Foundation honors ‘Spirit’

BY STACI WILSON

The Community Foundation began serving Susquehanna County about 17 years ago.

The foundation grew to handle charitable giving and endowments in two counties, then five and now works as the Community Foundation of the Endless Mountains on behalf of philanthropists from around the world to manage their charitable goals.

But on Thursday, Nov. 19, Community Foundation board members and staff stepped back to look at their early years. And in the spirit of the Thanksgiving season, the support and efforts of individuals and organizations was honored at the inaugural “Spirit of the Endless Mountains” awards reception.

Awards were presented to Debra Dissinger of Peoples Security Bank & Trust; Cabot Oil & Gas Corporation; and the Giangrieco Law Firm.

William Lewis, a founding director of the Foundation, said the nights awards were about “vision.”
“People in this room stepped up early to make the organization what it is today,” Lewis said.

Community Foundation President Peter Quigg said the Giangrieco Law Firm, “exhibited confidence in our work here.”

The firm helped to establish the foundation’s largest charitable endowment. “They were confident in our ability to help with their clients’ goals,” Quigg said.

In addition to that fund, Michael Giangrieco and his family and staff also established funds to benefit college-bound Blue Ridge students; animal welfare; and to support a health and wellness initiative at Choconut Valley Elementary.

Dissinger was described by Quigg as a woman who works behind the scenes to have a tremendous impact.

In the early years, she introduced the Community Foundation to the Education Assistance Tax Credit program. In the past 10 years, the Foundation has awarded more the $2 million in scholarship assistance to thousands of students.

The seeds planted by Dissinger have grown to benefit students and programs across the state. “Without you, it wouldn’t exist,” Quigg said.

Dissinger has also been a part of the Women Helping Women program.

Cabot Oil & Gas was recognized for their partnership with the Foundation in advancing the Endless Mountains Health Systems building project.

Quigg described Cabot’s project with the hospital as “remarkable – truly remarkable.”

He described a meeting with Cabot President Dan Dinges after the community match had exceeded its goal by $200,000.

“Without batting an eye, (Dinges) said, ‘We’ll match that $200,000,’” Quigg said. “It was an indication of your involvement here.”

He also noted other community programs and projects the company has supported, including the EITC program where Cabot has worked with the Susquehanna County Career and Technology Center for a number of years to provide consistent and helpful scholarships for students.

“I’m proud you chose us to work with; and appreciate your investment with the community at large,” Quigg said to Cabot’s George Stark.

Community Foundation Chairman Earle Wootton also presented an award to Quigg. “The Community Foundation would not be here in its present form without Peter,” he said.

Lewis presented awards to Earle and June Wootton. He described a visit with an early donor who told him an organization like the Community Foundation needed three kinds of people to be successful: workers, wisdom, and wealth. “After working with Earle all these years I’ve learned that with him, you get all three. Thank you for creating this organization.”

Wootton said, “It’s been a great privilege to develop an organization I believe in and continues to have a great benefit in the communities it serves.”

And although receiving an award could be interpreted as a symbol of a “job well done,” Wootton said, “June and I look at it as ‘That’s for a job well begun.’”