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Genettis to Chair Community Phase of King’s Annual Fund Effort

March 14, 2008 - Gus and Valeria (Val) Genetti have been named co-chairs of the Community Phase of the King’s College 2008 Annual Fund.

The comprehensive goal of the 2008 Annual Fund, consisting of an Alumni Phase and Community Phase, is $1 million.  The 33rd annual King’s College Phonathon, a major component of the Alumni Phase of the Annual Fund campaign, was held in September and raised more than $611,000.

Contributions to the four-week Community Phase, which will kick-off in March, help King’s to build scholarship and faculty development funds, construct new facilities and renovate existing buildings, purchase equipment for classroom support, and provide for campus expansion and beautification.

“Gus and I are very pleased to have been asked to Chair this year’s King’s Campaign Committee.  We are always proud to be associated with King’s, an outstanding institution on any level.  In recognition of their wonderful job of educating, King’s College deserves the community’s full support,” said Val Genetti.

Gus and Val are owner and president, and vice president, respectively, of Genetti Hospitality Group, which includes the Best Western Genetti Hotel and Conference Center, Wilkes-Barre, Genetti Hotel and Suites of Williamsport and Genetti Manor in Dickson City.  Gus is also director of Genetti Hotel of Hazleton and a member of the board of directors of The Luzerne Foundation, F.M. Kirby Center for the Performing Arts and the Luzerne County Convention and Visitor’s Bureau. 

Val is a member of the board of the Northeastern Pennsylvania Hospital Auxiliary and the Wilkes-Barre General Hospital Auxiliary.

“When one thinks of community leaders, Val and Gus Genetti come to mind rather quickly,” said Father Thomas O’Hara, C.S.C., president of King’s College. “They have long invested in the local community and have been supporters of this area through ‘thick and thin.’ King's is blessed by the fact that Val and Gus have agreed to this leadership position.”

The couple has six children and five grandchildren.  Both have been named Paul Harris Fellows by the Wilkes-Barre Rotary.

King's College is a Catholic College sponsored by the congregation of Holy Cross.