Pocono Health Foundation recently celebrated its 24th Annual Grant Reception to award over $150,000 to various community organizations and local students.

"For 24 years, Pocono Health Foundation has provided grants and scholarships to invest in improving the quality of life for those who reside and visit this great area. The grants and scholarships have been made possible by a generous community who partner with our Foundation so that local organizations can offer new, innovative health and wellness programs and support the education of tomorrow's health care professionals." said Steve Cunningham, Sr. Vice President and Chief Business Development Officer at Pocono Medical Center.The 16 Monroe County community organizations that were honored through the Dr. Alberta Finch Children's Health Endowment Fund and the Dr. Claus G. Jordan Endowment Fund include the American Red Cross, Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Bridge, Meals on Wheels of Monroe County, Salvation Army of East Stroudsburg and more.As a result of the R. Dale Hughes Nursing Scholarship Endowment, Jennie Cramer Memorial Nursing Scholarship, Robert A. Gordon Memorial Nursing Scholarship ($20,800) Dr. Elmo J. Lilli Healthcare Scholarship ($2,000) and the Sean P. Cunningham Memorial Scholarship Endowment ($6,000) the following students from northeastern Pennsylvania schools received scholarships:Caroline Gillenkirk, Shana Mraz, Mackenzie Steudler, Tracy Vishnesky, Larissa McNeill-Glowinski, and Shanice Lyle.Pocono Medical Center's I Need A Hero event has supported local area EMS through education, training, and equipment. The following are the recipients of the I Need A Hero Fund: Bushkill Emergency Corps, Pocono Mountain Regional EMS, Suburban EMS, and the West End Community Ambulance Association.The Valerie M. Hodge Memorial Pediatric Dental Center, providing dental care for the uninsured and underinsured of Monroe County, has also raised a total of $7,200 through the Valerie M. Hodge Memorial Pediatric Dental Center Endowment. In addition to these grants and scholarships, a PMC physician received a grant from the William B. Cramer Medical Staff Equipment Endowment to improve the medical services provided to the community.The Pocono Health Foundation Endowment also provided funding to Eastern PA Medcom to support the Medcom ALS communication fees needed for all four EMS squads serving Pocono Medical Center."Pocono Health Foundation is an integral part of Pocono Medical Center's mission to deliver high quality and compassionate care close to home," said Dr. Charles K. Herman, Chief Medical Executive, Chair of Surgery, Chief of Plastic Surgery at Pocono Medical Center and Chair of the Pocono Health Foundation board of directors.