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The Wright Center dedicates Liberty Bell at community health center in Jermyn
Key officials from The Wright Center pose with the Liberty Bell at the dedication ceremony held Wednesday, Nov. 12 at The Wright Center for Community Health Mid Valley. From left, Lauretta Graham, data manager; Kellie Knesis, vice president of human resources and chief human resources officer; Sheila Ford, vice president and chief compliance officer; Dr. Jumee Barooah, senior vice president of education and designated institutional official; Dr. Linda Thomas-Hemak, president and CEO; Terrell H. McCasland, vice president and chief revenue officer; and Dr. Jignesh Sheth, senior vice president and enterprise chief operations and strategy officer.
The bell is the fifth sponsored by the community health center
A piece of American history will forever be located at The Wright Center for Community Health Mid Valley.
Wright Center leaders and staff joined community members and local dignitaries at its community health center, 5 S. Washington Ave., Jermyn, for a ceremony on Wednesday, Nov. 12, to dedicate a hand-painted fiberglass Liberty Bell in honor of America’s 250th anniversary celebration. The Pennsylvania Commission for the United States Semiquincentennial, commonly known as America250PA, is working to place at least one fiberglass bell in each of Pennsylvania’s 67 counties.
It’s the fifth Liberty Bell sponsored by The Wright Center in Northeast Pennsylvania. Others are located at Carbondale City Hall, 1 N. Main St.; The Wright Center for Community Health Wilkes-Barre, 169 N. Pennsylvania Ave.; Wayne Memorial Hospital, 601 Park St., Honesdale; and Wyoming County Healthcare Center, 5950 U.S. Route 6, Tunkhannock. The Wright Center for Community Health Tunkhannock is located in the Wyoming County Healthcare Center.
The Wright Center for Community Health sponsored five Liberty Bells in honor of America’s 250th anniversary celebration. From left, the bell placed at Carbondale City Hall; the bell at The Wright Center for Community Health Mid Valley; the bell at Wayne Memorial Hospital in Honesdale; the bell at Wyoming County Healthcare Center, 5950 U.S. Route 6, Tunkhannock; and The Wright Center for Community Health Wilkes-Barre
Artwork adorning each bell was meticulously researched by Gina Lettieri, The Wright Center’s archivist, and hand-painted by Allison LaRussa, The Wright Center’s associate vice president of health and wellness, to reflect the unique spirit and landmarks of the communities where they are placed.
“Each of our five Liberty Bells embodies the strength of our rich, collective history and our ongoing responsibility and commitment to safeguard the well-being of our communities,” said Dr. Linda Thomas-Hemak, The Wright Center’s president and CEO. “May this Liberty Bell in Jermyn serve as a bedrock reminder of the innovation, compassion, solidarity, service, and leadership that define both this remarkable, hard-working community and our mission at The Wright Center to improve the health and welfare of our communities through responsive, whole-person health services for all and the sustainable renewal of an inspired, competent workforce that is privileged to serve.”
For more information about America250PA and to see a full list of Liberty Bells across Pennsylvania, visit www.america250pa.org/PPE:_Bells_Across_PA.
In fiscal year 2024-25, The Wright Center served about 38,300 unique patients at its growing network of community health centers in Lackawanna, Luzerne, Wayne, and Wyoming counties. As a nonprofit Federally Qualified Health Center Look-Alike and safety-net provider, it serves vulnerable and medically underserved populations, regardless of age, ZIP code, insurance status, or ability to pay. It accepts all insurance plans and offers a sliding-fee discount program based on federal poverty guidelines that considers family size and income. For more information, visit TheWrightCenter.org.
