Force of Inspiration!

Let’s hear another round of applause for former Catherine McAuley Center Board member Mary-Pat Ward who received the Margaretta Belin Chamberlain Award from the Scranton Area Community Foundation’s Women in Philanthropy organization in a virtual ceremony in October.

The honor is awarded to women philanthropists who exhibit commitment to community, vision and innovation, tolerance and sensitivity, achievement of goals, and leadership in the empowerment of women and girls.

The award program can still be viewed online: Click HERE.

The Margaretta Belin Chamberlin award presentation begins at the 25-minute mark includes an introduction by Kathleen Graff and Ann MacGregor and the nomination by Catherine McAuley Center executive director Krisa Somers before Mary-Pat’s gracious and heart-warming acceptance.

The story of her journey from homelessness as a single mother to her current position as deputy director of economic and community development for the City of Scranton also inspired an article in the Scranton Times-Tribune by staff writer Ann Siock titled “Scranton mother rises from homelessness to leadership role” on Oct. 25.

There, Ward is quoted as saying, “So many women who are in need feel like it’s their choices and decisions that led them there and, ultimately, it’s like a punishment — it’s like what you deserve. And I wanted to change that story, and the Catherine McCauley Center allowed me to do that by letting me share my story.”

Thank you and congratulations Mary-Pat !!!

Leadership Lackawanna, a program of The Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce, selected the Catherine McAuley Center’s proposal to create an Outdoor Learning and Activity Center as its Core Program Project for 2019-2020. The activity center will provide opportunities for our mothers and children to spend time and interact with one another in an environment that is safe and stimulating. This is especially important during the summer months when our children do not have the benefit of structured learning activities provided in school and their families lack the resources to enroll them in camp. Installation of the project was delayed upon COVID-19 social distancing guidelines, but project volunteers and McAuley Center staff came together to finish their plan on Aug. 19, 2020. This video documents that assembly.

The Catherine McAuley Center's Pay-What-You-Can Yard Sale on Saturday, July 11, 2020 was featured on WNEP-TV 16.

Executive Director Krista Somers and the Catherine McAuley Center were featured in The Scranton Times-Tribune's "In Times of Need" column on Wednesday, July 8, 2020.

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