Leroy and Patricia Spoor, Wayne County Community Foundation, Ben Franklin Community Service Award.

The Wayne County Community Foundation Board of Directors is proud to select Leroy and Patricia Spoor to receive its highest recognition, the 2011 Ben Franklin Award for Community Service. The Award is named in honor of one of our country’s “Founding Fathers,” Benjamin Franklin. With the selection goes a grant from the Foundation’s Ben Franklin Fund of $1,000 to a charity of Mr. and Mrs. Spoor’s choosing.

The selection was made by the Foundation Board in recognition of Leroy and Pat’s years of service to their community. They have a combined list of service of truly incredibly diverse and extensive. To highlight some …Leroy is (or was) a member of the following Boards: Human Resources Center; Wayne County Habitat for Humanity; Wayne Memorial Hospital and Honesdale Borough Council. He has served as President of the Honesdale Lions Club, the Wayne Chapter of the PA Association of School Retirees, the Beech Grove Grange, and the Honesdale Jaycees. He has been a Red Cross Blood Service Volunteer for seventeen years and has donated almost 16 gallons of Blood. He is the recipient of the B’nai Brith Community Service Award and the State Retirees Board Commendation and is a member of the Wayne County Sports Hall of Fame.

While Pat also has an extensive list of Community Service involvement, she has been particularly dedicated to promoting music and the arts in her community. She has directed the Wayne Choralaires for the past 14 years and has served as that organizations accompanist over the past 40 years. She was instrumental in the founding of the Young Artist Showcase and is a Director for the organization. She served as the organist and choir director for First Presbyterian Church for 11 years; a Board Member of the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association for 19years and has been a member of American Choral Directors Association for 24 years. In 1992 she was the recipient of the PMEA District #9 Elementary Music Educator of the Year and in 2008, received the John Dillon Award (PA Association of School Retirees) for Volunteer of the year.

Leroy and Pat are the proud parents of nine children and proud grandparents of thirteen grandchildren.

The Wayne County Community Foundation will host a dinner in honor of Mr. and Mrs. Spoor on Thursday, November 17^th at Ehrhardt’s Waterfront Banquet Center. For more information please call 499-4299 for dinner reservations. A Commemorative Booklet is also being produced to honor Leroy and Pat. If you would like to place an ad call 499-4299 (1/4 page – $35; ½ page $60 – full page $100).

Shown in picture L to R: Emily Montgomery (Michael's Sister); Jack Montgomery; Susan Herrick, Grant Recipient; Zach Bryant (Michael's Brother); Abraham Bryant; Front Row. Caleb Bryant and Elyse Montgomery

The Michael Bryant Memorial Fund recently awarded grants to special needs individuals and organizations in Wayne County.  This is the second year that the Fund has awarded such grants. The Fund is used to provide non-traditional funding for special needs individuals in Wayne County.  Because of the generosity of Michael’s family and friends the fund is growing permitting larger grant amounts to the many agencies and individuals who apply.   The Fund in Association with the Wayne County Community Foundation awarded four grants this year.  The winners were as follows:  The Dyberry Day Camp; Susan Herrick, Music Therapist for the Wallenpaupack Area School District; Michael Phillips (in association with Wayne County MH/MR); and Alana Beusse  (in association with Wayne County MH/MR).

Pictured L to R: Paul Edwards, Wayne County Community Foundation Executive Director; LeeAnn Long, Liu Scholarship Winner; Vicky Botjer, Wayne County Community Foundation President.

Drs. Philip and Rosita Liu have created a scholarship to assist motivate Wayne County high school graduates to enter the health care filed.  The Doctors are grateful to God, their parents, teachers, friends, professional colleagues, their patients and the Wayne County Community Foundation who have made this worthy cause possible.  They wish to be able through incremental acts of kindness and generosity to offer inspiration and motivation to the next generation of health care leaders.

Pictured l to r: Mr. and Mrs. George Piercy, Seelyville Union Sunday School; Rebecca Farrell, Scholarship Winner; Ann O'Hara, Wayne County Community Foundation.

The Seelyville Union Sunday School in association with the Wayne County Community Foundation awarded its first scholarship to Rebecca Farrell a graduate of the Canaan Christian Academy.  The Scholarship created by the Seelyville Union Sunday School was established to support students to pursue a career in a field related to Christian missionary vocation.  Rebecca, the Daughter of Patrick and Sarah Farrell, will attend Clearwater Christian College to major in Pre Med and Biology.  In her scholarship application she expressed her goal; “In becoming a doctor I wish to be able to work for a Missionary agency and go on mission trip to other countries as well as to low income areas here in the states.  I am not looking for the biggest paycheck, but the best reward in the people that I get to help.”  At Canaan Christian Academy she participated in soccer, basketball, track, Student Government, Honor Society and received the “Highest Average” Award.  This summer we will work with the Summer Missionary program for Child Evangelism Fellowship.

Pictured l. to r.: Paul Edwards, Foundation Executive Director; Mr. William Keyes, Scholarship Winner.

The Honesdale Lions Club in Association with the Wayne County Community Foundation recently awarded its first scholarship.  The Scholarship is  entitled, “The Merle and Earl Walters and Honesdale Lion’s Club Vision Scholarship.” The funds for this scholarship were given by Mr. Earl Walters in memory of his wife, Merle, who had lost her vision.  The original gift that Mr. Walters gave the Honesdale Lions Club was used to help those suffering eye injuries or diseases.  The conversion of the fund to a scholarship was very unique in that it may be awarded to either a recent high school graduate or one that will finish college and begin their training in the field of optometry, ophthalmology or special education vision therapy. The first scholarship winner was William Keyes a 3rd year Optometry student at Ohio State University.  Will is the son of John and Susan Keyes, Aldenville.

