LUZERNE COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION
CHARITABLE FOUNDATION, INC.

Our Mission...

The Wilkes-Barre Law and Library Association founded and incorporated the Luzerne County Bar Association Charitable Foundation, Inc. in October 2003 with the intent to promote the Wilkes-Barre Law and Library Association and the image of the Luzerne County Lawyers.

The Luzerne County Bar Association Charitable Foundation will support charitable and humanitarian projects throughout Luzerne County, Pennsylvania to provide support for law related projects, publications and education.

The Foundation will enhance the public’s understanding and appreciation of the legal system in Luzerne County, ensure access to legal information and representation to all members of the Luzerne County community and foster good relations between members of the Bar, Judiciary and the public. The Foundation vows to do this among it’s other activities in furtherance of its charitable mission.

With Your Kindness...

Your donation can be made in honor of a loved one who has passed, someone who has reached a milestone in life, a wedding, graduation, a new practice, or you may make a donation to the Foundation as part of an estate plan.

With your kind and generous contributions, the Luzerne County Bar Association will make a donation to a non-profit organization annually. With this, the association hopes to better the community as well as enhance the image of the Luzerne County Lawyers.

All donations will be acknowledged to the donor and to the donee or donee’s family and will be published in the Luzerne Legal Register, listed in the Law Library archives and posted on the website. The amount of the donation will not be listed.

Board Of Directors
William F. Anzalone, Esq.
Joseph P.J. Burke III, Esq.
Michael I. Butera, Esq.
Joseph M. Cosgrove, Esq.
Paula C. DeJoseph, Esq.
Debra Bolus Grosek, Esq.
Sheila L. Saidman, Esq.
Robert D. Schaub, Esq.
Joseph J. Van Jura, Esq.

The Time to Begin...
There is never a better time than now to donate to the Luzerne County Bar Association. Your donation will benefit many; you, the lawyers and of course, the charities that the Association donates to. Please download the donation form and mail it to the Foundation.

Foundation Submission Process
The Foundation is in the process of preparing a formal submission process. In the meanwhile, if your charity is a registered 501 (c) non-profit corporation and would like to be considered for an award, your charity should submit a written letter outlining the amount that is needed and the description of the program that you would like to see considered for funding.

Timetable of Awards
The Foundation will review all charitable requests received for the calendar year each May, and shall present all charity awards in July to each of the charities at its July Summer Outing.

Foundation Kicks Off The Erie Railroad Company v. Harry Tompkins – Maysie Bicycle Program

As part of a celebration leading up to the 70 th Anniversary of the United States Supreme Court’s decision of the landmark case of Erie Railroad Company v. Tompkins, 304 U.S. 64 (1938), the Luzerne County Bar Association Charitable Foundation has created the Erie Railroad Company v. Harry Tompkins Maysie Bicycle Program to give bicycles to needy children through local community charities. The first award of these bicycles are being made in 2007 for Harry Tompkins’ 100 th Birthday.

Click here to read about the background on Harry Tompkins, his very important case, and the Maysie Bicycle Program.

A total of fourteen bicycles have been slated to be given away for the 2007 year. These were secured from and with the help of Sickler’s Bike & Sport Shop in Exeter, PA. The bikes are beautiful. They are all different colors – suitable for both boys and girls.

The first presentation of bicycles was made through the help and efforts of the United Way of Wyoming Valley with assistance from its President, David Lee, and Campaign Director, Kevin Feifer, with final coordination and help being performed by Cathy Faatz. Cathy was instrumental in arranging a formal presentation of the bicycles with recipient children secured through the Big Brothers and Big Sisters program of Catholic Social Services in Wilkes-Barre.

The children and their parents were invited to meet the members of the Board of Directors of our Luzerne County Bar Association Charitable Foundation, which is responsible for creating this wonderful program. A formal reception for this first group of kids was held on Friday, June 22, 2007 at the Catholic Social Services building on Northampton Street in Wilkes-Barre. Lynn Keiser and the staff of Supreme Cuisine prepared some fun treats for the kids. Jack of Photography by Andy took the following photo.

Photo: Standing: with their bicycles: Alexis Footman, Martin Rogers, Mason Murray, and Kyle Footman. Second Row: Cathy Faatz of United Way, Atty. Jennifer L. Rogers; Atty. Michael I. Butera, Lynn Pons of Big Brothers and Big Sisters, Atty. Joseph P.J. Burke III, and Atty. Joseph M. Cosgrove.

(Photo courtesy of Photography by Andy).

Two additional bicycles were also given away through tUnited Way/Big Brothers and Big Sisters program. One was given to Kason James and another was given to John Dulis.

Kason James and his bike.

(Photo courtesy of Nicole Nealon, Big Brothers and Big Sisters)

John Dulis and his bike.

(Photo courtesy of Melanie Borish, Big Brothers and Big Sisters).

A second set of bicycles was presented to the Jewish Community Center on Monday, July 16, 2007 for the use and enjoyment of children at its Day Camp, which is attended by more than four hundred area kids. The camp, located on forty acres in Harvey’s Lake, is a great place for children to have a rural recreational experience without being far from center- city Wilkes-Barre.

The camp is open to any family, regardless of religious affiliation, and provides approximately one hundred scholarships to children whose parents cannot afford it. The camp provides activities for all ages, starting at infants, and even including senior citizens. It operates a day care facility on-site and has an indoor gymnasium, a dining hall, swimming pools, playing fields, hockey rink, tennis courts and provides lake access to Harvey’s Lake. Among the many activities, there are arts and crafts for kids, soccer, baseball, t-ball, kickball, swimming, tennis, archery, and boating. Lunch and healthy snacks are also provided at the camp.

The Maysie Bicycles awarded for use by various children attending the J.C.C. Day Camp were again secured from and with help by Sickler’s. Coordinating the effort was J.C.C. Executive Director, Rick Evans. A few children from the camp got to meet with W-BLLA President, Joe Cosgrove and learned about the Maysie bike story. Some of these kids are shown in the photograph taken by Jack of Photography by Andy, as well as Rick Evans and Adam Seigel of the J.C.C. staff. Adam is the Director of Biking at the Day Camp.

Photo: Seated on bicycles: Michael Obeid, Ross Kleinman, Asa Saidman, Michael Kulick, Mitch Pisarz, and Adam Seigel. Back Row: Rick Evans, Atty. Joseph M. Cosgrove, Atty. Jennifer L. Rogers and Atty. Joseph P. J. Burke III.

Additional news on the Erie Railroad Company v. Harry Tompkins – Maysie Bicycle Program will be posted as it continues to develop.