February 1, 2024
Community Giving Foundation recently welcomed four new members to its regional Board of Directors.
Dr. Bernadette Boerckel, Ed.D.
Boerckel serves as the chief outreach officer for the Central Susquehanna Intermediate Unit (CSIU). In this role, she supports regional workforce development and career pathways programs including Adult Education, Yes to the Future, and Career Ready Central PA initiatives; facilitates the Mental Health and Resiliency Community of Practice and regional crisis response teams; supervises the Central Susquehanna LPN Career Center; advocates for regional arts opportunities; and oversees the internal and external communications for the CSIU and the school districts it serves. Boerckel began her career in public education over 20 years ago as a secondary English, Journalism, and Drama teacher in the Warrior Run School District, where, in 2009, she became director of curriculum and instruction. She also served as the secondary curriculum and K-12 arts supervisor at the Williamsport Area School District before joining the CSIU leadership team in 2019.
“Making connections, engaging in true collaborations, and building meaningful relationships are at the heart of my work, service, and philanthropy. It is not cliché to say that together we can accomplish anything. Community giving suggests that together we can identify and solve problems at scale, making our region a safer, more equitable, more creative, and more attractive place to live and thrive. I am honored to serve as a board member to help continue the amazing work being done across our region.”
Jeffrey L. Erdly
Erdly is the co-founder and former CEO of Masonry Preservation Services Inc. He is semi-retired, currently working as a senior technical specialist for SKA Consulting Engineers. Born in Selinsgrove, he completed both a local high school vocational technical program and Williamsport Area Community College (now Pennsylvania College of Technology), where he received the Distinguished Alumnus Award in 2004. With 50+ years of experience in the construction industry, Erdly remains passionate about the preservation of buildings, their sustainability and impact on our environment. He also serves as a board member of DRIVE, an economic development council of governments, and remains active in ASTM International.
Emily Gorski
Gorski is the founder and executive director of DIG Furniture Bank, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that restores dignity and promotes stability by redirecting gently used furniture and household items to local families in need. She graduated from Mifflinburg Area High School in 2008 and went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in communications with a focus on nonprofit public relations at the University of Maryland, College Park. After graduation, Gorski moved to Oregon for a year of service through the AmeriCorps VISTA program. Her passion in the nonprofit sector was solidified through this year of engaging college students in meaningful community work in partnership with various organizations. She enjoyed her time in the Pacific Northwest so much that she decided to stay in Oregon, moving to Portland to officially begin her nonprofit development career at a family homeless shelter and then a girls’ empowerment program. In 2017, Gorski moved back to Central Pennsylvania with no clear intentions of staying long. However, the welcoming community and her piqued curiosity in rural nonprofit work kept her here for the long-term. Previously employed in leadership positions with Union-Snyder Community Action Agency, Camp Koala, and the philanthropic thrift store CommunityAid, Gorski now works full-time in her role at DIG, growing the young organization to ensure sustainability and effective service provision. She is a proud recipient of Evangelical Community Hospital’s 2022 Community Service Award and is recognized as a Pennsylvania Business Central’s Women in Business’ Top Non-Profit Female Leader.
“Community giving opens up opportunities for everybody to live a fulfilling life, no matter what unique circumstances have come their way. When we all have equal access to community resources, we create a healthier, more vibrant community. I’m excited to join the board of the Foundation because I have seen first-hand the true impact that their funds have on the effectiveness of nonprofit organizations across the Susquehanna Valley. I’m looking forward to learning from my colleagues on the board and gaining a better understanding of the wide variety of needs and services available in our region.”
Dr. Catherine O’Neil, MD, FAAFP
O’Neil is currently the medical director for Bucknell University. She graduated from Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia and completed her residency training in family medicine at Geisinger Medical Center in Danville. Honing her expertise in providing comprehensive healthcare to families, O’Neil is board certified in family medicine by the American Board of Family Medicine, a nonprofit, independent medical association of American physicians who practice in family medicine and its sub-specialties. She is also an active member of the American College Health Association where she was elected as chair of the clinical medicine committee and continues to serve as a liaison to the NCAA Female Athlete Triad Coalition. Over the course of her professional journey, O’Neil’s passion has gravitated toward Community Oriented Primary Care (COPC) and the unique health challenges faced by adolescents and young adults. She first developed these skills by participating in an internship program titled “Bridging the Gaps” at Sidney Kimmel Medical College. The first fourteen years of her career included practicing family medicine in Bloomsburg as well as serving as the medical director of Bloomsburg University. Recently, O’Neil has collaborated with state leaders on the Safe and Effective Prescribing Practices Task Force to develop guidelines for treating pain and ADHD in an effort to decrease opioid and stimulant misuse and abuse. These experiences have enriched her understanding and commitment to providing holistic healthcare solutions within the community.
“My passion in life is to help others live long, healthy lives. My day-to-day job has shown me ways in which people need more support in order to reach their health goals. By partnering with an organization as successful as the Community Giving Foundation, I have the opportunity to connect and create resources for the people who need it most.”
About Community Giving Foundation
In addition to four new board members, the Foundation’s Regional Board is represented by: Harry Mathias (chair), Marissa Marshall Golla (vice-chair), Wendy Tripoli (secretary), Julie Eriksson (treasurer), Hon. Richard P. Cashman, Jeff Cerminaro, Senator Lynda Schlegel Culver, Michael Goresh, John Grabusky, Jeff Hollenbach, Cynthia Lombard, Ryan McNally, Angela Motto, and John Thompson.
For 25 years, the Community Giving Foundation has helped families, individuals, and businesses create a lasting charitable legacy in the Central Susquehanna region. The Foundation manages over 350 charitable funds and makes grant investments throughout the region to improve and enrich local lives.
