By Heather Tomko, Outreach Coordinator, University of Pittsburgh

In many ways, my life is like that of any other 30-something-year-old. I went to college, got a job and even went on to get my master’s degree. I spend my free time with my friends, my family and my dog; I love to see concerts and shows or lose myself in a book with a macchiato in hand.

But my life is also very different from many other 30-somethings in a big, important way. I have a disability – a genetic, neuromuscular disease called Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA). I’ve never been able to walk, and I got my first power wheelchair when I was two-years-old. I need help with lots of the day-to-day things that people tend to take for granted. I rely on caregivers – both paid and unpaid – to get in and out of bed, use the bathroom, get dressed…the list goes on and on. (…)

By Stacy Juchno, PNC Financial Services Group Executive Vice President and General Auditor, United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania Board Vice Chair

As we close out Women’s History Month 2023, there’s no better time to pause and recognize the many vital roles women play in our society. We are daughters, sisters, friends, wives or mothers. And many of us also serve as volunteers, donors, managers, leaders or CEOs. In our homes and across the region, countless dynamic women are leading the way.

Regardless of how many roles we play as women, I think we can all agree that we’re busy. Balancing a career, friends, family, hobbies, exercise – there’s a lot on our plates. That’s why my first role with United Way was donor. From the beginning, it was clear that United Way is tuned into the needs of our community in a way I could never be on my own. Their team can chisel down and pinpoint the root cause of an issue, then rally the right people to create a long-term solution. All I needed to do was donate and I knew the good work was happening. (…)

By Ray Buehler, United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania Board Chair

In all of the roles I’ve held and with all of the people I’ve worked with, there’s a common denominator – I call it The Care Factor – that sets someone apart from the pack. From an entry-level staffer to a board member, if you have an appreciation for what you’re trying to do and have it in your heart to care about the greater community… that’s a very unique thing.

I “grew up” in my career at  Schneider Downs, a Pittsburgh public accounting firm where the mission has always been to work together every day to help our clients, our employees and our communities be better. I became a shareholder in 1981 and President/CEO four years later. As I served in that leadership role over the next 35 years, I maintained a strong belief that if we were successful in our business (and we were), we had a social responsibility to give back. (…)

By Damon Bethea, Manager, Building for Success in School and Life, DEI Lead, United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania

 

Like so many beloved changemakers, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. believed that kindness and a strong education are the foundation of a fair and equitable society. By expanding our knowledge, we can gain a better understanding of the world and people around us. Because of his own love of literacy, his commitment to education and his vision for the future, Dr. King was able to communicate in a way that broke down barriers. When he spoke, people heard and understood his message. (…)

By Christy Kennedy, Manager, Inside Sales Infrastructure, Kennametal and Kristie Meisinger, Executive Assistant, Kennametal

Every year as the holiday season approaches, our thoughts turn to family and friends and the many blessings that we share with them, but it is also the time that we look to our community to make an impact on the lives of those who are less fortunate. For the past 15 years, we have worked with United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania to provide Christmas gifts for local children in need – raising monetary contributions, shopping and wrapping gifts. Every year we continue to be impressed and moved by the overwhelming generosity of our Kennametal family in support of this event and we count on that support year after year. (…)

By Linda Jones, Executive Vice President and Chief Development Officer, United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania

So much has changed since I started my career with United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania in 1998. As the years passed, our communities have grown and the needs of our region have shifted. But, as a member of our fundraising team, I can tell you that there’s one thing that has always remained the same: our desire to help.

In a world of crowd-sourced philanthropy, tens of thousands of donors trust United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania with their charitable contributions every year because we have a proven track record of fiscal responsibility and transparency. Whether a donor is giving $10,000 or $10, we want them to understand the impact of that gift and how United Way is able to leverage their dollars to do the most good.

With need on the rise and donors more engaged than ever before, United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania has evolved to meet the challenge. Let’s take a look at how and why United Way continues to thrive in our region. (…)

Finding your passion and feeling a part of something is vital for fulfillment as you enter the workforce. For people across the region, participating in their workplace’s annual United Way campaign is a fun and rewarding way to connect with coworkers and neighbors by offering an opportunity to make a difference, engage in the community and build relationships with coworkers.

 Last year, generous donors helped United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania raise $43.4 million and workplace campaigns accounted for $35.3 million of that total. Nearly 700,000 lives were changed thanks to those donations made to the Impact Fund.

While the numbers are impressive, the passion behind them is even more incredible. Below, six of United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania’s very own employees share how workplace campaigns unite people in the office and their communities.

