CHANGING THE TRAJECTORY OF PEOPLE’S LIVES
A special thank you to everyone who attended our Children’s Career Fair on Saturday, August 22, 2026!
Thank you for contributing to such a wonderful day full of learning, curiosity, and possibility. We couldn’t have done it without you!
Coming Up at Outreach:
2026 Mighty Oak Awards
Outreach’s biggest fundraising event of the year is fast approaching!
Each year, Outreach hosts the Mighty Oak Awards to recognize individuals and organizations that stand out in their efforts to support individuals and families in our community who strive to achieve family stability and economic self-sufficiency.
The 2026 Mighty Oak Awards will be hosted on Thursday, October 8, 2026, at the Glenmaura National Golf Club in Moosic, PA, from 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM.
Jerry Musheno and Michele Catalano-Musheno
2026 Mighty Oak Award Recipients
Jerry Musheno and Michele Catalano-Musheno, this year’s Mighty Oak Award recipients, have built parallel careers in pharmacy and law, and a shared life devoted to community service. Jerry, a pharmacy law consultant and longtime educator at Wilkes and Jefferson Universities, has led many nonprofit boards across the region, including Outreach – Center for Community Resources, St. Joseph’s Center Foundation, and the Lackawanna Blind Association. Michele, retired Director of Pharmacy at Moses Taylor Hospital, administered thousands of vaccinations during two public health emergencies and now volunteers as a certified Medicare counselor.
Together, they serve as Eucharistic Ministers and ambassadors at the Church of St. Gregory, where Michele helped establish the parish’s Mental Health Ministry. Jerry continues to serve on multiple nonprofit boards, while Michele volunteers with the We Care Ministry food preparation for the needy and as a certified Medicare counselor.
Jerry and Michele live in Clarks Summit, proud parents of four grown children and Jampa and Mimi to grandson Declan.
Dr. Dennis and Grace Dawgert
2026 Beth Beh Community Spirit Award Recipients
Grace and Dr. Dennis Dawgert, this year’s Beth Beh Community Spirit Award recipients, have devoted decades to serving their community. Grace, a speech pathologist for 43 years, has chaired Our Lady of the Snows Parish’s Social Justice Committee and spent 25 years coordinating outreach to migrant farmworkers. Denny, a pediatrician who has cared for Northeastern PA families for 50 years, has served his parish as a board member, CCD teacher, and Eucharistic minister.
Together, as members of the Order of Malta since 2012, they’ve served the poor and imprisoned through St. Francis Kitchen, food and toy distributions, and their annual donation of 100 backpacks to Outreach’s Welcome Back Backpacks program. As founding members of the Ignatian Volunteer Corps, they now teach weekly classes at USP Canaan Federal Prison. Since 2011, Grace has also supported Outreach’s GED, job readiness, and women’s writing programs.
Grace and Denny Dawgert give with their hands, their hearts, and their time, again and again, wherever they’re needed most.
Outreach operates a main location in Scranton, PA, and a satellite location in Wilkes-Barre, PA.
Please note that our Wilkes-Barre office does not offer all of the programs available at our Scranton location. Visit the PROGRAMS tab in the main menu for information about services offered in each county.
Outreach Wilkes-Barre Ribbon Cutting - 2024
Check Out Our Summer 2026 Newsletter!
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ABOUT US
Since 1988, Outreach (formerly EOTC) has made helping families thrive our highest priority. By offering resources for life skills, literacy, employment training, parenting, early childhood education, youth mentoring, wrap-around case management, and more, Outreach builds strong families. And strong families build strong communities.
Outreach engages thousands of adults and children each year with award-winning workforce and family development programs that support individuals as they navigate through life’s challenges. Giving respect. Cultivating trust. Believing in growth.
President/CEO Lori Chaffers paints a mural as part of the Annual United Way Day of Caring
Our vision and purpose are to ensure everyone has a chance to succeed in life, no matter circumstance or background.
OUR IMPACT
Outreach – Center for Community Resources positively impacts the community by helping families overcome barriers to financial stability and economic self-sufficiency. Each year, we improve the lives of individuals in our programs at our Seventh Avenue Center, our downtown Wilkes-Barre office, and at other area sites throughout the community. We find that each participating family has a unique set of needs, often enrolling in several Outreach programs and taking advantage of our diverse network of community services.
Business Impact
Neighborhood Assistance Program Partners
Our 2024-2025 sponsors through the Pennsylvania Neighborhood Assistance Program made available by the Pennsylvania Department of Community & Economic Development make a powerful difference by fueling our programs with vital resources and support. Their generous contributions enable us to reach more community members, deliver higher-quality services, and create lasting change where it’s needed most. Through their partnership, we transform possibilities into realities, helping individuals achieve their full potential. Every sponsorship directly strengthens our mission and amplifies our collective impact, creating a better future for all those we serve.
MISSION
With respect for the individual and with the highest professional standards, Outreach – Center for Community Resources offers a variety of programs that promote family stability and economic self-sufficiency.
MISIÓN
Con respeto por el individuo y con los más altos estándares profesionales, Outreach – Center for Community Resources ofrece una variedad de programas que promueven la estabilidad familiar y la autosuficiencia económica.
CHILDREN
Our youth-centered services focus on educating and enhancing each child, ensuring they are ready to succeed in school and life.
COMMUNITY
We believe in community and collective strengths. That’s why we collaborate with other agencies and providers in our community.
JOB SEEKERS
Outreach began as a workforce development agency. As community needs changed, our agency diversified to meet the changing needs of families.