The CAN DO Community Foundation announced that CAN DO Executive Vice President Joseph Lettiere has joined the Board of Directors as the organization begins its 2020-2021 fiscal year.

 Lettiere will succeed Kevin O’Donnell as the head of CAN DO upon O’Donnell’s retirement at the end of 2020 and will become only the third paid CEO of the organization since its founding in 1956.

Throughout his 20-year career with CAN DO, Lettiere has risen in the ranks from an economic development specialist to director of marketing and then vice president before being promoted to executive vice president in 2019.

Lettiere has played key roles in promoting Northeastern Pennsylvania for business and industry. He is a past chairman of the Penn’s Northeast Board of Directors and still serves on its executive committee. He is a member of the International Economic Development Council and the Pennsylvania Economic Development Association. He serves on many boards including Luzerne County Community College Board of Trustees, the Pennsylvania State University Hazleton Campus Advisory Board and the AllOne Charities Board of Directors.

Since its inception in 1992, the CAN DO Community Foundation has used its mission of conservation, preservation and reclamation to support important projects that involve distressed landscape and historic and other locally significant buildings that benefit the Greater Hazleton community. The foundation’s support of these projects is made possible in part through generous contributions to the annual fund drive.

“CPR – Breathing New Life into Our Community” is the foundation’s slogan, referring to its mission.

The foundation’s endowment has grown from numerous sources including the donation of real estate, individual and corporate gifts, memorial donations, foundations and investment income.

The foundation supports worthwhile community projects that make a difference and improve the Greater Hazleton community.

In addition to its service projects, the Foundation also utilizes donations to fund several scholarships for high school and college students, as well as the young student musicians who attend Ferrwood Music Camp.

The Foundation presents the annual Edgar L. Dessen Community Service Award Junior Leadership scholarships to students from the high schools that serve Greater Hazleton. The service award is named after CAN DO’s founder, Dr. Edgar L. Dessen.

The annual Joseph Yenchko Award “Camperships” are presented to students attending Ferrwood Music Camp. The “Camperships” are given in honor of Yenchko, who was CAN DO’s first employee, and continue to grow through the generosity of individuals, businesses and foundations.

The CAN DO Community Foundation Award at Penn State Hazleton is presented annually at the Highacres Society Dinner. This scholarship honors and recognizes outstanding academic achievement by an undergraduate student enrolled in the baccalaureate degree in business at the Hazleton campus of Penn State University.

The scholarship is specifically designated for a student from Greater Hazleton. Full- and part-time students who have attained high academic achievement at the end of their second semester are considered for the award. Continuing education students are given special consideration.

For more information about the foundation, please contact Nancy R. Stasko at (570) 455-1508 or at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or visit www.candocommunityfoundation.com.