 

(…)

By Amanda Taylor, Administrative Assistant, Federated Hermes

When I started my first job out of college at Federated Hermes, I was unsure… about everything. What does it mean to work in a corporate environment? How will I meet people? How do I build up those relationships? 

I had just left the safe bubble of a world where my friends, academics and hobbies were all right in front of me. The questions continued piling up in my head, until I was introduced to United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania.  (…)

By Dave Panneton, Managing Director of Private Banking, First National Bank; Butler Region Local Operating Board Chair, United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania 

How much do you know about the issues facing your community? I’ve seen them firsthand and have heard some of the hundreds of thousands of calls to United Way’s PA 2-1-1 Southwest helpline that suggest that members in our community are struggling more than ever to feed their families, pay their utility bills, find transportation for doctors’ visits and more. Despite many of us feeling that the worst of the pandemic is behind us, not all of our neighbors can say the same.

Hundreds of thousands of people across the region turn to United Way for help and United Way turns to their trusted community partners, rallying help from those who can give it. Though we hope the eye of the storm has passed, local organizations are still reporting record need and asking for additional support. Luckily, we can help. (…)

By Alyssa Cholodofsky, Chief Program and Policy Officer, United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania

United Way’s mission is simple, yet powerful. We are committed to creating long-lasting, positive change by mobilizing our entire community to deliver innovative and effective solutions to our region’s most pressing problems. And in 2021, we continued that mission by adopting a new strategic framework to focus our impact work, drive community investment and engage more people in our mission.

You, our generous community, responded by helping United Way of Southwestern PA raise funds to address our region’s needs. With many still reeling from the COVID-19 pandemic, those dollars will make a real difference for hundreds of thousands of our neighbors. (…)

By Marisol Valentin, Executive Director, McAuley Ministries

There is such incredible vibrancy happening in the afterschool space during the academic year, but the summer months are just as important. We must invest in our children throughout the year and summer holds so many valuable opportunities to do just that. 

After the “lost summer” of 2020, families and providers alike were thrilled – and filled with trepidation – to return to in-person summer camps last year. It wasn’t long though until everyone was settled in and the squeals of joy took over. With one successful summer under our belts, we’re looking forward to another exciting season of growth, learning and fun.

One important thing that I’ve learned is that the collaboration that afterschool program providers bring to the education spectrum of our kids is vital. When organizations have a shared vision to better their community, amazing things can happen.

Through United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania’s Welcome Back Summer initiative, 29 community partners are hosting camps across the region to serve 4,000 children this year. That’s a sweeping number of young minds that will continue to question and explore the world around them. McAuley Ministries is proud to fund this work with Arconic Foundation, BNY Mellon Foundation, The Buhl Foundation, The Grable Foundation, The Heinz Endowments, Highmark Foundation, Mary Hillman Jennings Foundation, McElhattan Foundation and The Pittsburgh Foundation.

While much is often said about the educational benefits of summer camp, we sometimes forget the importance of play in learning. That’s one of the beauties of summer camp: you can continue to reinforce everything that a kid has learned through the school year but in a space that doesn’t look typically “academic.” There’s no homework, no (or little) being told to stay in your seat. Summer camp provides freedom and flexibility that kids respond to.

I’ve seen the light go on when a student realizes they can make their own game through coding or that baking the perfect cake comes down to math and measurements. Summer camp allows kids to explore learning differently. There is magic in every summer camp and there is a summer camp for everyone, regardless of geography or ability.

The social aspect is just as important as the academic. Being outside and developing friendships does wonders for a child’s mental health and well-being. It goes further than their ability to learn a new skill or experience and makes it so much easier for them to go back to school the next year.

Welcome Back Summer is a shining example of United Way’s mission to help everyone in our community build for success in school and life by strengthening academics, creating important social-emotional learning for children and ensuring childcare for working families. Through our partnership and McAuley Ministries’ commitment to working collaboratively to promote healthy, safe and thriving communities, we’re so thrilled to bring back the joy of summer.

By Alaina Davis, Lead STEAM Teacher, Pittsburgh Schiller 6-8 STEAM Academy

Pittsburgh Schiller 6-8 STEAM Academy is the home of dedicated teachers, enthusiastic learners, and, more recently, something very special – a state-of-the-art STEAM lab.

We’ve come a long way in contextualizing what ‘Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts and Mathematics’ means. Particularly where and how it’s integrated into lesson plans to make sure students really take it in. At Schiller, we often talk about how we “love our students into learning” and have worked together for years to advocate for our students, integrate technology, develop a culture that is safe and welcoming, and endlessly plan to ensure valuable learning takes place. (…)