What's Making News at NHCO

Applications Now Being Accepted for $25,000 in Grants
School Supply Collection Now Underway
Youth Volunteers Needed for the Summer
Volunteer Mentors Needed for FSA Savers
Bridge Club Looking for New Members
Rare Disease Threatens Local Woman's Life; NHCO Helping

$25,000 in Grants to be Awarded For the third consecutive summer, North Hills Community Outreach has hired Youth Philanthropy Interns through a grant from The Heinz Endowments. The interns are Kate Pfrommer, Senior Intern, 2007 North Hills graduate and sophomore at Allegheny College; Stephen Freehling, a 2008 Pine Richland grad attending Virginia Military Institute; Justin Taylor, 2008 North Allegheny graduate attending Penn State; and Alexandra Zabierek, a 2008 North Allegheny graduate attending the University of Pennsylvania.

The interns are now accepting proposals from nonprofit organizations in Allegheny County that focus on children from kindergarten through sixth grade. These programs should promote positive mentoring relationships and build self-esteem by engaging the child and mentor in physical activities and/or exciting, hands-on experiences. These activities can include but are not limited to field trips, workplace visits, and recreational sports and fitness activities. Applicants may request up to $5,000 for their particular program or project; a total of $25,000 will be awarded.The application deadline is July 25, 2008. For more details, click here.

School Supplies Needed! Throughout July, North Hills Community Outreach will collect new backpacks and school supplies for distribution to low-income children in grades K-12. Items needed include backpacks (appropriate for a variety of ages), pencils and pencil boxes, rulers, scissors, crayons, markers, notebooks and folders. Last year, nearly 600 children from local families in need received assistance with school supplies. For more information, contact Judy Murchak at 412-487-6316, option 1.

Youth Volunteers Needed this Summer at Food Pantry North Hills Community Outreach needs youth volunteers ages 16 and over, to help at the North Boroughs Food Pantry, located in Allegheny General Hospital, Suburban Campus. Volunteers will push grocery carts to cars and unload the groceries. A large number of the people who use the food pantry are elderly and require assistance. Volunteers are needed the first four Thursdays of every month from 5-8 pm. Interested volunteers should contact Brandi at 412-487-6316, option 1, ext. 3144.

Volunteer Mentors Needed for FSA Savers Volunteer mentors are needed to provide one-on-one financial counseling and guidance to NHCO’s Family Savings Account savers. This is a great opportunity for retired professionals or individuals with a few hours a month to help someone in need accomplish an important goal.

Prospective volunteers should have:

• Good money management skills; work experience in finance field helpful!
• Life experience in one or all of the following FSA asset goals: home purchase, home repair/improvements, car purchase, small business start-up, post-secondary education.
• Desire to listen and build a rapport with an FSA saver in an effort to answer the saver’s questions and help keep him/her motivated.

Savings Coach Responsibilities:

• Support and Monitor FSA Savers in fulfilling FSA requirements.
• Encourage savers to participate in the financial literacy workshop early in the participation period.
• Reinforce what is taught in the workshops when discussing saving efforts with the FSA Saver.
• Assist staff in helping savers successfully reach financial savings goals.
• Provide guidance to prepare the saver for the purchase of his/her asset goal.
• Prepare saver for continued positive saving and budgeting habits, and choosing wise investment options.
• Complete necessary FSA documentation forms.

Volunteers will need to attend a training on Saturday, September 6, from 9:30-2:00 at NHCO's Millvale Satellite. Lunch will be provided. For more information, contact Harriet Gibbs at 412-487-6316, option 2, x3217.

Bridge Club Needs New Members - "Bridge-O-Rama" is seeking new members to join their group. Foursomes meet at different players' homes throughout the northern communities once a month, and there is a banquet every May. Dues are just $16 for the entire season - and all dues are donated to North Hills Community Outreach. Each year, between $400-$500 is donated to NHCO by the club's membership. To join (you need to have a partner) or for more information, please contact Roma Vosc at 724-774-0817.

Rare Disease Threatens Local Woman's Life In 2004, 41-year-old BethAnne Lankey of Ross was diagnosed with a little understood autoimmune blood clotting disease called Antiphospholipid Syndrome (APS). APS causes blood clots to form in any artery or vein without provocation. The damage can be devastating, and the disease can be fatal.

At the time of her diagnosis, BethAnne was working full time and active with various charities, social activities, sports and friends. She can no longer work, volunteer, or play sports (walking up a flight of stairs is often too taxing). Her health is a full time job now.

NHCO is assisting BethAnne with living and other expenses. For more of BethAnne's story and how you can help, please click here.