The Millennium Circle Fund of The Luzerne Foundation was created by a special group of donors whose one- time gifts of $2,000 play a pivotal role in helping The Luzerne Foundation identify unmet community needs. The ultimate goal is to have 2,000 members and a fund that would support the community with grants of $200,000 or more each year.
Join the Millennium Circle!
If you’d like to join or if you’d like more information, download the Millennium Circle Brochure or call us at 570-822-2065.
The COVID-19 Pandemic has rendered us many challenges and has limited our ability to hold social gatherings, but one thing COVID-19 cannot do is prevent us from being… Here for Good.
As a Millennium Circle Member, you already understand what it means to be our community’s eyes and ears. Now more than ever, WE NEED YOU, and our nonprofit organizations need your nomination.
2021 Millennium Circle Fund Grant Recipient
Members of The Millennium Circle Fund of The Luzerne Foundation awarded a $25,000 grant to Fork Over Love after listening intently to six presentations before casting their vote. With the 2021 grant award considered, the Millennium Circle Fund has awarded $439,000 in grant funding since its inception in 2001.“We are beyond excited to receive the Millennium Circle 2021 grant from The Luzerne Foundation. This is not just a win for Fork Over Love, this is a win for the entire community. The money we receive will help us continue to our mission to nourish the community by strengthening our small, independent restaurants as we pay them to provide hot, nutritious takeout meals that we can then distribute to our neighbors for free. Fork Over Love is proof positive that together we can create a new system of care, one that satisfies everyone’s hunger for food, connection, belonging, love.” commented , Tracey Selingo, Founder and Chair of Fork Over Love.
“Although the COVID pandemic has altered our lives, it cannot change the commitment of our Millennium Circle members. Many thanks to everyone who came to the luncheon. Six incredible presentations captured the most significant needs in Luzerne County. After thoughtful consideration, The Millennium Circle membership voted and awarded Fork Over Love the $25,000 grant. Many thanks to all of the charities for their participation, and congratulations to Fork Over Love on being selected as the 2021 Grant Recipient,” said C. David Pedri, Esq., President & CEO.
About Fork Over Love…
Fork Over Love (FOL) is a 100% volunteer- and donation-based 501(c)(3) dedicated to changing the narrative on food insecurity in Luzerne County by elevating all who are struggling with a new system of community care.
To this end, FOL solicits the help of the community to strengthen our small, independent restaurant community by paying them to provide hot, nutritious takeout meals that are then distributed to the entire community for free so that our food-insecure neighbors can access healthy meals with absolute dignity and no stigma or shame.
FOL believes that food is the foundation of a healthy life and that restaurants are the foundation of a healthy, culturally diverse community.
By investing in our restaurants to feed our people, we know that we are creating a socially innovative and responsible solution to nourish our entire community with dignity, grace, and power—physically, mentally, emotionally, socially, culturally, and economically.
Since its inception on January 8, 2021, FOL has held 41 free community dinners throughout Luzerne County, reinvested over $130,000 in the restaurant community, and served over 13,000 meals by engaging 60 restaurants, 30 host sites, and over 130 volunteers.
2019 Millennium Circle Fund Grant Recipient
A History of Making a Difference
Over the past decade the Millennium Circle Fund has granted over $414,000 to nonprofit organizations throughout Luzerne County. Previous recipients:
| 2020 | $25,000 | Volunteers in Medicine |
| 2019 | $25,000 | CASA of Luzerne County |
| 2018 | $25,000 | United Way of Wyoming Valley – Nurse’s Pantry |
| 2017 | $25,000 | Brandon’s Forever Home – After school Tutoring and Family Meal Program |
| 2016 | $22,000 | The Hope Center of Wyoming Valley to expand Dental and Free Clinics for the Uninsured & Underinsured |
| 2015 | $20,000 | CEO (Commission on Economic Opportunity) – Food 4 Kids Weekends Backpack Program |
| 2014 | $20,000 | $10,000 to Volunteers of America/Ruth’s Place for shelter expansion $10,000 to CEO (Commission on Economic Opportunity) Monsignor Andrew J. McGowan Center for Healthy Living |
| 2013 | $20,000 | Family Service Association of NEPA for the Help Line to “Dial 211” Conversion |
| 2012 | $20,000 | Anti-Bullying Coalition of Luzerne County |
| 2011 | $20,000 | Commission on Economic Opportunity’s Dinners for Kids Program |
| 2010 | $20,000 | Family Service Association of Wyoming Valley for their Help Line program |
| 2009 | $22,000 | Ruth’s Place Homeless Women’s Shelter in Wilkes-Barre for renovation of new location |
| 2008 | $30,000 | Care & Concern Ministries in Pittston for facilities enhancement for program services |
| 2007 | $30,000 | Volunteers in Medicine, a program providing health care services to our “working poor,” as well as other uninsured and under-insured area residents |
| 2006 | $25,000 | Luzerne-Wyoming Counties’ Drug and Alcohol Program for prevention services delivered in all public school districts within Luzerne County |
| 2005 | $20,000 | McGlynn Learning Center for education programs provided to at-risk children who reside in Wilkes-Barre |
| 2004 | $15,000 | Friday’s Child, a program available to autistic children and directed by the Jewish Community Center, Wilkes-Barre |
| 2003 | $10,000 | Candy’s Place, a community support center for cancer patients and their loved ones |
| 2002 | $10,000 | Diamond City Partnership for Downtown Wilkes-Barre revitalization |
| 2001 | $10,000 | 28 “Follow Your Dreams” motivational presentations held at local high schools |
