Author Mitch Albom to speak in Scranton next month

Hospice of the Sacred Heart has announced that Mitch Albom, author, philanthropist, columnist and sports reporter, will speak in Scranton as part of the year-long 20th Anniversary celebration of Hospice of the Sacred Heart. Albom will speak at the Theater at North on Thursday, April 20, at 7 p.m. A book signing will follow in the Theater at North Gallery.   

Author of Tuesdays with Morrie, Albom’s books have sold over 39 million copies and have been translated into over 45 languages. While nationally recognized for his sports writing, Albom is perhaps best known for the themes of hope and kindness that weave through his books, plays and films. In his talks and presentations, he brings the same inspiring message of community building, giving and purpose. 

His breakthrough book, Tuesdays with Morrie, became an international phenomenon with over 14 million copies sold. Now in its 20th year, Tuesdays remains one of the top selling memoirs of all time and was adapted into an Emmy Award-winning TV movie produced by Oprah Winfrey, starring Jack Lemmon and Hank Azaria.

Albom has founded 10 charities, including nine in the Detroit area, such as S.A.Y. Detroit, which operates a family health clinic; A Time to Help, a volunteer organization; and A Hole in the Roof Foundation, which repairs faith-based homeless shelters. He also directs the Have Faith Haiti Mission in Port Au Prince, which helps impoverished children and orphans, as well as the Chika Fund, which provides life-saving medical costs and health care.

A columnist for The Detroit Free Press since 1985 and a panelist on The Sports Reporters podcast, Albom has been named the #1 Sports Columnist in the Nation by the Associated Press Sports Editors (APSE) 13 times. In June, 2010, he received the APSE Red Smith Award for lifetime achievement, the biggest prize in sports journalism, and in June 2013, he was inducted into the Sportswriters Hall of Fame.

He is the author of eight bestselling books, with five debuting at #1 on the New York Times Best Seller List, including The First Phone Call from Heaven; Have A Little Faith; The Five People You Meet in Heaven and its sequel, The Next Person You Meet in Heaven. Albom is currently developing an hour-long drama series based on the novels for FOX.

His bestseller, Finding Chika: A Little Girl, an Earthquake, and Making of a Family, is the true story of Chika, a young Haitian orphan whose short life would forever change Albom’s heart. Albom’s latest book, The Stranger in the Lifeboat, will be available for sale immediately following the April 20th event and Mr. Albom will gladly sign them.  

Albom hosts two radio shows on WJR-AM and has appeared on The Today Show, Oprah, and CBS Sunday Morning. His articles have been featured in The New York Times, GQ and Sports Illustrated.    

Tickets for “An Evening with Mitch Albom” are $55 and are available by visiting the Hospice of the Sacred Heart website (HospiceSacredHeart.org) or at the Theater at North box office. Box office hours are Tuesday and Wednesday 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Thursday 3 to 6 p.m. and the evening of the show starting at 5 p.m.

National Nutrition Month

By Dr. C. Kilduff, DO

March is National Nutrition Month, and many of us know what to do with our nutrition but we rarely do it. One of the most important tips for good nutrition is to be vigilant about hydration and to drink plenty of water. 

Drinking water also has the positive effect of filling your stomach so you will be less hungry during your meals. Now is the hard part and it goes against most of our NEPA heritages, Portion Control…

Think of it this way, cut your plate in half on the left side, and make sure that entire side (50%) is composed of non-starch vegetables and/or low-sugar fruits. On the right side, cut that in half again, the top quarter (25%) should be lean protein and the bottom quarter (25%) should be fiber rich carbohydrates (legumes or whole grain based). This really leaves no room for our beloved pasta, white bread and potatoes. 

Compare this to your last restaurant visit, where most like the protein was the largest portion and the vegetables were the smallest, correct? An easy fix here is to drop the carbs and ask for double vegetables. As always. change usually happens slowly but if you can start applying these principles your overall health will improve.

NOTE: Dr. Kilduff is Medical Director of Hospice of the Sacred Heart

$3,000 grant for Hospice of the Sacred Heart

Hospice of the Sacred Heart recently received a grant for $3,000 from the Robert H. Spitz Foundation, administered by the Scranton Area Community Foundation. The grant will cover a portion of operating expenses due to the loss of volunteer hours and other COVID-19-related expenses.

The Robert H. Spitz Foundation primarily awards grants to registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations that support initiatives and programs serving the residents of Lackawanna County and Northeastern Pennsylvania.

Shown from left: Cathy Fitzpatrick, Grants and Scholarships Manager, Scranton Area Community Foundation, Diane Baldi, CEO, Hospice of the Sacred Heart, Brittany Pagnotti, Community Manager, Scranton Area Community Foundation, and Frank Caputo, Grants and Communication Coordinator, Scranton Area Community Foundation