December 12, 2024 Williamsport, PA – The Community Arts Center is pleased to announce it is the recipient of a generous donation from Journey Bank through the Pennsylvania Education Improvement Tax Credit program (EITC). 

The Community Arts Center has been designated as an Educational Improvement Organization under the EITC program through the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) for providing high quality innovative educational programs. The funding from Journey Bank will directly support CAC’s acclaimed programs, including the Student Summer Stock, Educational Series, and The Nutcracker production. 

Jeff Arnold, Senior Executive Vice President of Journey Bank, shared, “As a community bank, Journey Bank is deeply committed to supporting our local communities, with a special focus on our area’s young people. Through our ongoing involvement in the Pennsylvania EITC program, we redirect a portion of our corporate tax dollars each year to fund local educational initiatives. The programs at the Community Arts Center align with our mission to support youth development, provide unique educational experiences, and advocate for the importance of music and the arts in our schools and communities. We are proud to help deliver these meaningful programs.”

Jim Dougherty, Executive Director of the CAC said, “We’re very grateful for Journey Bank’s generosity, which allows us to bring the magic of live performance to young people throughout our community. EITC funding is essential in developing the arts throughout our region, and we’re pleased to partner with Journey Bank in supporting this endeavor.” 

 In addition to EITC support, funding for the educational programs is derived from various sources, including individual donations, corporate sponsorships, and grants. 

“Our educational programs are vitally important to the CAC’s outreach into the community,” said Ana Gonzalez-White, College Relations Officer for CAC development. “Many of our youth do not have the opportunity to experience the arts, making this programming an essential part of their education beyond the classroom.”

The historic 2,100-seat venue is the largest cultural facility in northcentral Pennsylvania. These partnerships help to secure the Community Art Center’s long-term sustainability and ability to carry out its mission to enhance the quality of life for the community by providing exceptional arts and entertainment events and participatory activities, appropriate to the diverse needs and interests of our region while ensuring accessibility to all.

By contributing to the CAC through the EITC program, area businesses can receive tax credits while making a positive impact. For more information about giving opportunities at the CAC, contact Gonzalez-White at 570-327-7657 or email [email protected].

The Community Arts Center is owned and operated by Pennsylvania College of Technology, a national leader in applied technology education. For more information on the college, visit www.pct.edu.

About Journey Bank 

For over 125 years, Journey Bank has stood as a beacon of financial trust and expertise in local communities throughout Central PA. Journey Bank represents the combined legacies and strengths of two local community banks – First Columbia Bank and Muncy Bank. The combined bank, together with its 300 dedicated employees, brings a shared commitment to delivering banking excellence to customers with convenient access to 22 community offices across a five-county area that includes Columbia, Lycoming, Montour, Northumberland and Clinton counties. With more than $1.6 billion in assets as of September 30, 2024, Journey Bank offers a full complement of banking, trust, and financial services to more than 50,000 individuals, families, businesses, and municipalities. For more information, visit www.journeybank.com.

Pictured from left to right: Jim Dougherty, Executive Director, Community Arts Center; Ana Gonzalez-White, College Relations Officer for CAC Development, Community Arts Center; Kevin Weinhoffer, Executive Vice President, Chief Commercial Officer, Journey Bank; Jeffrey Arnold, Senior Executive Vice President of Finance and Risk Management, Journey Bank; Joe O’Neill, Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, Journey Bank.