ELLEN BURKEY Women in Philanthropy Initiative Scranton Area Community Foundation

Ellen Burkey is recognized as a proud force behind the Women in Philanthropy initiative with the Scranton Area Community Foundation. She has been involved with the initiative since its inception in 2014.

Ellen moved to this region in 1995 with her young family. Her husband Todd, and their children Austin, Rachel and Jenny have enjoyed life in this community for the past 25 years. Ellen is a working mother, a former girls basketball commissioner and coach, a softball coach and she volunteers her time with many community organizations.

Ellen was raised in a family of six, in a small town in coastal New Jersey. “I had two loving parents; I graduated from Red Bank Catholic High School in 1982.” In 1986 she received her undergraduate degree with a double major in finance and economics, from Alfred University in rural New York. She also received the faculty award for economics at graduation. Recently, she completed her MBA program at the University of Scranton, where she graduated with honors.

Ellen’s career in finance began with a position on the International Bond Clearing Desk at Goldman Sachs on Wall Street. “It was there that I gained the experience and firsthand knowledge of the financial markets, both internationally and domestic. I am a better financial advisor today because of those years in NYC,” she said. Although she has admired many women during her career, she can’t say that she has had just one person who she would consider a mentor. “Having chosen a career in a predominantly male industry left me without a lot of female support and role models. It was sink or swim. I’ve always been a very strong swimmer,” she said.

Ellen thoroughly enjoys her involvement with The Women in Philanthropy (WIP) initiative with the Scranton Area Community Foundation. “It is an amazing group of women whose only goal is to provide support, guidance and a voice to women, girls and their families in our community. Through this initiative I teach Financial Confidence classes to women who are considering starting their she said. The classes are provided to women in the matched savings programs who are asked to create a savings account, save up to $2,500. and complete 10 classes. Examples of class topics include How to Sign a Lease, The Psychology of Money and Banking and Saving Tips. Once the classes are complete, WIP matches the savings dollar for dollar. Highlights from the WIP programs to date:

• Financial Confidence classes provided to over 250 women

• Venture capital loans assisted women-owned startup companies • 99 graduates of the Matched Savings Program have collectively saved over $262,000 which was matched dollar for dollar (total savings of over a half million dollars)

• Nearly a dozen women enrolled in the Building Confident Smiles pilot program for restorative dental care • $124,063 in grants pro- • vided in 2022, which range • from promoting innovative • childcare solutions to • enhancing civic engage- • ment and advocacy

• Grants to support technol- • ogy and STEAM education • and grants to support • more than 20 women • business owners in

• Lackawanna County

Ellen joined the Board of Trustees at the Scranton Area Community Foundation in 2019. “I am extremely proud of the work that we continue to do for our community. It is my honor to continue to pursue the mission of this incredible community foundation,” she said.

Ellen serves as Treasurer on the Board of Governors at Saint Mary’s Villa, a longterm care facility. “I am awed by the care and dedication that the staff at the Villa provides, including throughout COVID-19. It reminds me that service to those who are most vulnerable is the highest of callings,” she noted.

Ellen says that her children are... “by far, my greatest success story. They have all grown into intelligent, caring, independent and exceptional humans. I am grateful to have them in my life,” she remarked.

Professionally, Ellen is a Financial Advisor with Ameriprise Financial in Dalton. Her job is to help clients make decisions about their money. “I help them work through their goals, both long and short term. I help them plan for retirement, work through their family dynamics and estate planning and help them select appropriate investments to achieve these goals,” she said.

As she moves forward in her career and life, it has become clear to her that she is a teacher. She noted, “I teach my clients about finances and opportunity and risk. I teach my children about life and the greater purpose that we all serve. It is very important to me as a member of the community to be able to give back, and to help whenever, and wherever I can. I go to work every day knowing that there is an enormous responsibility to get it right. The trust my clients place in me, is professionally, my proudest achievement.

I have always lived by the philosophy that through hard work, dedication, integrity and serving others, I will find happiness and fulfillment. If one life was made easier because of something I did... that to me is a successful life,” she concluded. H