Community Foundation Staff Appointed to State Committees

May 26, 2009: Two senior staff members of The Community Foundation of Susquehanna & Wyoming Counties have recently been asked to serve on state-wide committees regarding charitable endeavors. Foundation Chairman, Earle Wootton, has been selected by the Community Foundations for Pennsylvania to chair the newly formed Marcellus Committee. This committee is investigating the benefit that oil and gas exploration has had upon non-profit and charitable organizations in various locations of the United States. Two topics of interest include partnering with gas companies for community projects, and also providing tax benefits to those leasing their mineral rights and how they can also benefit the communities in which they live. To date, organizations in Texas have been contacted for information about how they best manage charitable donations related to petroleum exploration. More specifically, in recent months The Community Foundation itself has received $138,000 in gas related donations that enhanced or established endowments supporting a local hospital, a library, two churches, a college scholarship, and The Foundation's low-income K-12 Scholarship Program.

Additionally, Community Foundation President, Peter Quigg, as been asked to a three-year seat on the Pennsylvania 4-H Development Council whose purpose is to work toward endowing Pennsylvania 4-H forever through the creation of local and statewide endowments. The council's current project is to increase members in the 4-H Keystone Society, which recognizes donors who make gifts to any Pennsylvania 4-H endowment. Currently The Community Foundation manages one Donor-Advised Fund that could provide assistance to 4-H chapters in Wyoming County. This appointment is seen as an important opportunity to serve our rural area as a partner with Penn State University on this project. Mr. Quigg will be responsible for development projects in Lackawanna, Luzerne, Susquehanna, Wayne, and Wyoming Counties. "Peter brings fundraising expertise from the community foundation perspective which will help to strengthen the 4-H youth development program," noted Eric McGinnis, head of fundraising for Penn State Cooperative Extension. "We are excited to bring him into the fold." The Community Foundation is very pleased to participate in these state and national projects to help better serve our local communities. For more information about The Marcellus Committee and The 4-H Development Council please contact The Community Foundation at 570-278-3800 or Foundation@epix.net.