News
Charity golf tournament to honor philanthropist John P. Kearney, driving support for community health initiatives
The Wright Center’s Dr. William Waters Golf Tournament is May 1
The Wright Center for Patient & Community Engagement will bring together community leaders, supporters, and partners for its fourth annual Dr. William Waters Golf Tournament on Friday, May 1, at Glen Oak Country Club, raising critical resources to support underserved and under-resourced individuals across Northeast Pennsylvania.
The captain-and-crew tournament will honor John P. Kearney – a longtime philanthropist, businessman, and community advocate whose decades of leadership and generosity have advanced health care access, education, and community well-being throughout the region.
Registration will be held from 8:30 to 9:45 a.m., followed by a 10 a.m. shotgun start. The driving range opens at 8:30 a.m. To register for tickets, visit TheWrightCenter.org/golf-2026.
A prominent Scranton-area leader, Kearney has been a steadfast supporter of The Wright Center’s mission to improve the health and welfare of communities through responsive, whole-person health services for all and the sustainable renewal of an inspired, competent workforce that is privileged to serve. He previously served as treasurer of The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education Board of Directors and built a distinguished business career as president of ERICO Corp., John P. Kearney Associates Inc., M&K Leasing Inc., and Kearney Real Estate.
His impact extends nationally through nearly two decades of service on the Board of Trustees of Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, including as chair from 2014 to 2021. PCOM recognized his leadership with its President’s Award in 2010 and the O.J. Snyder Memorial Award in 2022.
Kearney has also devoted extensive time to regional nonprofits, including the Scranton Area Community Foundation, Friendship House, and the Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce. Together with his late wife, Lois, he established scholarships at Wilkes University and PCOM in memory of their son, John D. Kearney, helping local students pursue careers in medicine.
John P. Kearney
His many honors — including recognition from the American Red Cross, the U.S. Department of the Navy, and the Boys & Girls Clubs of America — reflect a lifetime commitment to service. He also volunteers as a grief coach, supporting parents who have lost a child.
“John Kearney embodies the spirit of compassion, civic responsibility, and forward-thinking leadership that defines our mission,” said Brian Ebersole, senior vice president of strategic enterprise and ecosystem development at The Wright Centers for Community Health and Graduate Medical Education. “We are proud to honor his extraordinary contributions and the lasting difference he has made in countless lives.”
Dr. Linda Thomas-Hemak, president and CEO of The Wright Centers for Community Health and Graduate Medical Education, and Mary Marrara, secretary of The Wright Center for Community Health Board of Directors, serve as co-chairs of the event through their roles as co-chairs of The Wright Center for Patient & Community Engagement. Drew Kearney, the honoree’s son, is serving as honorary chair.
Tournament proceeds support The Wright Center for Patient & Community Engagement programs that address social drivers of health – including food insecurity, housing instability, transportation insecurity, limited access to education, and financial hardship – through initiatives such as food distributions, seasonal clothing drives, school supply giveaways, health fairs, blood drives, and other outreach efforts.
The event is named in memory of William M. Waters, Ph.D., longtime vice chair of the Board of Directors at The Wright Center for Community Health and co-chair of the Board of Directors at The Wright Center for Patient & Community Engagement.
Event details
The entry fee is $275 per golfer or $1,100 per foursome and includes greens fees, 18-holes of golf, cart, lunch, on-course beverages, and a 3 p.m. cocktail hour followed by a 4 p.m. dinner. Dinner-only tickets are $100.
Prizes will be awarded for closest to the pin, longest drive, and a hole-in-one vehicle prize courtesy of Matt Burne Honda. The presenting sponsor is Sordoni Construction Services, Inc., with additional support from PNC Bank and other community partners.
Sponsorship opportunities starting at $300 remain available. For more information, visit TheWrightCenter.org/golf-2026 or contact Holly Przasnyski at [email protected].
The fourth annual Dr. William Waters Golf Tournament is on Friday, May 1, at Glen Oak Country Club. The event supports The Wright Center for Patient & Community Engagement’s efforts to address the region’s social drivers of health.
