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Article from Pocono Record

Pocono Health Foundation recently celebrated its 24th annual Grant Reception to award over $150,000 to various community organizations and local students. Pocono Health Foundation has provided grants and scholarships to invest in improving the quality of life for those who reside and visit this great area for 24 years.

The 16 Monroe County community organizations that were honored through the generosity of the Dr. Alberta Finch Children’s Health Endowment Fund ($9,700) and the Dr. Claus G. Jordan Endowment Fund ($51,250) include the following: American Red Cross; Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Bridge; Bushkill Emergency Corps; Crossroads Community Services; Developmental Education Services of Monroe County; Family Promise of Monroe County; The Friendly Community Center; The Garden of Giving, Inc.; Habitat for Humanity of Monroe County; Make-A-Wish Greater PA and West Virginia; Meals on Wheels of Monroe County; Planned Parenthood Keystone; Pleasant Valley Ecumenical Network; Pocono Alliance, Inc.; Pocono Services for Families & Children; Salvation Army of East Stroudsburg; Support Services for Seniors; Women’s Resources of Monroe County; Youth Infusion, Inc.; Lions Club District 14-U KidSight USA Project; Melon’s Gift, Inc.; and Pregnancy Crisis Center of the Poconos.

As a result of the R. Dale Hughes Nursing Scholarship Endowment, Jennie Cramer Memorial Nursing Scholarship, Robert A. Gordon Memorial Nursing Scholarship ($20,800), Dr. Elmo J. Lilli Healthcare Scholarship ($2,000) and the Sean P. Cunningham Memorial Scholarship Endowment ($6,000), the following students from northeastern Pennsylvania schools received scholarships: Caroline Gillenkirk, $5,000; Shana Mraz, $10,000; Mackenzie Steudler, $5,000; Tracy Vishnesky, $800; Larissa McNeill-Glowinski, $6,000; and Shanice Lyle, $2,000.

Pocono Medical Center’s premier “I Need A Hero” event, hosted by Desaki Restaurant owners Vincent and Charlie Trapasso, to celebrate and honor all EMS providers and all that they do in the community as integral partners has created the opportunity out of the generosity of the Trapasso’s to generate $12,000 toward supporting our local area EMS through education, training, and equipment. The following are the recipients of the I Need A Hero Fund: Bushkill Emergency Corps, $3,000; Pocono Mountain Regional EMS, $3,000; Suburban EMS, $3,000; and West End Community Ambulance Association, $3,000.

The Valerie M. Hodge Memorial Pediatric Dental Center, providing dental care for the uninsured and underinsured of Monroe County, has also raised a total of $7,200 through the Valerie M. Hodge Memorial Pediatric Dental Center Endowment. In addition to these grants and scholarships, a PMC physician received a grant from the William B. Cramer Medical Staff Equipment Endowment of $23,000 to enhance the medical services provided to the community.

The Pocono Health Foundation Endowment also provided $21,540 funding to Eastern PA Medcom to support the Medcom ALS communication fees needed for all four EMS squads serving Pocono Medical Center.

Article from Pocono Record

Monroe County youth’s career and community involvement needs will be addressed at a Youth Today, Leaders Tomorrow Conference from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday at East Stroudsburg High School South. It is organized by the Monroe Council on Inclusion.

The Monroe County Commissioners issued at their October meeting a proclamation commemorating November 2014 as Monroe County Unity Month and urging community groups, businesses and residents to organize events and to join opportunities for volunteer services throughout the month that respect and highlight the increasing diversity of the people of Monroe County. The proclamation was issued at the request of the Monroe Council on Inclusion, which has been meeting to seek answers to diversity issues and explore concrete solutions to implement programs and policies that address the needs of the growing diverse population in the county.

Dagmaris Cabezas, co-founder of the council with the late Bob Hillman, received the proclamation.

“This proclamation also urges residents to celebrate the memory of the late community activist Robert “Bob” Hillman and others who early recognized the values of diversity and unity in Monroe County,” said Cabezas Cabezas.

