Children playing in classroom

$80,000 Raised at Gala

A veritable Lehigh Valley Who’s Who attended the September 7th Donley Awards and Children’s Gala at the Candlelight Inn, raising $80,000 in unrestricted funds for Community Services for Children. Receiving the Donley Award for supporting the needs of children were entrepreneur/philanthropist Kostas Kalogeropoulos and Peter Danchak on behalf of PNC Financial Services Group.

Emceed by DeSales president emeritus Fr. Dan Gambet and Penn State president emeritus Jack Cooney, notables included Congressman Charlie Dent and CSC Board member Pam Dent, State Senator Pat Browne and wife Heather, State Representatives Steve Samuelson and Doug Reichley, Lehigh County Commissioner Dan McCarthy, and Bethlehem Mayor John Callahan. Callahan was featured in a newly released CSC video about its Head Start program, produced by film students at DeSales University. Callahan is a former Head Start student. Additional notables included Northampton Community College President Art Scott and his wife Sue Kubick, Just Born’s Ross and Wendy Born and Dave and Sue Shaffer, Buddy and Jeanne Lesavoy, Merv and Jan Heller, Bob and Elieen Wood, Sam and Betsy Torrance, and Helene Whittaker. Beall and Linny Fowler were title sponsors.

CSC Board Chair Diane Scott presented the corporate award to PNC, while Linny Fowler presented the individual Donley Award to Kostas. CSC CEO/President Jane Ervin anchored the event with the commentary: ‘A dollar invested now in quality early education produces between a $7 and $17 return.’