9 Days of Giving 2024
For the second year, we’ve had the opportunity for all 9 Board Members of the foundations to spread Bianca’s holiday cheer to organizations they knew she would have loved to support. Each member chose a special cause to donate $1,000 to on behalf of The Bianca Beck Memorial Foundation, for a total of $9,000 in donations during the holiday season.
Our President and Bianca’s mother, Lisa Blake, chose to gift $1,000 to the Valley Community Library.
Lisa said she was so impressed with how much the library was able to do with the gift last year! She chose the library again to continue to honor Bianca and her love of children and reading!
The funds were used for the SummerQuest program’s kick-off featuring author Mike Allegra and to purchase multiple books for the children’s library. They also held a Royal Storytime with Bell and they are ending the year with a Winter Wonderland Science Party!
They will continue to use the monies to purchase books and props that will increase the children’s imagination, help to build language skills, and learn about the world and develop empathy and emotional awareness. Bianca would definitely give this important work an A+!
Board Member Loriann Crotti has chosen to gift $1,000 to the Ronald McDonald House of Scranton.
Loriann said she was very happy to contribute to the Ronald McDonald House because she knows how important it is for families to stay close and be able to support their loved ones in need of medical care. She said she hopes this helps ease the hardship of childrens’ families who need it. She said we know Bianca would do anything to help those in need and that is just what this wonderful facility does every single day!
The Bianca Beck Memorial Foundation is blessed with supporters throughout the year who make donations like this possible.
Board Member Gena Taylor has chosen to gift $1,000 to PAWsitively for the Animals. Their purpose is to assist in the prevention of cruelty to animals.
Gena said this organization represents exactly what Bianca would do for all pets! She noted the importance of their emergency assistance program called the Maddie Fund that provides small grants to responsible pet owners in Lackawanna, Luzerne, and some surrounding counties in NEPA. The fund provides caring pet owners with assistance for emergencies and basic needs such as food, medical care, and spay/neuter procedures for pets!
Board Member Matt Beck has chosen to gift $1,000 to Friends With Paws Pet Rescue! They are a foster based dog and cat rescue located in Scranton!
Bianca felt strongly that people should “adopt, not shop” due to the high volume of rescue animals in need of loving homes. Friends with Paws Pet Rescue will use the funds to cover vet bills.
Board Member Noelle Griffiths has chosen to gift $1,000 to WRC! We Respect and Care is a place of support and safety for anyone experiencing domestic/dating or sexual violence, sexual assault/abuse, stalking and/or human trafficking. The organization supports those in need in Lackawanna and Susquehanna Counties.
Noelle said Bianca was a fierce protector of her friends and family. You could always count on her as a person to talk to and rely on without judgement. Noelle said she chose to donate to WRC because everyone needs a Bianca in their corner. WRC will use the funds to support survivors of abuse and will also provide assistance for any companion animal they have under their care.
Board Member Brianna Hummel has chosen to gift $1,000 to Brother Wolf Animal Rescue in Asheville, North Carolina.
Brianna said while watching news reports online of the devastation that Hurricane Helena caused in North Carolina, she came across a video of Leah Craig, the Executive Director of Brother Wolf Animal Rescue. Immediately after seeing the video, she knew this was where she wanted to give the donation this year. Bianca would have been devastated to watch the footage of their shelter and would have wanted to help them continue their cause.
Their shelter was completely destroyed but they were able to evacuate the animals and move them to safe locations. They lost all of their physical assets, but are determined to rebuild to continue helping animals in need.
Board Member Mitch Blake has chosen to gift $1,000 to Eleventh Hour Rescue.
Mitch said he chose Eleventh Hour Rescue because they are a no-kill dog and cat rescue. They take in hundreds, if not thousands, of animals per year. For being a non-profit, they have shown tremendous growth and have opened multiple locations including a dog rescue in Flanders, NJ and a cat and bunny rescue in the Rockaway Mall in NJ. Mitch said Daniel, Jay, and the rest of the team at Eleventh Hour Rescue showed extreme appreciate towards this donation!
Board Member Dennis Beck has chosen to gift $1,000 to a local wife and mother of 4 who is currently battling a health challenge that placed her in the ICU for 63 days.
The family noted that this journey has tested their strength, but it has also reminded them of the “incredible power of prayer, love, and community.” Bianca loved her daughter Brooklyn more than anyone in world and we just know she would be happy to support a wonderful mother in need this Christmas.
Board Member Al Beck chose to gift $1000 to the Human Resources Foundation.
HRF provides support to their sister agency the Human Resources Center, Inc. and to disabled individuals including the elderly, as well as community organizations whose mission includes providing greater opportunity and accessibility through their programs, services, or special project initiatives.
Al said he picked this organization because of the tremendous amount of compassion it demonstrates to those individuals with disabilities. He said it reminds him of the same compassion and caring that Bianca had for others