The Elissa M. Garofalo Community Impact Award Fund
Established by the friends and family of its namesake, the Elissa M. Garofalo Community Impact Award is presented in Elissa’s memory to someone who demonstrates leadership, vision, and community impact in Carbon County. Elissa was a force for Carbon County, without whom several projects would not have come to fruition.
The award will provide a stipend of at least $500 to the recipient each year, which should be used for professional development to help further the recipient’s career and education. Alternatively, the recipient can name a Carbon County charitable organization to receive the $500 in her or his name.
Minimum qualifications for the Elissa M. Garofalo Community Impact Award include:
- Demonstrated community leadership and impact
- A vision for long-lasting impact in the community
- A passion for mentoring others
- Nominations and Self-Nominations will be accepted through an application process
- All are welcome to apply, but priority will be given to female applicants/nominees who fit the criteria
This is award is not intended to be a Lifetime Achievement Award, but rather it should recognize someone who can be considered in the prime of her or his career; someone who still has work to do.
Past Recipients
We’ve proudly recognized the following individuals with the Elissa M. Garofalo Community Impact Award for their leadership, impact, and commitment to Carbon County.
2024: Kara Scott, Bowmanstown | Read more.
Elissa M. Garofalo
Elissa Garofalo’s passion and love for the area helped bring many heritage tourism and recreation projects to fruition. During her 21-year tenure with the Delaware & Lehigh (D&L) National Heritage Corridor she had an enormous positive impact across the entire heritage area, in individual towns, and to the people she worked with. 132 miles of the trail were completed; the “Get Your Tail on the Trail” wellness initiative was launched in partnership with St. Luke’s University Health Network; the “Tales of the Towpath” educational curriculum was expanded to 80+ elementary schools and 6,500 students participated in related field trips. Elissa’s continued efforts resulted with a section of the trail being dedicated and appropriately named “Elissa’s Mile” in Jim Thorpe.
Prior to coming to the D&L, Elissa co-owned Blue Mountain Sports in Jim Thorpe and was one of America’s first Main Street Managers. She pioneered efforts which led to Jim Thorpe‘s main street (Broadway) being named one of the Great Places of America by the American Planning Association.
Submit a Nomination
Nominations and Self-Nominations for 2025 are due August 31st. The award will be presented at the 20/20 Circle Annual Meeting on October 15th.
Special thanks to our Establishing Award Sponsor:
With Gratitude
The Elissa M. Garofalo Community Impact Award was established in 2024 through the generosity of Elissa’s family and friends, whose love and admiration for her inspired this lasting tribute. We extend our heartfelt thanks to them for making this award possible. With continued support from others who share their vision, we hope to permanently endow this award—ensuring that each year, we can honor an individual whose leadership and accomplishments reflect the spirit of Elissa’s enduring legacy in Carbon County.
With sincere appreciation, we recognize the following donors whose generosity is helping bring this vision to life:
| Bill & Carol Allison | Roland & Barbara Garofalo | Cheryl Kunkle | Aki Susko |
| Stanley & Myra Boyer | Marise Garofalo | Linda Mlodzienski | Mark & Anne Sverchek |
| Burke Motor Group | Anne Graham | Joe Mogilski | Emilie Tierney |
| Dennis & Suzi DeMara | Joe & Abbie Guardiani | Cheryl Novak | Melinda Underwood |
| Josh & Amber Finsel | Chloe Hegeman | Pat & Pam Reilly | Paul & Luann Van Auken |
| Sierra Fogal | Bob Jacobs & Dave Artman | Atty. William Schwab | Patricia Walker |
| Shannon Frankosky | Deanna Jones | Deborah Smith | Wild Elder Wine & Cider Co. |
| Richard & Nancianne Garofalo | James & Kay Kintzel | Patricia Spillman |