Robert H. Spitz Foundation Grant Supports Women With Children Program at Misericordia

Robert H. Spitz Foundation Grant Supports Women With Children Program at Misericordia

DALLAS, PA – The Robert H. Spitz Foundation recently awarded a $10,000 grant to the Ruth Matthews Bourger Women with Children Program Emergency Fund at Misericordia University.  The award, administered through the Scranton Area Community Foundation, is designated to the Bourger program’s emergency fund. 

Established in 2000, the Bourger Women with Children Program at Misericordia University is a two-generational initiative providing free housing, financial assistance, access to quality child care, and an array of social, academic, and family enrichment programing to student mothers with up to three children. One of only eight such programs in the United States, the Bourger families live on campus while the student mothers earn a baccalaureate degree.  

The Women with Children Emergency Fund, designated by the Spitz Foundation, helps alleviate emergency set-backs, and addresses urgent needs such as food, gas, coats, bedding, car repairs, medicine, and school supplies for the student mothers and their families. The funding helps relieve financial stress so student mothers can focus on their education and build brighter futures for their families. Ultimately, they matriculate from Misericordia University a college graduate, ready to make an impact in their communities and the world. The current capacity of the program is 18 families, who are housed in four university homes on the campus in Dallas.  

Formed in 2015 through the estate of Mr. Spitz, the Robert H. Spitz Foundation supports an array of nonprofit projects that improve the Northeastern Pennsylvania region. The Foundation providessupport for programs that aim to break the cycle of poverty, remove economic barriers, and encourage independence in adults and children through access to safe, affordable housing, transportation, and education. Priority areas for funding also include veterans’ affairs and veteran-oriented programs, animal welfare, and support for Jewish culture, heritage, community, and cemetery support. To date, the Robert H. Spitz Foundation has provided over $6 million in funding to the regional community. 

Mr. Spitz was born in Scranton in 1955 and was a graduate of Scranton Central High School and the University of Miami, Florida. Before retirement, he had been employed by the U.S. Department of Labor and was also the owner of several local Arby’s restaurants. 

"Thanks to the Robert H. Spitz Foundation's generous funding, we are empowered to provide critical support to our Bourger WWC families in their most vulnerable moments,” says Katherine Pohlidal, director, Ruth Matthews Bourger Women with Children Program. “As women and their children transition from adversity to opportunity, this emergency funding serves as a vital lifeline, bridging gaps in basic needs and paving the way for a brighter future. We're deeply grateful for this essential support, which will propel each of our families forward as they embark on their educational journeys and build a better life for themselves and their children."  

Founded by the Sisters of Mercy in 1924, Misericordia University in Dallas, Pennsylvania, continues to provide a liberal arts education rooted in the values of Mercy, Service, Justice, and Hospitality. Through the dedication of its alumni, benefactors, and friends, the University remains a beacon of compassion and opportunity for students and the community alike. 

To learn more about the Women With Children Program, click here.