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PLAINS TWP. — While everyone has likely been looking forward to spring, the Family Service Association of NEPA has its own reason to be excited, as the season means its time for the association’s annual Spring Fling event.
The event was held at The Woodlands Inn and Resort, and serves as one of the most important fundraising opportunities for the FSA each year.
Hundreds of guests milled around one of the event space’s ballrooms, taking part in a silent auction that directly benefits the association.
Later on the evening, a not-so-silent auction was held, with the event’s master of ceremonies, Rabbi Larry Kaplan, auctioning off a series of vacation packages that had been donated to the event, punctuating the auction with his trademark humor.
But it wasn’t all about laughs — Kaplan highlighted the important work done by the nonprofit organization, which provides families and children in Northeastern Pennsylvania with a wide range of services, from counseling to guardianship and everything in between.
Kaplan summed the FSA up succinctly: “It works, it really works.”
Much of the event’s program focused around honoring two individuals who the FSA felt provided significant work for families and children in our area.
Suzanne M. Kapral, director of development and marketing for The Lands at Hillside Farms, was honored with the Anna Bertels Community Service Award.
Kapral, who started a Grief Camp program at Hillside Farms to help children dealing with grief, said it was a significant honor to be recognized. Kapral said her program has made significant impacts in the lives of the kids involved.
“We’re doing something right and it’s working,” she said.
Kapral also encouraged those in attendance to step out of their comfort zone and do volunteer work, not just making donations.
“Time in the trenches is soul-work,” she said. “What you receive will feed you, fulfill you and it will help sustain you.”
Attorney General Josh Shapiro was honored with the John N. Conygham Leadership Award. While Shapiro could not be in attendance, he did send a video message, thanking the FSA for their hard work and for the honor.
Shapiro talked at length about the recent report from his office on child sex abuse at the hands of Catholic clergy, saying that he’s inspired by the strength of survivors and those who help them heal.
“Through your work, you bring healing,” Shapiro said.
