In November, United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania’s Bridges Society and Next Gen Ambassadors gathered at Acruisure Stadium for the inaugural Giveback Games. Forty teams of young professionals came together for an evening of networking, friendly competition and a chance to learn more about United Way’s work throughout the region.  

And for those new to United Way, the evening was an opportunity to learn more about the Bridges Society and Next Generation donor groups. Bridges Society is a network of mid-career professionals and volunteers who donate $1,000 or more annually. Next Generation are 35 and under who demonstrate their commitment with their time and financial support that fits their budget. 

Emily Nally, Next Gen Ambassador and assistant athletic director at the University of Pittsburgh, gives us a look at the event and shares why she’s passionate about her contributions to United Way. 

By Bobbi Watt Geer, Ph.D. 

Giving Tuesday brings the community of individuals, corporations and nonprofits together to make our region stronger and more connected. This day puts an important spotlight on creating a better community. United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania is an epicenter of generosity, focused on investment 365 days a year because community needs extend year-round and far beyond this one day. The needs are great.  

United Way’s ALICE data, which tracks what families need to earn to survive, shows that 39% of households in our five-county region are unable to earn enough to pay for basic needs, such as food, housing and utilities, transportation, child care, health care and basic technology. We’ve also seen calls and texts to United Way’s PA 211 Southwest help line more than double from 190,000 in 2019, pre-pandemic, to nearly 523,000 in 2022. The greatest needs are affordable housing, jobs and employment, and utility assistance—things that many of us take for granted. 

On Giving Tuesday, we ask individuals and families to give to our Impact Fund. The Impact Fund is the easiest and most efficient way to make sure that your donation goes to nonprofit agencies that are working to meet basic needs, move people to financial stability, and build skills for success in school and life. Our Community Investment team carefully researches the nonprofits in our region. We invest in their success by making three-year grants to our agency partners. This helps provide funding stability so that our partner agencies have breathing room to focus on their work.   (…)

Earlier this year, the Census Bureau released its 2022 American Community Survey data. As the Post-Gazette reported, the city of Pittsburgh’s overall poverty rate hovers at around 19%, which exceeds the national poverty rate of 12.6%. 

Though this data is alarming, it is, sadly, not surprising. United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania runs PA Southwest 211, a 24/7 help line that connects people in crisis to a broad array of services ranging from basic needs to internet access. Contacts have more than doubled from 2019, pre-pandemic, when we took 190,000 calls, texts and web self-service contacts, to 523,000 in 2022. Real-time data on our PA211Counts.org website shows that the top issues in our region are affordable housing, jobs and employment and utility assistance.  

While we hope this uptick in contacts is because more people know about 211, we know that the main reason for the increase is because people are unable to earn enough to support their families and they are reaching out for help. The federal poverty level does not fully measure the hardships facing those who are working, sometimes at more than one job, but barely surviving.   (…)

By Carol Palcic, Executive Director, YWCA of Westmoreland County

Nowadays, accessing the internet and knowing how to use it are basic needs necessary to keep up with daily life. Without access, skills and devices, people may find themselves stuck: unable to access telemedicine, online classes or apply for and keep jobs.

“Can you help me? I’m stuck.”

At YWCA of Westmoreland County, we work directly with individuals who need help accessing, understanding and using technology.

Our team is used to receiving “I’m stuck” calls because one of the most challenging issues facing individuals in Westmoreland County is the lack of digital access and literacy.

We’re doing everything we can to change that, but the barriers are real. (…)

Katie Sloan is a member of The Impact Cup’s winning team and a Highmark emplyee. First issued in Pittsburgh Business Times, read Katie’s thoughts below.

It’s not very often you get to engineer, collaborate and pitch ideas that can create real change in the community. So when United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania was seeking participants for a new project to do just that… it was almost impossible to not raise my hand.

I quickly learned that some of the greatest opportunities can come from raising your hand.

United Way of SWPA’s Bridges Society hosted The Impact Cup, an eight-week challenge that convened teams of young and mid-career professionals to create a project generating greater awareness around United Way’s PA 211 Southwest with a total budget of $50,000.

(…)

“What did you do this summer?” It’s a question we’ve all asked and answered many times in our lives. Thanks to United Way’s Welcome Back Summer initiative, which funds 29 summer camp programs across the region,  more than 6,000 kids across the region can say that they made new friends, practiced new skills and visited places they’d never been before. For Welcome Back Summer teen counselors, the summer was also about leadership and career development.

Tune in below as Mya and DJ from H.O.P.E. for Tomorrow and Cocoa from Urban Impact share their experiences, highlight what they’ve learned and explain how Welcome Back Summer helped them prepare for the future. (…)

by United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania’s Social Media Committee

By Kathy Humphrey and Maris Dauer, Women’s Leadership Council Co-Chairs

United Way’s Women’s Leadership Council (WLC) is comprised of more than 2,200 members who believe in the power of collaboration and philanthropy to help our most vulnerable neighbors. It’s an honorable mission. And, WLC is so much deeper than that.

This diverse and dynamic group – which is the third largest WLC in the country – offers the opportunity for members to build strong professional and personal bonds with like-minded women who care about making a difference in their community.

It doesn’t matter where they find themselves, WLC members are always driving conversations and engaging others to join them in making positive changes in across the region. From networking to attending exclusive events, professional development opportunities, planning committees and volunteering, WLC members go the extra mile to accomplish their goals. (…)

By Tammy Patterson, Vice President of Children and Family Services, Westmoreland Community Action

Whenever United Way asks Westmoreland Community Action (WCA) to collaborate, we always say, ‘yes.’ Because they never hesitate when there is a need to be met.

Together, we’ve equipped Westmoreland County kids with school supplies, kept families on the brink of eviction in their homes and even provided internet access to neighbors who couldn’t afford it during the pandemic. In the seven years I’ve been at WCA, I’ve witnessed thousands of lives changed through the programs supported by United Way.

One of the most impactful ways I’ve seen United Way help is through their efforts to combat food insecurity. No one should know what it feels like to be hungry and their Meal Kit Packing event helps bridge the gap for families who are working hard to feed their children.

(…)

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. (…)