The Greater Pittston Santa Squad will be holding a bus trip to Cooperstown, home of the Baseball Hall of Fame, on June 5. Tickets are $80 per person for 18 years old and older, $70 for those under the age of 18. Ticket price includes Hall entree, sandwiches and beverage for the bus.
Submitted photo
PITTSTON — The Greater Pittston Santa Squad (GPSS) recently organized an official Board of Directors for 2022 and planned out fundraisers for this year.
The GPSS set their sights on two fundraisers for this year to help bolster their bank account in order to purchase toys and gifts for Christmas of 2022, along with a golf tournament in September.
“We are trying to replenish what we spent for Christmas of 2021,” Marranca added. “We took a big hit financially from Christmas of 2021, so we’re trying to get back on solid financial ground.”
There will be two events, including a trip to Cooperstown to visit the Baseball Hall of Fame on June 5. Bus ticket/HOF ticket is $70 for children under 18-years of age, $80 per ticket for those over 18-years of age. Drinks and sandwiches will be provided by GPSS for the bus ride.
The bus will leave Pittston Commons at 7:30 a.m. and returning from Cooperstown at 5:30 p.m.
“Cooperstown is a very nice town to see of the day,” Marranca added. “There are no scheduled tours of the Hall, so people can do whatever they want as long as they return by 5:30 p.m. There are a lot of nice restaurants in town, a lake that offers a boat tour.”
The second event will take place later with combined Corn Hole/Billiards tournament at the American Legion Hall, Pittston, on June 11 and 12. The fee is $60 per team.
“There will be cash prizes for the winners, raffle baskets, food donated by area several area restaurants,” Anthony Marranca, founder of GPSS, said. “It’s going to be a fun weekend, so set your calendars for June 11-12.”
As the GPSS continues to grow, Marranca felt a Board of Directors should be in place. Recently, a seven-person board was selected.
“We selected, for the first time, a Board of Directors, “ Marranca said. “We have a chairman of the board a director and a chairman of human resources. We had to file with the state and as we are growing we are learning there are more and more steps we need to take to make GPSS legal.”
GPSS board members are: Dr. Dana Klush (chair), Paul McGarry, John Alaimo, Tom Granahan, Tony Cook, Atty. Greg Skibitsky, and Bob Breymeier.
According to Marranca, volunteers for 2022 will be up from the core of six to 20 to 25 people. In addition to the two fundraisers mentioned, the biggest fundraiser will come on Sept. 10 when the Second Annual GPSS Golf Tournament will take place at Wilkes-Barre Municipal Golf Course.
“Details have yet to be finalized, but the Save the Date is Sept. 10,” Marranca added. “We will have raffles back with plenty of other prizes and surprises.”