She announced at the presentation that the council is organizing the youth-led conference that will present an opportunity for Monroe County youth ages 15-20 to speak out and create a youth-driven, summary document that will provide recommendations to policy makers on education, employment, diversity and other issues of concern.

The event is being organized in collaboration with Youth Infusion and the Cavalier Justice Academy at East Stroudsburg High School South. Financial sponsors of the conference include People’s Security Bank and Trust, Northampton Community College and East Stroudsburg University.

“This event is youth led and youth organized. We’re just there to supply resource support,” Cabezas said. “They’ll break into four workshops on jobs, education, community involvement and on health and wellness. Then there will be a separate coming together on the theme of diversity.

“It’s not like conferences you just walk out of but they’ll leave with policy recommendations for policymakers and elected officials to come and listen to what they have to do.”

Youth interested in participating in Youth Today, Leaders Tomorrow Conference should call 570-445-4292 or e-mail communitypartnersofthepoconos@gmail.com to receive an invitation.

Cabezas said she recently met with East Stroudsburg school board members to present recommendations to them for the need for cultural awareness and for teachers to be representative of diversity of the county. She said it’s not just about race about diversity in sexual orientation, handicaps and religious diversity.

“It’s a great opportunity to get youth involved, that’s the key thing, to get as many youth involved as possible,” said John Siptroth, former state representative and co-chair of Monroe County Council on Inclusion with Nitza Desire, manager of Manpower in Tannersville. “It’s always been an issue in this area: What about the workplace for young people after the educational process. We don’t seem to hold the young adults in our area. There will be a lot of discussion on that as well.”

Monroe County Council on Inclusion members include representatives from the offices of state representatives Mario Scavello and Rosemary Brown, the Monroe County Transportation Authority, Northampton Community College, East Stroudsburg University, Tobyhanna State Park, and area faith-based organizations.

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The council also organized Unity Seminar 2012 where close to 100 community, professional, civic and religious leaders discussed current social and economic issues, shared personal histories and success stories, and recommended action to meet current challenges in education, civic involvement and the workplace. A summary report of the finding was presented to the Monroe County commissioners, to county school board members, and elected officials for consideration.

Article from Pike County Courier

In partnership with Youth Infusion, Inc., fourth graders at Stroudsburg Intermediate Elementary School are participating in the first ever 4S Youth Triathlon After-school Program, twice a week, through May 2013. The program creates an opportunity for children to engage in physical activities through:

Spinning (cycling)
Swimming
Strength training

Sprinting (running)

It also includes educational opportunities involving healthy nutrition. In addition, the students will engage in service-learning activities. Fourth grader Nate B. thinks that the program is “very awesome." The culminating event will take place on Global Youth Service Day, April 26.

Community partners, such as Pocono Area Running Club (PARC), 4 Corners Fitness, Girls on the Run, Shawnee Inn and Golf Resort, Quench on 6th Café and Juice Bar, East Stroudsburg University professor Scott Dietrich, East Stroudsburg High School South teachers Patricia Tiernan and Martina Matheis, Dr. Donna Hamilton, and Elika Almeida have been invited to share their expertise with the students throughout the program and participate in the final celebration on April 26.

Program sponsors include Trek Bikes, The Shawnee Inn and Golf Resort, the United Way of Monroe County, Youth Service America, and the ESSA Foundation. With support from the ESSA Foundation, Youth Infusion was able to purchase 10 Trek bicycles and 10 bicycle trainers — which allow the bikes to be used during the winter months as stationary cycles.

Youth Infusion, Inc. is a grassroots non-profit organization that offers both school-based and community-based programs to youth of Northeast Pennsylvania. These programs empower local youth to improve their lives and the lives of others.

For more information on the 4S Youth Triathlon After-school Program or Youth Infusion, Inc., call 570-266-5125 or e-mail YouthInfusion2020@gmail.com 

Article from Pocono Record

The United Way of Monroe County announced funding to be given to health and human services in the area as a result of its 2011 campaign. The United Way of Monroe County announced funding to be given to health and human services in the area as a result of its 2011 campaign. The United Way’s campaign money is awarded to local programs and organizations that serve four areas including, Meeting Basic Needs, Helping Children Succeed, Promoting Self-Sufficiency and Engaging Youth.

