Tracey Selingo, representing the charity Fork Over Love, answers quetuions during Wednesday’s luncheon of the Luzerne Foundation regarding the 2021 Millennium Circle Grant of $25,000. Six charities gave presentations and then waited for the votes to be tabulated to decide the recipient. Listening at right is C. David Pedri, President/CEO of the Luzerne Foundation,
                                 Bill O’Boyle | Times Leader

Tracey Selingo, representing the charity Fork Over Love, answers quetuions during Wednesday’s luncheon of the Luzerne Foundation regarding the 2021 Millennium Circle Grant of $25,000. Six charities gave presentations and then waited for the votes to be tabulated to decide the recipient. Listening at right is C. David Pedri, President/CEO of the Luzerne Foundation,

Bill O’Boyle | Times Leader

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<p>David Pedri, President/CEO of the Luzerne Foundation, speaks to the audience gathered at The Woodlands regarding the 2021 Millennium Circle Grant of $25,000.</p>
                                 <p>Bill O’Boyle | Times Leader</p>

David Pedri, President/CEO of the Luzerne Foundation, speaks to the audience gathered at The Woodlands regarding the 2021 Millennium Circle Grant of $25,000.

Bill O’Boyle | Times Leader

WILKES-BARRE — The votes have been tabulated and the 2021 Millennium Circle $25,000 grant recipient is Fork Over Love, a charity that states it is “dedicated to changing the narrative on food insecurity in Luzerne County by elevating all who are struggling with a new system of community care.”

Members of The Millennium Circle Fund of The Luzerne Foundation awarded the $25,000 grant to Fork Over Love after listening intently to six presentations of the finalists before casting their votes.

With the 2021 grant award considered, President/CEO C. David Pedri said the Millennium Circle Fund has now awarded $439,000 in grant funding since its inception in 2001.

“We are beyond excited to receive the Millennium Circle 2021 grant from The Luzerne Foundation” said Tracey Selingo, Founder and Chair of Fork Over Love. “This is not just a win for Fork Over Love, this is a win for the entire community. The money we receive will help us continue our mission to nourish the community by strengthening our small, independent restaurants as we pay them to provide hot, nutritious takeout meals that we can then distribute to our neighbors for free. Fork Over Love is proof positive that together we can create a new system of care, one that satisfies everyone’s hunger for food, connection, belonging, love.”

Since its inception on Jan. 8, 2021, Fork Over Love has held 41 free community dinners throughout Luzerne County, reinvested over $130,000 in the restaurant community, and served over 13,000 meals by engaging 60 restaurants, 30 host sites, and over 130 volunteers.

Pedri said: “Although the COVID pandemic has altered our lives, it cannot change the commitment of our Millennium Circle members. Many thanks to everyone who came to the luncheon. Six incredible presentations captured the most significant needs in Luzerne County. After thoughtful consideration, The Millennium Circle membership voted and awarded Fork Over Love the $25,000 grant. Many thanks to all of the charities for their participation, and congratulations to Fork Over Love on being selected as the 2021 Grant Recipient.”

At Wednesday’s Millennium Circle luncheon, Pedri announced that each finalist organization would receive a grant made possible through the generosity of The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation.

Pedri said the second place finisher will receive $10,000; third place will get $5,000; and the fourth, fifth and sixth place finishers will receive $3,000 each. The names of these recipients were not announced.

The other five finalists were:

• NEPA Inclusive

• Family Service Association of NEPA

• McGlynn Center

• Keystone Mission

• Victims Resource Center

Representatives from the six organizations will share a four-minute video presentation outlining their charity’s program and current challenges, followed by a two minute question and answer period.

After all of the presentations are complete, the committee voted. Each Millennium Circle membership has one vote.

“Each provide a clear and present need to better our community and are run by people who want to join us in making our area better,” Pedri said of the six finalists. “The Millennium Circle has been the premier Giving Circle for our area for over the past two decades that has provided hundreds of thousands dollars in funds to those in need.”

Reach Bill O’Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle.