friends and donors, fundholders, grantmakers, private funders and committed citizens to attend this free and informative half-day event. Feel free to RSVP your attendance plans to [email protected].
Established in 1994, The Luzerne Foundation is a force for philanthropy in our community. Like all community foundations, it helps citizens establish permanent funds for the good of their communities. By giving through the foundation, donors benefit from its expertise on community needs, local nonprofits and charitable tax benefits. We routinely work with individuals, families, attorneys and financial planners to design gift plans that fit every economic situation, ensuring that donors receive the most benefit from their charitable contributions and that their philanthropic dollars are used to the fullest extent.
The Luzerne Foundation also acts as a catalyst to bring diverse groups together to address local needs and foster greater giving. As a philanthropic institution supported by community members, The Luzerne Foundation is uniquely positioned to act as a convener and collaborator. Many complex challenges are best resolved through collaborations with multiple partners and key players; the foundation brings those people together to create a shared vision for change. It takes a full complement of our resources – development, investments and grant making – to accomplish our mission of improving lives and communities in Luzerne County.
To date we’ve distributed nearly $98 million in grants to nonprofit organizations and house more than 350 charitable funds. With over $32 million in assets, The Luzerne Foundation is positioned to do good today and tomorrow. After all, we are … Here for good.
We welcome the opportunity to answer any questions you may have about the services we provide to donors or the philanthropic support we provide to nonprofit organizations.
Charles Barber, a Kingston resident, is the president and CEO of The Luzerne Foundation. He can be reached at [email protected] or 570-714-1570.
