2016/2017 THIRD QUARTER
GRANT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Grant Funds to Promote Health and Wellness
Throughout Northeast Pennsylvania
CORRECTION: We apologize for resending this grant announcement, but we noticed an error for our grantee United Way of Wyoming Valley. This grant announcement has now been updated to reflect the corrected information.

SCRANTON, PA. -  The board of directors of Moses Taylor Foundation has approved its 2016-2017 third quarter grants, awarding a total of $596,306 to eight organizations that advance the Foundation's strategic priority of promoting health and wellness throughout Northeast Pennsylvania.

"Our grantee partners perform vital, life-changing work every day. These 2016-2017 third quarter grants will enable them to continue to help Northeast Pennsylvania residents - especially the most vulnerable - lead healthier lives," said LaTida Smith, Moses Taylor Foundation President and CEO. "From innovative healthy eating and wellness initiatives to enhancing health care capacity in ways that support families and individuals throughout our region, our grantees are making a lasting difference in so many ways."

The Foundation administers quarterly grant cycles. The full list of 2016-2017 third quarter grants is noted below.

Commission on Economic Opportunity:
 

$125,000 to provide operating support for its Weinberg Northeast Regional Food Bank. Grant funds will be used to support the operation of food distribution programs that focus on healthy foods and fresh fruits and vegetables. 

 
NEPA Community Health Care : 

 

$120,000 to support the organization's Quality of Care Improvement through Workplace Transformation initiative. Funds will be used to defray the cost of renovating two sites, one in Susquehanna and one in Hallstead, and to contribute to the cost of upgrading the organization's Electronic Medical Record (EMR) system. Physical renovations will enhance patient privacy and improve workflow for staff. An updated EMR will assist the organization in compiling and tracking high-quality patient data.

Website is under construction 
United Way of Wyoming Valley : 
 

$255,306 to establish child maltreatment prevention strategies within the community. A partnership of organizations, including Pennsylvania Family Support Alliance, Maternal and Family Health Services, and Catholic Social Services, will create public awareness of child maltreatment, build the capacity of local agencies and the larger community, promote prevention strategies, and provide needed support for at-risk families.
 
unitedwaywb.org
 

Greater Wilkes-Barre Association for the Blind:
 

$19,000 to support the Association's Low Vision Clinic. Since low vision devices are not covered through insurance, the Bureau of Blindness and Visual Services (BBVS) refers clients to the Low Vision Clinic. Grant funds will help to supplement the purchase of many of the low vision products that most impact those served.
Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation
NEPA Chapter :

 

$20,000 for the "Living Well with Breast Cancer and Beyond" Symposium in collaboration with Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine. This all-day event will be designed for breast cancer survivors, their families and health care professionals with the overall goal of addressing the information needs of individuals living with metastatic breast cancer (MBC) by providing a comprehensive overview of MBC, available treatments and strategies for living well in the face of a diagnosis of MBC.

North Pocono Public Library:
 

$10,000 to expand the Library's community garden as part of the Garden Project. The Library has developed a garden that is maintained by community volunteers and provides benefits and learning opportunities for children and adults in the North Pocono community. The produce raised by the Garden Project is donated weekly to the North Pocono Food Pantry. In 2016, the garden provided over 700 pounds of fresh produce.
 
lclshome.org/b/north-pocono-public-library/

University of Scranton:
 

$7,000 to support two scholarships to The University of Scranton's Nonprofit Leadership Certificate Program. The program will provide high potential leaders with the knowledge and insight required to enable their organizations to achieve and sustain their respective missions and ensure positive community outcomes. Local funders serve on the program's advisory committee and are collaborating to pool funding for scholarships for the inaugural class. 

