One year ago, we embarked on a mission to establish a fund as a way to show our support to the many charitable organizations in our community. Through the Luzerne Foundation, we established the Solid Cactus Cares Fund which receives its funding through payroll deducted employee contributions (which Solid Cactus matches) and fund raisers we hold throughout the year. Those who contribute then get to nominate a charity of their choice and a company-wide vote is done each quarter to see which charities will benefit.

Since it’s been a year, I thought it would be interesting to see which charities we have helped:

• Boy Scouts of America - $400
• Girl Scout Troop 3963 - $430
• F.M. Kirby Center for the Performing Arts - $500
• Junior Achievement of NEPA - $500
• SCOLA Volunteers for Literacy - $550
• Wyoming Valley Chapter, American Red Cross Disaster Services - $600
• Make-A-Wish Foundation of NEPA - $2,700
• Earthy Angels Autism Fund - $700
• ALS Association - $625
• St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital - $920
• SPCA of Luzerne County Spay and Neuter Program - $1,000
• The Luzerne Foundation - $1,000 (in-kind donation)
• SPCA of Luzerne County - $8,850 (in-kind donation)
• Mohammad Ali Center - $6,500 (in-kind donation)
• Association of Fundraising Professionals - $500
• Misericordia University Women with Children Program - $1,600
• Commission on Economic Opportunity - $425
• Central Asia Institute - $375
• NEPA Non-Profit Summit - $525
• American Red Cross Blood Center - $675
• Farm Aid - $500
• Volunteers in Medicine - $550
• Back Mountain Trail - $850
• Kingston Township Fire Department Children’s Christmas Drive - $900
• Newspapers In Education - $500
• Luzerne County Historical Society - $500
• Co. K. 81st PVI - $500
• Special Operations Warrior Foundation - $1,000
• NEPA Rainbow Fund - $1,000
• Humane Society of Lackawanna County - $1,000
• Wyoming Valley Children’s Association - $1,250
• Candy’s Place - $1,250
• Luzerne-Wyoming County Elder Abuse Taskforce - $2,000 (in-kind donation)
• Back Mountain Recreation - $2,000 (in-kind donation)
• Kingston Township - $4,376 (in-kind donation)

All in all, the Solid Cactus Team has contributed $47,551.00 in just one year! That’s a number that we all should be proud of. Thanks to all who help make these contributions each quarter.

Pizza sales are one way we raise money for the Solid Cactus Cares Fund.