On the Bright Side
PREPARING FOR TOMORROW: NAVIGATING END-OF-LIFE CHOICES
Wednesday, November 19, 2025 at 10am | Register Here
Montour County Administration Center (special in-person session!)
Join us for this special in-person "On the Bright Side" session, led by Marissa Marshall, certified elder law attorney. This informative and compassionate presentation—designed to help individuals and families navigate the essential aspects of end-of-life planning—will focus on the importance of legal documents, such as wills, powers of attorney, and advance directives that ensure your wishes are known when you may no longer be able to advocate for yourself. We'll explore:
- Advanced Health Care Planning: Learn how to document your medical preferences clearly and effectively.
- Legal Tools for Protection: Understand the role of key documents in safeguarding your decisions and assets.
- Communication Strategies: Discover how to engage in meaningful conversations with your chosen decision-makers so they fully understand your values, goals, and expectations.
Whether you're planning for yourself or supporting a loved one, this presentation will provide practical guidance and peace of mind. Attendees will leave with actionable steps and resources to begin or continue their planning journey. Register for this free session here!
Meet the November Session Speakers:
Marissa Marshall is a founding partner at Kreisher Marshall & Associates, LLC (KMA) in Bloomsburg who specializes in the areas of elder law, estate planning and administration, guardianship, special needs planning, and estate litigation. Marissa is a certified elder law attorney (CELA) by the National Elder Law Foundation as authorized by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. A native of Indiana, she obtained her Bachelor of Arts from Purdue University and her Juris Doctorate from Western Michigan University - Cooley Law School. Mariss is a member of the Pennsylvania Association of Elder Law Attorneys, National Academy of Elder LAw Attorneys, Pennsylvania Bar Association, Columbia-Montour Bar Association, and is an accredited attorney with the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Marris is a regular presenter for the Pennsylvania Bar Institute continuing education programs and was contributing author to Elder Law in Pennsylvania, Ch. 11 - Medical Assistance Marriage Issues (5th ed., PBI Press 2019). Marissa is a founder and Co-Chair of Dementia Friendly Susquehanna Valley, a Dementia Friendly America Community which works to provide education and outreach to those living with Dementia and their care partners throughout Columbia, Lower-Luzerne, Montour, and Northumberland Counties. Marissa is also a member and treasurer of the Pennsylvania Bar Association Elder Law Council. Marissa is active in her community, serving as Vice Chair for the Community Giving Foundation regional board and is a member of the Bloomsburg Kiwanis Club.
Emily Kahn joined the Kreisher Marshall & Associates team in August 2024. She serves as an Elder Care Coordinator, providing support, advocacy,a nd assistance to Life Care Planning (LCP) clients as they move through the aging process. She takes extra care to support family members and other individuals involved in the care of KMA clients. Emily is a native of Washington, DC. She graduated from Kenyon College in 2004 and received her Masters in Social Work from the University of Kentucky in 2009. She served as a therapist and caseworker on inpatient psychiatric units in the Bloomsburg area for five years, and then joined the Geisinger Hospice team, providing end-of-life care to hospice patients for five years. Beginning in 2021, she served as an Elder Care Coordinator for Miller Law Firm PC, an elder law firm in Lebanon, PA, before joining KMA.
In addition to her work at KMA, Emily also helped develop a Social Work program at the Bloomsburg Public Library in early 2024, where she offers a weekly Grief Support group, as well as other services to Library patrons and the greater Bloomsburg community. She serves on the Board of Directors at The Women's Center of Columbia and Montour Counties and the personnel committee for Greenwood Friends School.
Missed our latest "On the Bright Side" sessions?
- Spring Has Spring: Let's Go Native! Watch the recording and view additional resources from our presenters.
- Every Family Has A Story: How To Find Yours. Watch the recording.
"On the Bright Side" is a casual, online lunch break created as a space to pause from our busy lives and connect with Women's Giving Circle members and other local women. These fun, interactive sessions include speakers on a variety of topics, including mental health, positivity, building community, and collective impact.
Women's Giving Circle Annual Meeting & Grant Presentations
Thank you to everyone who attended the Women's Giving Circle's 2025 Annual Meeting! We were honored to hear grant requests from four nonprofit finalists. Together, we awarded $21,000 in grants to empower, connect, and inspire women and girls across our region. View a full summary of the 2025 event and grant process here.
Lucky Last One
Thank you to everyone that attended or purchased tickets to our 2025 Lucky Last One lottery board fundraiser. We had a lively time together celebrating the good work of the Women's Giving Circle! There were many lucky winners on the lottery board and in our raffles during the event. Our heartfelt appreciation to our Steering Committee, volunteers, and event sponsors for their generosity and support to help make this event a success.
Learn More
Visit the Women's Giving Circle page to learn more about recent initiatives, membership opportunities, grantrounds, and more.
Questions? Contact Alyssa Meyers-Sanonu, Foundation Director of Philanthropy, at [email protected] or Katie Simpson, Foundation Director of Communications, at [email protected].