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Blogger turned New York Times best-selling author Mandy Hale once said, “There is nothing more beautiful than someone who goes out of their way to make life beautiful for others.”

Hale is an inspirational writer, encouraging others to live their best lives through her witty wording and humorous anecdotes.

I happened upon the aforementioned quote a few days ago. How true it is, I thought. I find myself admiring those who do good for others and who take time to listen to others’ needs.

On Tuesday night, there was no shortage of this kind of beauty at Glenmaura National Golf Club either. The 2019 Outreach Awards took place, hosted by Lavelle Strategy Group of Scranton and Outreach staffers, including Executive Director Linda Ciampi.

The second year for the event, it featured a cocktail reception, awards ceremony and all-out celebration with music and dinner under a white tent on Glenmaura’s property.

The 2019 Outreach Award was given to Bob Durkin of The Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce, who was delighted to receive such an honor.

Bob Adcroft, a longtime part of the local media brethren, received the 2019 Outreach Media Award and Mary Rhodes was honored with the 2019 Outreach Spirit Award.

Aside from that, Helen Lavelle made sure to thank all of the media in attendance and gave plaques to each company there.

Despite all of the awards and celebrating, the mission of the night was clear: help 5,000 families in need this year. Outreach serves that many annually, so the Outreach Awards signifies the kickoff of the campaign. By donating $100, you can help one family in need.

These families need help with life skills, literacy, employment training, parenting, education, behavioral health, youth mentoring and more. The goal of Outreach is to build strong families, which in turn build communities.

The following evening our Wilkes-Barre POWER! group helped another nonprofit at our monthly event: Breathe Deep NEPA.

Their annual walk at Kirby Park, which has a goal to raise $20,000, is being held this weekend on Sunday (today) at 10 a.m., and participants can simply show up to register.

Breathe Deep NEPA supports LUNGevity, the national organization focused on research and aid for lung cancer patients and families.

At Wednesday’s POWER! meeting at Canteen Park on Market Street in Kingston, we had a 50/50 and basket raffle, as well as made a separate donation, in order to help the cause.

Finally, Friday wrapped up with “Float Friday” at the Café – An American Bistro on Route 315 in Plains Township, where JR’s Ice Cream Truck had ice cream for patio guests, which can be alcohol-induced with libations from the full-service bar if you so choose.

The Café recently launched a new list of featured nights, including Tequila Tuesdays with $5 tacos, Wine Down Wednesdays with 25% off any glass or bottle of wine and Thursday burgers and beer with a $5 Café Burger and $2 Coors Light drafts.

The Woodlands, which if you’re a regular reader you know is near and dear to my heart, is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, so an anniversary party on the property was another Friday night stop as well.

If you’ve read today’s column to the end, you’re probably wondering how I make time to do all of this. All I can say is I truly believe life is beautiful, and we’re lucky to have all these opportunities to live it.

If we can do some good along the way as well, that makes it even better.

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Mike McGinley

Around Town

Mike McGinley is the Times Leader Media Group’s major accounts executive. Reach him at [email protected] or 570-704-3945.