Johnson College Receives Grant from Robert H. Spitz Foundation to Support Student Safety Net Program

Johnson College has been awarded a $3,000 grant from the Robert H. Spitz Foundation to support its safety net program for students needing assistance meeting basic needs.

This program provides emergency relief for basic needs such as transportation and necessary educational expenses, including personal protective equipment, program-specific tools, and industry certification fees. The safety net program will help students remain in school to complete their education and move on to earn family-supporting wages through employment in the region.

The safety net program is available to help all Johnson College students at both the Scranton and Hazleton campuses. Students facing short-term financial emergencies may request assistance in the College’s Community Hub where staff will confidentially help identify solutions, community agency supports, and eligible state/federal programs to meet students’ basic needs.

About the Robert H. Spitz Foundation

The Robert H. Spitz Foundation is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that supports initiatives and programs serving the residents of Lackawanna County and Northeastern Pennsylvania. Robert H. Spitz was born in Scranton in 1955. He was a graduate of Scranton Central High School and the University of Miami, Florida. The Robert H. Spitz Foundation was established from his estate in 2015 and supports an array of projects and programs aimed at improving the community. To date, the Robert H. Spitz Foundation, administered by the Scranton Area Community Foundation, has provided nearly $6 million in funding to the community.

Pictured left to right: Cathy Fitzpatrick, Director of Grants and Scholarships, Scranton Area Community Foundation, Karen Baker, Senior Director of Grants and Foundation Relations, Johnson College, Dr. Katie Pittelli, President & CEO, Johnson College; and Laura Ducceschi, President and CEO, Scranton Area Community Foundation.

Johnson College Receives $5,000 Grant from Robert H. Spitz Foundation

Johnson College has been awarded a $5,000 grant from the Robert H. Spitz Foundation’s Spring 2024 grant cycle, managed by the Scranton Area Foundation, to support its Military and Veterans’ Resource Center for students and alumni who are affiliated with the military. The project is being directed by Dr. Natalia Melgarejo, Johnson College Student Success Coordinator.

The Johnson College Military and Veterans’ Resource Center, located on the College’s Scranton campus, will serve as a private space for military service members and veterans to study and develop a sense of community as students at the College. Both students and alumni will use the space to find peer support, discuss common concerns, celebrate connections, and share with others who have lived through similar experiences.

In addition to the new Resource Center, Johnson College provides services such as priority scheduling and registration to servicemembers, as well as assistance with military and veteran benefits.

Johnson College’s goal in serving military-affiliated families and veterans is to help ease the transition in starting, continuing, or resuming educational pursuits and to offer assistance with Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) educational benefits. Through its continued efforts to empower servicemembers to further their education, Johnson College was awarded the 2024-25 Gold Military Friendly® School designation from VIQTORY, a service-disabled, veteran-owned small business (SDVOSB) that connects the military community to civilian employment, educational, and entrepreneurial opportunities.

Institutions earning the Military Friendly® School designation were evaluated using public data sources and responses from a proprietary survey. More than 1,800 schools participated in the 2024-2025 survey, with 537 earning special awards for going above the standard.

About the Robert H. Spitz Foundation

The Robert H. Spitz Foundation is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that supports initiatives and programs serving the residents of Lackawanna County and Northeastern Pennsylvania. Robert H. Spitz was born in Scranton in 1955. He was a graduate of Scranton Central High School and the University of Miami, Florida. The Robert H. Spitz Foundation was established from his estate in 2015 and supports an array of projects and programs that are aimed at improving the community. To date, the Robert H. Spitz Foundation, administered by the Scranton Area Community Foundation, has provided nearly $6 million in funding to the community.