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Leadership Lackawanna receives $9,000 grant for Survivors Park

Leadership Lackawanna class of 2008-2009 recently received grant funding from the Lackawanna Environmental Conservation and Outdoor Recreation (LECOR) Partnership Program. The $9,000 grant will be used in the revitalization of the Northeast Regional Cancer Institute Cancer Survivors Park at McDade Park

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Shown, front row, from left: Nikki Barber, Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce Community Relations Director; Carolyn Augustyn, Leadership Lackawanna member, CIGNA Healthcare; Robert Durkin, Northeast Regional Cancer Institute President; Melissa Howells, Northeast Regional Cancer Institute Community Outreach Coordinator. Standing: Leadership members Tammy Manka, Marywood University; Stacey Frantz, CIGNA Healthcare; Kristen Sampson, American Red Cross; Theresa Kaplan, The University of Scranton – Small Business Development Center and Kristie Grier Ceruti, The Abington Journal.

Abington Journal/Don McGlynn

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Located at McDade Park in Scranton, the NRCI Cancer Survivors Park was created to provide a physical location at which to display the artwork of individuals who participated in the Survivors Art Therapy Project, conceived by a certified Art Therapist in 1999. The original tiles have endured substantial damage, making a major restoration necessary. “We’re trying to restore the original purpose of the park and that’s to provide a meditative place for cancer survivors,” said Leadership Lackawanna class member Stacey Frantz.

Lackawanna County Commissioners Michael J. Washo, Corey D. O’Brien and A.J. Munchak invested $500,000 to the Lackawanna County Environmental Conservation and Outdoor Recreation Partnership Grant Program for competitive grants . Applicants were eligible for 33 percent funding of a total project cost.

The Leadership Lackawanna group raised $21,000 through fundraising and in-kind donations . The Cancer Survivors Park team conducted fundraising events and an ongoing sponsorship donation drive for the project, which have raised more than $6,000. Events have included: a craft sale at Cigna Healthcare in Moosic, Super-Bowling for a Cause at Idle Hour Lanes in Dickson City, Celebrity Bartending at the Stone Elephant in Olyphant and a Cancer Survivors Night at the Ballpark with the Scranton/ Wilkes-Barre Yankees with special donations from Pennstar Bank.

Melissa Howells of the Northeast Regional Cancer Institute said, “We are very sympathetic over what has happened to the park over the years. We don’t know exactly what the final project will entail, but we want to be faithful to the original design.”

Both monetary and in-kind donations are being accepted . To find out more, visit www.cancersurvivorspark.com.