February 16, 2021
Community Giving Foundation: Bloomsburg recently welcomed three new board members to its Board of Directors.
Ms. Donna Coombs
Ms. Coombs is currently transitioning into retirement from a 42-year insurance career, which includes 25 years of owning and managing GordnerCoombs Insurance in Millville. She is honored to serve on several Columbia County nonprofit and business boards, including the Columbia-Montour Chamber, Benton Lions Club (vice president), and Bailey Park HOA (treasurer) where she resides in Benton.
“I am very excited to partner with the Community Giving Foundation. I formerly believe in giving back to a community that has given me so much. I am especially interested in the Youth in Philanthropy program and teaching our youngest community members the joy of giving.”
Mrs. Lynn Cromley
Mrs. Cromley brings unique experience to her current role as a consultant. A former teacher, administrator, and education service agency leader, she has been active in local, state, and national education systems building, strategic planning, and implementation of quality education and social programs and services. During her tenure at the Central Susquehanna Intermediate Unit, she served as the first female Assistant Executive Director/Chief Administrative Officer. In this role, Mrs. Cromley consistently demonstrated her capacity as an innovative, entrepreneurial leader, providing strategic leadership and contributing to the growth of both education and marketplace business services with an impressive regional, state, and national footprint.
Mrs. Cromley received her BS in Elementary Education with a concentration in Education of the Hearing Impaired from Bloomsburg University, a master’s degree in Education Administration from Temple University, and is currently in the dissertation phase of her Doctoral Program in Education Policy and Leadership at Temple University. She lives in Bloomsburg with her husband and has two adult sons.
“I am honored to join the Community Giving Foundation: Bloomsburg Board and contribute to the important role the Foundation plays in serving our community. After a career in public education administration, I am excited to use my time and talents to support the worthwhile mission and positive works of this Board.”
Ms. Patti Leighow
Born and raised in New Jersey, Ms. Leighow attended Bloomsburg University and obtained her undergraduate degree in Finance. Upon graduation, she returned home for 18 months – while she earned her MBA from Rutgers University – before permanently relocating to the central PA area. Her background includes a combination of industry, education and an entrepreneurial venture. She was able to bring 15 years of her lending and accounting background into her classroom, then returning to California University of Pennsylvania for her Master’s in Educational Leadership. Coming full circle, she returned to Bloomsburg University to acquire her Supervisory Certificate in Curriculum and Instruction.
In the past, Ms. Leighow has held the administrative positions of Assistant Principal, Principal, and Business Manager. She is currently employed as the CEO of SusQ-Cyber Charter School. In 2014, Ms. Leighow pursued a life-long goal of opening a winery and is now co-owner of Freas Farm Winery (Berwick). Ms. Leighow serves on the Zoning Hearing Board for Briar Creek Township and the Steering Committee for the Foundation’s Women’s Giving Circle in addition to her role on the Community Giving Foundation: Bloomsburg board. She has two children.
“I am looking forward to serving on this Board because Bloomsburg has always been an important community to me since I graduated from BU back in the mid-1980’s. I look at this as an opportunity to be able to give back and advocate for all of the resources that it has to offer the Susquehanna Valley footprint as a whole.”
About Community Giving Foundation: Bloomsburg
In addition to the three new board members, the Bloomsburg Board is represented by: John Thompson, chair; Pam Young, vice-chair; Fred Gaffney; Thomas Kapelewski; Dick Klingerman; Jessica Lehman; and Paul Reichart.
Bloomsburg is an affiliate of the Community Giving Foundation, which manages nearly 300 charitable funds and makes grant investments throughout the region to improve the quality of life in the Central Susquehanna area.