A total of $432,756 is being given to 33 programs. Youth programs will be receiving an additional $5,000. The Garden of Giving and Monroe County Family Health Center are both receiving money from the United Way for the first time. Both organizations are receiving grants under the category for Meeting Basic Needs, which receives the largest amount based on economic downturn and unemployment rates. Monroe County’s 2012 Community Needs Assessment and statistics from Pocono Info show that housing, food and utilities assistance is in higher demand than ever before. In order to receive money, all programs need to demonstrate measurable outcomes and results in changing people’s lives for the better.

Programs were evaluated from early March to May by 49 adult and six student volunteers. The evaluation process included site visits, reviewing applications and outcomes to see the effectiveness of the programs in serving community needs.

The following programs and agencies received grants from the United Way of Monroe County:

• American Red Cross: $41,642
• Boy Scouts, Minsi Trails Council: $7,193
• Burnley Workshop: $27,860
• Catholic School Services: $7,948
• Center for Vision Loss: $14,238
• Developmental Education Services: $272
• Equilibrium: $9,021
• Family Promise of Monroe County: $8,703
• Girl Scouts in the Heart of PA: $3,065
• Meals on Wheels: $16,059
• Monroe County Family Health Center: $14,677
• Pocono Alliance: $12,095
• Pocono Area Transitional Housing: $26,170
• Pocono Family YMCA: $17,000
• Pocono Services for Families and Children: $80,315
• The Garden of Giving: $5,000
• The Growing Place Child Care Centers: $23,504
• The Salvation Army: $36,980
• VNA/Hospice of Monroe County: $27,688
• Women’s Resources of Monroe County: $36,687
• Youth Employment Services: $13,639
• Youth Infusion: $3,000

The following are Youth Allocations being given by the United Way of Monroe County:

• Youth Initiative Program/Pocono Services for Families and Children: $1,250
• Reach Out 2 Stop Violence/Women’s Resources of Monroe County: $500
• Emergency Preparedness Workshop/American Red Cross of the Poconos: $1,250
• Equine-Assisted Learning and Movement Experience for Children with Autism/Equilibrium: $1,500
• Trips for Kids/Youth Infusion: $500

Article from the Pocono Business Journal

Youth Infusion, Inc. was awarded $5,000 to implement its School-based Service-learning Initiative in partnership with East Stroudsburg High School South’s Cavalier Justice Academy (CJA).  The focus of the grant is to support programs that give teens access to opportunities through technology.  The service-learning partnership between Youth Infusion, Inc. and the CJA assists students in developing meaningful service-learning projects that span beyond the classroom.  The founders of the organization believe that connecting youth with their community and conducting authentic and pragmatic service-learning projects gives students a sense of purpose, cultivates self reliance, and promotes sustained civic involvement.  Past projects chosen by students include alcoholism, bullying, and suicide prevention.  Students have created documentary films, public service announcements, as well as additional resources for youth and the community, in general.   With grant support from Best Buy, CJA students will continue their current service-learning project on Child Abuse, in partnership with Youth Infusion, Inc.  Please visit www.youthinfusion.org this winter for details on the students’ final project demonstration, which will take place at the Sherman Theater.

Youth Infusion, Inc. is a grassroots non-profit organization that offers both school-based and community-based programs to youth of Northeast Pennsylvania.  These programs empower local youth to improve their lives and the lives of others.

The organization’s School-based Service-learning Initiative provides an opportunity for classroom teachers to connect students with community resources so as to implement service-learning projects that extend beyond the classroom.   Through Youth Infusion’s School-based Service-learning Initiative, students work directly with community leaders, public officials, and neighborhood members and, through which, are able to improve their public speaking, technical skills, and creativity. In addition, by engaging in social/political issues, students are given opportunities to think critically and analyze problems to create systemic change.