ESU Selected Partner of the Year for United Way of Monroe County

Posted by: admin on June 10, 2015, No Comments

ESU-Selected-Partner-of-the-Year-for-United-Way-of-Monroe-County
Pictured in photo from left to right starting with the back row are Miguel V. Barbosa, chief of staff at ESU and incoming UWMC board president, Pat Ross, Council of Trustees Chair, Tami Selby, Ph.D., director of institutional research, Denny Douds, head football coach, Tim Kresge, associate director of Human Resources, John Kraybill-Greggo, Ph.D., associate professor and chair of sociology, social work, and criminal justice, Alberto Cardelle, Ph.D., dean of the College of Health Sciences, Chin Hu, Ph.D., associate professor of sociology, and Hooshang Pazaki, Ph.D., professor of sociology.

East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania was selected 2015 Partner of the Year by United Way of Monroe County (UWMC). The award was presented by Michael Albert, executive director of UWMC on June 9 at The Chateau Resort and Conference Center in Tannersville, Pa.

“ESU has been an incredible partner over the last number of years,” Albert said. “We felt so compelled by ESU’s support and dedication to the UWMC, to community service in general, and to helping our county become the best it can be.”

ESU provides the most significant support of any state agency through its annual State Employees Combined Appeal (SECA), and arranges for volunteers for several United Way initiatives. This year 22 ESU students participated in fund distribution, a new record according to Albert.

Faculty volunteered to complete a Monroe County Community Assessment for the United Way board which was led by John Kraybill-Greggo, Ph.D., associate professor and chair of sociology, social work and criminal justice, Chin Hu, Ph.D., associate professor of sociology, Hooshang Pazaki, Ph.D. , professor of sociology, and Alberto Cardelle, Ph.D., dean of the College of Health Sciences.

Two ESU classes worked on projects to assist the United Way this year. A writing class worked to develop a social media plan, website improvements, blogs, flyers and media releases and a math modeling class spent half of the semester analyzing data and researching solutions to help the United Way increase the number of donations they receive.

Casey Cruz, a junior majoring in sociology from Stroudsburg, Pa., worked with volunteer engagement and Katie Lantaff, a 2014 graduate of ESU from Orefield, Pa., helped translate several documents, including the campaign brochure, into Spanish for the first time.

“Our campus community as well as the community-at-large can be extremely proud of the research and work put forth by our students, faculty, and staff” said President Marcia G. Welsh, Ph.D. “These are clear examples of real-world experience that ultimately benefits our neighbors in need. There is no better feeling than making a difference that will ultimately enrich the community we serve, and I know – without a doubt – that we will continue to partner with agencies like the United Way in order to accomplish great things that will benefit Monroe and other surrounding counties.”