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<p>WILKES-BARRE &#8212; The Luzerne Foundation kicked off its 25th year with its annual Rusty Flack Society Mid-Winter Gathering at the Westmoreland Club on Thursday evening.</p><p>The Rusty Flack Society is made up of individuals who have pledged to give donations to the Luzerne Foundation in their will.</p><p>Foundation president and CEO Charles Barber said it&#8217;s important to recognize the people who help the foundation continue to thrive.</p><p>There&#8217;s a big social aspect to the event as well.</p><p>&#8220;It&#8217;s a great way to get out of the winter doldrums,&#8221; Barber said. &#8220;It&#8217;s an opportunity to let people get out and enjoy themselves.&#8221;</p><p>According to Barber, the Luzerne Foundation directly benefits numerous activities all around the county, including arts and entertainment, local cultural landmarks and historical preservation.</p><p>&#8220;(The Luzerne Foundation) helps to meet so many needs across our community,&#8221; said Barber.</p><p>The night was sponsored by Bill and Sandi Williams, owners of Jack Williams Tire &amp; Auto. In a brief speech, Williams talked about his desire to set up a way to honor the late Charles &#8220;Rusty&#8221; Flack, one of the founding members of the Luzerne Foundation and a well-known philanthropist and businessman.</p><p>But Williams joked that was before he was informed: &#8220;Bill, we already set up the Luzerne Foundation.&#8221;</p><p>John Dowd, chairman of the foundation&#8217;s board, announced it would be giving thousands of dollars away this year, split among more than two dozen charities. The recipient charities, he said, would be announced May 9 at the Luzerne Foundation&#8217;s annual dinner. The donations would be a first for the foundation, and a way of marking its 25th year, according to Dowd.</p><p>After Dowd&#8217;s announcement, Flack&#8217;s daughter, Jamie Flack Eckman, spoke briefly.</p><p>She thanked those in attendance for their &#8220;enthusiasm for life in the Wyoming Valley.&#8221;</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Chad Flack, son of the late Rusty Flack, and Jenn O&#8217;Brien look over an informational poster describing the Luzerne Foundation&#8217;s Rusty Flack Society. It is made up of individuals who have pledged to give donations to the Luzerne Foundation in their will. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/web1_TTL020819LuzerneFoundation_2-1.jpg</photo0><caption0>Chad Flack, son of the late Rusty Flack, and Jenn O&#8217;Brien look over an informational poster describing the Luzerne Foundation&#8217;s Rusty Flack Society. It is made up of individuals who have pledged to give donations to the Luzerne Foundation in their will. </caption0><photoCredit0>Bill Tarutis | For Times Leader </photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/web1_TTL020819LuzerneFoundation_3-1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Former Luzerne County councilman Rick Williams, right, Phil Johnson, of M&amp;T Bank, and Tish Last, of the Luzerne County Historical Society, have their photo taken by photographer Curtis Salonick at the Luzerne Foundation Mid-Winter Celebration at the Westmoreland Club in Wilkes-Barre. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/web1_TTL020819LuzerneFoundation_3-1.jpg</photo1><caption1>Former Luzerne County councilman Rick Williams, right, Phil Johnson, of M&amp;T Bank, and Tish Last, of the Luzerne County Historical Society, have their photo taken by photographer Curtis Salonick at the Luzerne Foundation Mid-Winter Celebration at the Westmoreland Club in Wilkes-Barre. </caption1><photoCredit1>Bill Tarutis | For Times Leader </photoCredit1></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/web1_TTL020819LuzerneFoundation_5-1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Jamie Flack Eckman, daughter of the late Rusty Flack, left, and her husband Richard Eckman, chat with United Way of Wyoming Valley President Bill Jones and Grace Episcopal Church pastor Rev. John Hartman during the Luzerne Foundation&#8217;s Mid-Winter Celebration at the Westmoreland Club in Wilkes-Barre on Thursday evening. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo2>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/web1_TTL020819LuzerneFoundation_5-1.jpg</photo2><caption2>Jamie Flack Eckman, daughter of the late Rusty Flack, left, and her husband Richard Eckman, chat with United Way of Wyoming Valley President Bill Jones and Grace Episcopal Church pastor Rev. John Hartman during the Luzerne Foundation&#8217;s Mid-Winter Celebration at the Westmoreland Club in Wilkes-Barre on Thursday evening. </caption2><photoCredit2>Bill Tarutis | For Times Leader </photoCredit2></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/web1_TTL020819LuzerneFoundation_4-1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Guests socialize during the Luzerne Foundation Mid-Winter Celebration honoring members of the Rusty Flack Society at the Westmoreland Club in Wilkes-Barre on Thursday evening. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo3>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/web1_TTL020819LuzerneFoundation_4-1.jpg</photo3><caption3>Guests socialize during the Luzerne Foundation Mid-Winter Celebration honoring members of the Rusty Flack Society at the Westmoreland Club in Wilkes-Barre on Thursday evening. </caption3><photoCredit3>Bill Tarutis | For Times Leader </photoCredit3></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/web1_TTL020819LuzerneFoundation_1-1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Jamie Flack Eckman, daughter of the late community philanthropist Rusty Flack, offers remarks during the Luzerne Foundation&#8217;s Mid-Winter Celebration honoring members of the Rusty Flack Society as foundation board chair John Dowd looks on at the Westmoreland Club in Wilkes-Barre on Thursday evening. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo4>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/web1_TTL020819LuzerneFoundation_1-1.jpg</photo4><caption4>Jamie Flack Eckman, daughter of the late community philanthropist Rusty Flack, offers remarks during the Luzerne Foundation&#8217;s Mid-Winter Celebration honoring members of the Rusty Flack Society as foundation board chair John Dowd looks on at the Westmoreland Club in Wilkes-Barre on Thursday evening. </caption4><photoCredit4>Bill Tarutis | For Times Leader </photoCredit4></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><subheadMeta>Westmoreland Club hosts Mid-Winter Celebration</subheadMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Patrick Kernan</p><p>pkernan@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Patrick Kernan at 570-991-6386 or on Twitter @PatKernan</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Luzerne Foundation honors donors at annual Mid-Winter Celebration