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WILKES-BARRE &mdash; Speaking on the 125th anniversary of Family Service Association of Northeastern Pennsylvania, President/CEO Gert McGowan said there remains much left to do.
				&ldquo;Having only served as CEO of FSA for 18 months, I am very impressed by FSA&rsquo;s long and devoted record of service to this region,&rdquo; McGowan said. &ldquo;I am also inspired to do even more, for this community is still in great need. We also have many dedicated employees who have served FSA and, in turn, the region, for decades.&rdquo;
				McGowan added, &ldquo;There is just so much left for FSA to do. Especially at this time, there is such great need to empower families and build this community. FSA needs to be here for another 125 years.&rdquo;
				McGowan said the agency&rsquo;s 125th anniversary celebration is intended to bring awareness and gratitude from the community for FSA&rsquo;s 125-year anniversary this month. She said FSA has been serving the region for this long period of time &mdash; tremendous for a non-profit.
				Out of this agency sprang the Humane Society, Children&rsquo;s Service Centers and the United Way which is starting soon its celebration of 100 years.
				&ldquo;We have rich history,&rdquo; McGowan said. &ldquo;We continue to be vital.&rdquo;
				Megan Kennedy, Esq., FSA Board Chair, is Executive Director of First Federal Foundation. She has served as a board member more than 9 years and has been the Chair since September 2019.
				&ldquo;FSA has proudly served the people of Northeastern Pennsylvania for the past 125 years, and we will strive to continue to meet the needs of our community in the years to come,&rdquo; Kennedy said.
				McGowan said FSA has several events planned to celebrate. One of these is a virtual gala on April 10, 2021 which will include a LEGACY Award to the Thalenfeld family &mdash; which has generously served and supported FSA for three generations.
				Events planned to celebrate FSA&rsquo;s 125th Anniversary:
				&#8226; Due to the impact of COVID, but also the importance of this milestone, FSA plans to celebrate all year long.
				&#8226; Various elected officials have honored FSA with proclamations on the intended date of celebration, Dec. 18, 2020. These will occur after the latest governor&rsquo;s order has expired.
				&#8226; FSA is concerned about the spread of COVID in the community and while keeping its doors open every day of the pandemic, it has done so in a way that keeps the community, its clients, its employees and stakeholders safe.
				&#8226; LAMAR has donated billboards in Luzerne, Monroe and Lackawanna Counties in honor of the vital work FSA has done.
				&#8226; Special work is being done with Discover NEPA over the next year, including blog posts and videos to enhance the community&rsquo;s understanding of the work that FSA does for the region
				&#8226; FSA is planning an extra-special annual event for April 10, 2021. Due to COVID, it will need to be virtual to present a Legacy Award to honor one of the most dedicated families in FSA&rsquo;s history. The Thalenfeld Family has been supporting FSA for three generations. Lillian and David Thalenfeld (deceased); John Thalenfeld (G2 Board Member) and now Adam Thalenfeld (G3 Board Member).
				FSA history/background:
				&#8226; FSA&rsquo;s mission is to provide diverse services to individuals, families and seniors to empower them to ultimately build stronger families and stronger communities
				&#8226; In 1895 a group of volunteers came together to form the Charity Society Organization (CSO).
				&#8226; In 1896, the Luzerne Humane Society merged with the CSO, adding care of children and animals to its charitable relief work. The newly expanded agency focused on housing of children and women and children awaiting trial.
				&#8226; Legend has it that the original headquarters had a jail in the basement to house the women and children awaiting trial. Still more legend tells frequent need for the original Executive to euthanize horses and other animals. CSO next became United Charities and the agency later shifted away from emergency relief to family rehabilitation. The agency had two main departments, Child Welfare and Family Services.
				&#8226; The Luzerne County Humane Society sprung from this agency in 1935. In 1938, from United Charities&rsquo; Child Welfare Department and the Children&rsquo;s Home joining, Children&rsquo;s Service Center formed and began operations. In 1941, the agency became known as Family Service Association of Wyoming Valley, which is today Family Service Association of Northeastern Pennsylvania (FSA).
				&#8226; Homemaker services were provided in the 1950s and 1960s. The Visiting Nurse Association of Nanticoke merged into Family Services of Wyoming Valley in 1956. Family Service Association of Pittston merged in 1961.
				&#8226; In 1972, FSA was approached to help this community recover from Hurricane Agnes because residents were isolated and could not locate needed resources. Help Line was born. In 1975, services expanded to include after-hours telephone answering service and crisis management services commenced.
				&#8226; In 2010, PA 211 became a statewide service, the 48th state in the United States. FSA was asked to be the provider of information and referral services in the Northeast region.
				&#8226; As of 2014 and through today, PA 211 NE serves a 17 county region. Last Fiscal year, PA 211 handled over 82,000 phone calls in its combined PA 211 NE/ Help Line services. In addition to general information and referral, it continues to handle after hours answering and crisis services in multiple counties and similarly supports many nonprofit agencies in its region. In 2019, FSA began distributing monthly, quarterly and annual reports for each county and region for all 17 counties in its PA 211 NE footprint, to inform the public of the need of its residents.
				&#8226; In addition to its PA 211 NE/ Helpline service, FSA also provides a variety of services to the region, including Guardianship Services to at risk adults; ParentChild+, a home visitation educational program for toddlers and guardians; Counseling for families, seniors and adults; the Children&rsquo;s Center of Susquehanna and Wyoming Counties.
				&#8226; FSA also provides services in collaboration with Luzerne County Children and Youth, Luzerne County Juvenile and Adult Probation Services and Luzerne County Courts.
				&#8226; FSA worked with Coal Creative to develop a 125th Anniversary video. It has some history, pictures, news articles and about 50 stakeholders thanking us and wishing us well. It is going live on the FSA website and social media on Friday, Dec. 18.

Family Service Association of NEPA celebrating 125th anniversary