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The Wright Center for Patient & Community Engagement receives Robert H. Spitz Foundation grant to help residents with utility bills
The Wright Center for Patient & Community Engagement received a grant from the Robert H. Spitz Foundation to help patients of The Wright Center for Community Health experiencing financial hardship pay their electric utility bills. Participating in the ceremonial check presentation, from left, are Laura Ducceschi, president and CEO of the Scranton Area Community Foundation (SACF); Cathy Fitzpatrick, vice president of grants & scholarships; Renee Zehel, chief philanthropy officer and VP of grants and strategic initiatives at The Wright Centers for Community Health and Graduate Medical Education; and Frank Caputo, grants & scholarships senior manager.
The Wright Center for Patient & Community Engagement will help patients of The Wright Center for Community Health experiencing financial hardship pay their electric utility bills through a $15,000 grant from the Robert H. Spitz Foundation. The funding will provide direct assistance to eligible patients of The Wright Center, easing financial strain, supporting housing stability, and promoting better health.
The Wright Center for Patient & Community Engagement advances the mission of The Wright Centers for Community Health and Graduate Medical Education by connecting people with the resources that address social drivers of health, including poverty, homelessness, food and housing insecurity, social isolation, and other challenges. Working alongside clinical care teams, community health workers can connect patients experiencing hardships to a variety of resources. In fiscal year 2025-26, screenings showed that 1,733 patients at The Wright Center faced utility bill-related hardships.
Community health workers identify patients who may need assistance through the Patient Community Resource Tool. Eligible individuals may receive up to $150 paid directly to their utility provider.
“This grant from the Robert H. Spitz Foundation is an investment not only in the individuals and families we serve, but in the health and well-being of our communities,” said Holly Przasnyski, director of The Wright Center for Patient & Community Engagement. “By helping neighbors who are struggling to keep up with their utility bills, we can address barriers that can stand between people and better health.”
Scranton Area Community Foundation has served as administrator of the Robert H. Spitz Foundation since 2016. The Robert H. Spitz Foundation is a tax-exempt, private foundation that supports initiatives and programs serving the residents of Lackawanna County and Northeastern Pennsylvania. Formed in 2015 through Spitz’s estate, the foundation supports an array of projects and programs that improve Northeastern Pennsylvania. To date, the Robert H. Spitz Foundation has provided over $6 million in funding to the community. More information about the Scranton Area Community Foundation can be found at safdn.org/foundation/robert-spitz-foundation/.
