NEWS 2025

May 12, 2025

MILFORD, PA – A pair of veteran volunteers, Jim Pedranti and Rosann Kalish, will be among Greater Pike Community Foundation’s honorees for 2025 when the foundation convenes for its 10^th Annual Awards Dinner in September. The couple will receive the Barbara J. Buchanan Community Service Award at the event, alongside Biondo Investment Advisors, recipients of the Richard L. Snyder Business Leadership Award, and Pike Autism Support Services of Northeast Pennsylvania, singled out for the Nonprofit Excellence Award.

The dinner will be held on Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025, at Woodloch Resort in Hawley. The event is open to all, and sponsorships are now available at www.greaterpike.org/annual-dinner. As part of the awards, Greater Pike will give a donation to the nonprofit organization of the honorees’ choosing, to be announced at the dinner.

Jim Pedranti and Rosann Kalish, recipients of the Barbara J. Buchanan Community Service Award, have been pillars of civic and philanthropic life in Pike County for many years. They were founding leaders of Greater Pike Community Foundation, with Jim serving as board chairman and Rosann as board secretary during the foundation’s early days. A corporate executive and manager at Sparkomatic and Altec Lansing, plus a board member of the Consumer Electronics Association, Jim has volunteered with the Milford Enhancement Committee, Preservation Trust of Pike County, and Pike Opera, among many other efforts. His Pedranti Family Charitable Fund at Greater Pike supports community enhancement, arts and culture, education, and historic preservation. Rosann Kalish, a lifelong teacher and educational administrator who taught in the Bronx, Middletown, NY, and Montague, NJ, has long participated in cultural and philanthropic initiatives in Milford. She is a board member at Pike Opera.

Together, Jim and Rosann exemplify a deep-rooted dedication to making Pike County a vibrant, inclusive, and thriving community.

Biondo Investment Advisors, a boutique wealth-management firm based in Milford, is the recipient of the Richard L. Snyder Business Leadership Award. Founded by Joseph R. Biondo, the firm provides personalized, comprehensive financial guidance to individuals, families, and businesses throughout the region. Biondo Investment Advisors (www.thebiondogroup.com) supports community initiatives such as Firefly Field, an inclusive playground in Matamoras, PA, and consistently pledges support to local nonprofits focused on education, career development, and family services. Financial education, career training, housing counseling, and mentorship programs are just some of the areas where the firm’s philanthropy makes a difference in the Greater Pike community.

The Nonprofit Excellence Award will be presented to Pike Autism Support Services (PASS) of NEPA (www.passnepa.org), a cornerstone of support, advocacy, and empowerment for individuals with autism and related intellectual and developmental disabilities for three decades. The PASS mission is to ensure that individuals of all ages have access to social, recreational, educational, housing, and employment opportunities that foster independence, self-confidence, and community inclusion. Its programs provide communication tools such as iPads for nonverbal children as well as swimming, biking, arts, cooking classes, and other activities. PASS also extends support to families, by helping parents navigate new diagnoses and connect with vital resources. Looking ahead, PASS is advancing its vision of Independence Village, an intentional housing community and enrichment center for individuals with and without disabilities.

“These honorees represent the very best of Pike County – people who don’t just talk about community service, but who roll up their sleeves and make transformative change happen,” said Luke Turano, Greater Pike’s Board Chair. “Jim and Rosann’s foundational leadership, Biondo’s commitment to community investment, and PASS’s decades of compassionate service all embody the collaborative spirit that strengthens our region. Greater Pike is privileged to recognize their extraordinary contributions, and we invite you to join us in celebrating them and their achievements in our community on September 7.”

Greater Pike offers individuals, families, and local businesses an opportunity to provide a permanent and personal way to give back to the community. For more information about opening a fund or scholarship, or contributing to an existing fund, contact Rick Little, Executive Director, at (570) 832-4686, ricklittle@greaterpike.org, or visit www.greaterpike.org, Facebook.com/GreaterPike, or Instagram.com/GreaterPikeCF.