Community Foundation Appears in Natural Gas Documentary

April 9, 2010: We're pleased to announce the world premier of a new documentary film entitled Gas Odyssey directed by Los Angeles film maker Aaron Price that investigates the new natural gas exploration occuring in northeastern Pennsylvania and southern New York. Some of you may have recently seen TV news coverage about the film.

Community Foundation President, Peter Quigg, was among the local citizens interviewed by Mr. Price, with his segment focusing on how proceeds from natural gas have benefited charitable and educational endeavors. In the last 14 months The Community Foundation of Susquehanna & Wyoming Counties has received $140,000 in donations attributed to natural gas lease signing bonus payments. These donations have enhanced existing endowments or created new ones that are providing support for two churches, a hospital, a library, a college scholarship, a Donor Advised Fund that provides annual flexibility for charitable support, and our own K-12 Scholarship Program for students from low and moderate income households.

We are aware of two other people from our region who also appear in the film; namely William Bush, Superintendent of the Elk Lake School District which has signed a gas lease, and Ryan Stalker, Director of the Lackawanna College New Milford Center which has developed a natural gas industries curriculum to train local students for employment in the field. Others from Pennsylvania and New York were also interviewed for their views and reactions to local natural gas exploration.

The film will premier on Friday evening April 16th at 7:00 PM at West Middle School on West Middle Avenue in Binghamton, NY, with a reception to follow afterwards. Admission is $10.00.

We hope to see you there.