L to R.: Mr. William Davis, Wayne Bank: Mrs. Vicky Botjer, WCCF President; Lou Critelli, Wayne Bank.

The Wayne County Community Foundation has received Re-Authorization as an approved Educational Improvement Organization. The Foundation has been added to the list of organizations to which businesses in the county may make contributions and be considered for Educational Improvement Tax Credits from the Commonwealth of PA for Fiscal Year 2011-12. Seventeen unique, innovative and academic challenging programs established by Wayne County School District’s have been approved by the state for funding. Some of these program are BizTown (Junior Achievement); Middle School Economics Instruction; Enhancing Instruction with SMART Board Technology; and Technology Enhanced High School Science Instruction (AP Biology/Chemistry). Businesses participating and contributing last year were The Honesdale National Bank; The Wayne Bank; The Dime Bank; Waste Management; First National Community Bank and Penn Star Bank. The Foundation would like to express its thanks to these fine business organizations and the school districts as well for their input and cooperation.

Pictured l. to r.: "Edwin Thomas Memorial Scholarship Winners."Robert Kramer, Scholarship Committee Chairman; Keith Mattern, Western Wayne; Jessica Flynn, Wallenpaupack; Sara Musetti, Honesdale; Edwin and Evelyn Thomas (Mr. Thomas' son and daughter)

On Friday, June 17, 2011, the Wayne County Community Foundation held its annual Scholarship Awards Program. Attending the event was the Scholarship winners, their families, Wayne County Community Foundation Scholarship Board Committee; and honored guests who have created scholarships. In total the Foundation presented twenty-five scholarships that amounted to $40,500 in awards. Members of the Board Committee are: Robert Kramer (Chair), Kuni Holbert, Patricia Mohn, Paul Meagher, Bill Gershey, and Sharon Herzog. The Foundation would like to congratulate all the winners and pay particular thanks to those individuals who have seen fit to create scholarships to help worthy students.

Pictured l to r: Jerri Spinoza, Selection Committee; Melissa Short, Scholarship Winner; Jerry and Marilyn Swendsen; Joseph Podrasky, Selection Committee

Melissa Short is the inaugural recipient of the Summer Music Camp Grant awarded by the Wayne County Community Foundation. This annual $500 grant is awarded on a competitive basis to a student who will attend a summer program in the performing arts.

Melissa will attend the Mansfield University’s Instrumental Summer Camp where she will receive private lessons on her primary instrument, the flute, and also play in various ensemble settings. Working with various professors and other accomplished students will allow her to explore a potential career in music education.

The Summer Music Camp Grant is offered by the Marilyn and Jerry Swendsen GGH Fund to students of the Wayne Highlands School District. The award is based on the musical accomplishments evidenced by participation in scholastic and PMEA activities and performances in the greater Honesdale Community. Joseph Podrasky, Peter Swendsen and Geri Spinosa comprised the volunteer selection committee for this year’s award.

On Saturday, July 30, 2011 members of the “O’Neill Society” were guests of the Foundation at the Wildflower Music Festival Concert, “Oh What a Time.” In attendance were Mr. and Mrs. William Davis; Mr. and Mrs. Paul Meagher; Mr. and Mrs. Ronald Rowe; Mr. and Mrs. Anthony Herzog; Mr. and Mrs. Robert Zabady; Mr. and Mrs; Paul Edwards; Mr. and Mrs. Daniel O’Neill; Mr. and Mrs. Jim Chapman; Mrs. Vicky Botjer; Mrs. Ann O’Hara; and Attorney Warren Schloesser.

The O’Neill Society recognizes those donors who have invested in the future of our county by naming the Wayne County Community Foundation as a beneficiary of their estate plans. The name honors Dan O’Neill long-time community activist and Foundation Board Member.

Funds benefited by estate plans can support any charitable cause or organization including the Foundation itself, and can work to benefit the county in perpetuity long after the lives of the donors.

The selection was made by the Board of the Wayne County Community Foundation in recognition of Harold’s years of service to his community. Harold, also affectionately known as Shooky, went into business in 1969 at the Andres Hotel (the Pub) and in 1971 opened Shooky’s Distributors. In 1987 he opened the Lake Region IGA and recently the Lake Region Complex. His supermarket received the Five Star Award from the IGA Corporation which is their highest rating. Part of that recognition was based on his extensive community service. Giving back to the community has always been something that he and his family have taken pride in. To date through is contributions and funds raised by their store programs, golf tournaments, bike runs, car shows and kidsfest, he has returned over $250,000 to the community. Additionally, he and his family founded the Lake Region Community Dock Foundation as a way of helping non-profit organizations in the community and to also help families who are experiencing “hard-times.” Funding for this program comes from his practice of contributing two cents from every sale of every IGA product sold…and those two cents add up!

Of his generosity, Harold states: “We are so fortunate! The community with their support has made our business what it is and there is no better feeling than when someone walks up to you and says, ‘thank you, you hardly know me but you really have helped us through a very tough time in our life.’ That says it all!” The Foundation believes it also and is proud to make this Award to Harold Shook.

Harold is the son of Harry and Agnes Shook. He is one of five children, three sisters – Mary Bolton, Arlene Kennedy, Lorraine Bachman and brother, Garry. He graduated from Hawley High School, attended the University of Scranton and served six years in the PA National Guard. He is married to his wife, Anita, for forty-nine years. They have three sons, John, Jim and Jeff.

The Foundation will host of dinner to honor Harold on Thursday, November 11, 2010 to be held at the Inn at Woodloch Pines. Additionally, the Foundation is preparing a commemorative booklet for Harold. Tickets or ads may be purchased by contacting the Wayne County Community Foundation at 570-251-9993.