The Northeastern Pennsylvania Nonprofit & Community Assistance Center (NCAC) has announced the 2008 Community Awards Program finalists.

This year's finalists completed projects and programs that have made an extraordinary impact upon the quality of life within the community they serve. Competitive nominations were solicited from within the NCAC seven-county region, which includes Carbon, Lackawanna, Luzerne, Monroe, Pike, Schuylkill and Wayne. This year's award categories and finalists are:

Education:

• Wayne County Public Library: Lifelong learning starts at the Library (Wayne County)

• Junior Achievement of NEPA: Junior Achievement Biztown and Junior Achievement Business Park (Luzerne County)

Arts & Culture:

• Northeastern Pennsylvania Philharmonic: Family Concert & Educational Outreach Initiative (Lackawanna County)

• Lackawanna Heritage Valley Authority: Summer Heritage Passport Program

Environmental Action & Animal Welfare:

• Pocono Environmental Education Center: The Visitor Activity Center (Pike County)

• Pocono RC&D: Fuels for Schools and Beyond (Lackawanna County)

Community Development & Improvement:

• The Gouldsboro Area Foundation: Gouldsboro Area Foundation Restoration Project (Wayne County)

• MetroAction: 30-year Anniversary (Lackawanna County)

Children & Youth:

• Safe Haven: RYOT (Rally Youth Organizers Together) (Pike County)

• Hazleton Rotary Foundation/First Federal Foundation: Coats for Kids (Luzerne County)

Health & Human Services:

• Carbon-Monroe-Pike Drug & Alcohol Commission: Buprenorphine Project (Monroe County)

• Greater Carbondale YMCA: In the Cardiac Direction (Lackawanna County)

The 2008 Community Awards Program, sponsored by the Northeastern Pennsylvania Alliance (NEPA); Pennstar Bank; PPL; Enterprise Rent-a-Car Foundation; Fidelity Bank and Trust; Bon-Ton Foundation; Rosenn, Jenkins & Greenwald, LLP; Prudential; First Federal Charitable Foundation; Lackawanna County Convention & Visitors Bureau; Highlights for Children, Inc.; The Luzerne Foundation; Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs; AKOR, Inc; Boscov's;  Teva Neuroscience; Parente Randolph; PDQ Printing; Benevon; Penn Security Bank and Trust; One Point, Lackawanna Heritage Valley; Summit Research Associates; Global Print Design and The Woodlands Inn & Resort, is scheduled for Thursday, June 12 at the Woodlands Inn & Resort, Wilkes-Barre, with complimentary cocktails beginning at 4:30 pm and a dinner program at 5:30 pm. The Honorable Lisa Baker, State Senator, 20th Senatorial District, will serve as the keynote speaker for the 2008 Community Awards Program.

Cost is $35 for NCAC and NEPA members and $45.00 for non members. Non-member organizations may attend the awards program and join NCAC at a special rate of $65.  Reservation deadline is June 10. For more information about the 2008 Community Awards Program, contact Kurt Bauman at (570) 655-5581, ext. 237 or visit www.nepa-alliance.org/ncac.htm.