Tag Archives: Greater Scranton YMCA

YMCA earns Spitz grant for child care

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Shown from left at the presentation are: Cathy Fitzpatrick, Director of Grants & Scholarships, Scranton Area Community Foundation; Rich Surridge, President & CEO, Greater Scranton YMCA; Meghan Carnevale, Mission Advancement & Marketing Director, Greater Scranton YMCA; Laura Ducceschi, President & CEO, Scranton Area Community Foundation

In November, 2024, the Greater Scranton YMCA was awarded a $10,000 grant from the Robert H. Spitz Foundation. Grant funding will support financial assistance for families with children enrolled in early childhood education programs.

The availability of quality, safe child care programs is crucial to our economy and the workforce. Early Childhood Education Programs at the Greater Scranton YMCA, and the availability of financial assistance, allow families from across our region to send their children to an early learning program while they work. As the need for child care programs in our community has grown, so too has the need for financial assistance.

“We are so grateful to the Robert H. Spitz Foundation for their generosity,” said Rich Surridge, President & CEO, Greater Scranton YMCA. “Here at the Y, we turn no one away for an inability to pay. Thanks in part to this grant award, more families in need will be provided with the resources needed to send their child(ren) to our early childhood education programs, providing them with the opportunity to work and their children with the tools and

resources needed to thrive in kindergarten and beyond.”

The Greater Scranton YMCA’s Early Childhood Education Department offers programs for children of all ages through daycare, preschool, school age care and summer day camp. For more information about Early Childhood Education Programs and the availability of financial assistance, contact Tressa Capoccia, Senior Education Director, at tcapoccia@gsymca.org.

$5,000 PPL grant awarded to Greater Scranton YMCA

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The Greater Scranton YMCA is pleased to announce it has received a $5,000 grant from the PPL Foundation. These funds will support the Y’s Summer Scholars Program, a free six-week summer learning program.

The goal of Summer Scholars is to prevent summer learning loss for children from low-income families through a combination of literacy instruction (using the Four Blocks Model), enrichment activities aligned to literacy instruction and positive youth development opportunities. 

The program targets struggling readers and serves rising first, second and third grade students attending the Dunmore and Mid Valley School Districts.

“The Greater Scranton YMCA is so grateful to the PPL Foundation for their generosity,” said Rich Surridge, President & CEO. “Thanks in part to this grant award, and additional support from local foundations, businesses, and proceeds from the Annual Harry P. McGrath Memorial Golf Tournament, our YMCA will continue providing the Summer Scholars Program for struggling readers in our community at no cost to families. It’s because of the

commitment of community partners like the PPL Foundation that we are able to serve those in need.”

For more information about the Summer Scholars Program, contact Helen Cruser, Education Director, at hcruser@gsymca.org.

Greater Scranton YMCA appoints new president & CEO

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The Greater Scranton YMCA’s Board of Directors recently appointed Rich Surridge as the organization’s next President & CEO.

Surridge has worked at the Greater Scranton YMCA for 17 years, beginning his YMCA career in July of 2007. During his time with the YMCA, Rich served in various roles at the Greater Scranton YMCA and Greater Wyoming Valley YMCA. 

Previous to being appointed President & CEO in September and Interim CEO in June, Rich served as the Greater Scranton YMCA’s CFO from 2007-2015; the CFO for both the Greater Scranton YMCA and the Wilkes-Barre Family YMCA from 2015-2021; and, most recently, the CFO and COO at the Greater Scranton YMCA from 2021 through June of this year.

“On behalf of the board of directors, we are thrilled to name Rich as President and CEO of the Greater Scranton YMCA, ” said Megan Wolff Galko, Chief Volunteer Officer, Greater Scranton YMCA. “His passion and dedication to the Y makes him the perfect person to continue our legacy of serving a critical need within the Northeast PA community by offering healthy meals for children and seniors, training in water safety, encouraging healthy habits,

and offering a safe place for residents of all ages to spend time with their friends.”

As President & CEO, Rich’s primary focus will be ensuring the Greater Scranton YMCA’s successful operation, including membership, program development, volunteer recruitment, staff supervision, community relations, collaborations, budgeting, and financial results.

“I am honored to serve as the next President & CEO of the Greater Scranton YMCA,” said Surridge. “I will work diligently to not only continue the important work of our YMCA, but also to grow our programs to meet the changing needs of our community. Working alongside our dedicated staff team, I am so excited to be a part of the impact the Greater Scranton YMCA will continue to make on the lives of children, adults and families from across our community.”