 

Treatment Court Advocacy Center: 


$40,000 to fund a part-time Certified Peer Specialist and support transitional needs of its participants, including housing, clothing, toiletries, food, medication, transportation and treatment. A portion of the funding will also provide an opportunity for several Mental Health Court team members to attend a forensic conference. The Treatment Court Advocacy Center seeks to assist and facilitate individuals participating in the Lackawanna County Court of Common Pleas, Treatment Court division with challenges of daily living as they move into a life focused on recovery from addiction and mental illness.
Healthy Workplace Grants: 
 
Additionally, the  board awarded 15 Healthy Workplace grants totaling $19,400 to local and regional organizations as part of its 2017 effort to promote the health and well-being of those working in nonprofit organizations. Additional information regarding these funded projects will be shared throughout the year. Healthy Workplace grants are as follows:

  • Lackawanna County Blind Association: $1,000 to purchase ergonomic chairs and antiglare computer screens for its eight employees.
 
  • Community Intervention Center: $1,000 to purchase a treadmill for its eight employees.
 
  • Employment Opportunity & Training Center (EOTC):
    $1,200 to purchase healthier workspace items for its 36 employees. Staff members will have the opportunity to  choose an item best suited to their needs (e.g., ergonomic mouse, lumbar support cushion, task lamp).
 
  • Luzerne County Community College: $1,000 to establish a wellness walking path through the main campus. Funding will purchase paint, a measuring wheel, and signage for directions, distance markers and exercise stations.
 
  • Children's Service Center: $1,500 to self-publish the "CSC Healthy Workplace" cookbook, featuring recipes for healthy meals and snacks submitted by employees. As part of the grant, staff will host a cookbook launch and tasting event after the book is published.
 
  • The Arc of Northeastern PA: $1,500 to host a health and wellness fair for its 135 employees, featuring workshops on nutrition, yoga and other forms of exercise, and healthy lifestyle choices. Blood pressure and other types of screenings will also be offered.
 
  • Maternal & Family Health Services: $1,200 to fund a wellness education speaker at the organization's Annual All Staff In-Service.
 
  • Everhart Museum: $1,500 to fund a summer series with healthy snacks and juices on Mondays, a professional massage therapist on Wednesdays, and a yoga and meditation instructor on Fridays.
 
  • Voluntary Action Center: $1,000 to support Salad Fridays. VAC will provide the lettuce and greens, and staff members will bring in their favorite healthy additions. One Friday a month, VAC will host a speaker who will introduce healthy living concepts, including shopping for local produce, healthy eating choices, meditation and organization.
 
  • Friendship House: $1,000 to support Monthly Health Challenges. Funds will be used to purchase items such as pedometers for a step challenge and water bottles to track daily water intake.
 
  • Johnson College: $1,000 to sponsor a free fitness class one evening per month for 75 employees. Each month will focus on a different activity, including Zumba, yoga, strength training, Pilates and kickboxing.
 
  • Saint Joseph's Center: $2,000 to support quarterly workshops in nutrition, physical activity, heart health and mental health for 550 employees. Funds will be used to purchase resources such as books, DVDs, information kiosks and speakers.
 
  • Greater Carbondale YMCA: $1,000 to renovate a storage area and create an employee breakroom for its 90 employees. The breakroom will include tables and chairs, an area for coats and bags, and a staff communication board.
 
  • Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice: $1,500 to create a meditation room for its 110 employees. Additionally, funding will support introductory meditation classes provided by a professional instructor.
 
  • The Wright Center: $2,000 to create a Mother's Room (i.e., lactation space). Funding will be used to purchase chairs, a small refrigerator and a hospital-grade breast pump. 

LaTida Smith
President and CEO
Moses Taylor Foundation
(570) 207-3731

About Moses Taylor Foundation
Moses Taylor Foundation is a private foundation dedicated to building healthy communities and providing opportunities for people in Northeast Pennsylvania, especially the most vulnerable, to lead healthier lives. The Foundation was endowed in 2012 with the net proceeds from the sale of the Moses Taylor Health Care System to Community Health Systems of Franklin, Tennessee. Information on the work of Moses Taylor Foundation is available on the Foundation's website: www.mosestaylorfoundation.org.