The Young Brothers Tae Kwon Do Inner School Tournament and homeless awareness event at North Hills Senior High School raised $15,000 for HCEF. Visit their website at http://www.youngbrotherstkd.com/

Not a fund raiser for HCEF but certainly a celebration of our work:

The National Association for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth (NAEHCY)2011 Conference met November 5-8 at Pittsburgh's Weston Convention Center. HCEF staff members were lead presenters of three breakout sessions.

Charlie Lavallee, Director of the Homeless Education Network (HEN), presented "A Collaborative Approach." Synopsis: The HEN is a collaborative initiative aimed at better serving the educational needs of children and youth experiencing homelessness in Allegheny County. By identifying the gaps that exist in serving homeless student in our region, as well as best practices among partners, the HEN works to maximize the expertise and resources of its members. Sister Mary Parks, Executive Director of Sisters Place, Inc., was co-presenter.

Laura Bailey, Education Program Manager, presented "Clairton Collaborative: A Model for School-Provider Partnerships Serving Families Transitioning Out of Homelessness." Synopsis: For families residing in transitional housing for the homeless, limited transportation, and a lack of strong relationships with local schools can be significant obstacles in the way of their children's educational success. The Clairton Collaborative is a model for community partnerships aimed at removing barriers and improving educational outcomes. Maureen McGarvey, Secondary School Counselor, Clairton City School District was co-presenter.

Bill Wolfe and Maura McInerney presented "Tools for Change: A Toolkit for Providers Collaborating with School Districts to Improve Educational Outcomes." Synopsis: This comprehensive toolkit was designed to identify and address the educational needs of children experiencing homelessness. It provides guidance and resources to address common academic challenges such as remedial help, special education, school discipline, English language learner needs, etc. It also seeks to facilitate and strengthen collaborations between homeless shelter providers and school districts to accelerate student achievement. Joann English, Program Manager, Sojourner House MOMS was co-presenter.

Once again spooks and goblins bizarre and macabre successfully invaded the Hundred Acres Manor and had their madcap howling way frightening the thousands of folks who dared enter the 2011 Haunted House from late September through October 30! You can be sure the ghouls have returned to their own haunts and are already imagining how they will out-do themselves next October.

As the Halloween industry’s leading publication HauntWorld wrote: When you visit Hundred Acres Manor, "Prepare yourself for a relentless journey of mind bending torture and hell that seemingly has no end."

Title sponsor of Hundred Acres Manor 2011 was Easy Trip Stores:

Additional sponsors were Jefferson Memorial Funeral Home; Sunbelt Rentals; Team NutZ; Total Plaster; WestHills Law; West Penn Wire; Wyatt Incorporated.

Celebrating the First Annual Homeless Children's Awareness Week — October 15-23

A proclamation by the Allegheny County Council sponsored by Amanda Hawkins

and also by the Pittsburgh City Council, sponsored by Patrick Dowd

• "Stand Up and Run for Homeless Children" 5k run/walk through Frick Park
  
   
   
   
  

  
  
• "An Education: True Stories of Unusual Lessons Learned" at Cabaret at Theater Square
  
      
  
       
  
  
• A 15-minute "Stand Up" on the lawn of Soldiers and Sailers Memorial Hall, followed by a brief program, music provided by Lightning Box, refreshments inside the Hall, and an opportunity for conversation with Roy Juarez, Jr., the keynote speaker at Saturday's "An Extraordinary Evening."
  
    
  
  
• A Central Catholic High All-School assembly with Juarez as the speaker as well as a Dress Down Day that raised $2,475 and collected school supplies benefiting HCEF's After-School programming.
  
  
  
  
• "An Extraordinary Evening": A Latin-themed party featuring event organizer Shelly Hipsky, Sheldon Ingram of Channel 4 Action News as Master of Ceremonies, and special guest Roy Juarez who spoke eloquently about his "couch-surfing" journey across the United States and his living homeless as a teenager. The event raised $13,300 in support of HCEF.
  
  Images from the event:
  
   
   
  

Many thanks to our Awareness Week sponsors: Funds for Charities, $2,000; Jennmar USA, $300; Frank Calandra, Jr., $200; South Hills Power Yoga, LLC, $50; and in-kind donors Road ID, Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall & Museum, Monroeville Mall, Panara Bread, and Cabaret at Theatre Square as well as our Extraordinary Evening sponsors: Lead Sponsor John J. Ghaznavi Foundation, Inc., $10,000; Robert Morris University, $1,500; The Jacobs Foundation, $750; Pennsylvania Cyber School, $500; and Newlife Health Science, Inc., $100 and in-kind donors Grazie Restaurant and Event Center, Lamar Advertising, Multi Print Media, and WTAE.

The Penguin Bookshop in Sewickley presented a Pittsburgh Noir Evening, August 19, 2011. The occasion honored renowned Pittsburgh author Kathleen George. Kathleen edited the recently published Pittsburgh Noir, one of a series of Noir books set in cities across the country and around the world, written by writers resident of the city that is the setting of each story.

In celebration of the event, Bookshop staff and community organizations had designed and painted Adirondack chairs with literary themes. The chairs were auctioned off to the highest bidders by Bill Wolfe, Executive Director of the Homeless Children's Education Fund and long-time resident of Sewickley. The $2,275 raised by the auction was donated to HCEF.

A month earlier, July 16, Penguin Bookshop celebrated the mission and work of HCEF with its 2011 Children's Festival. Visitors to the bookshop were encouraged to purchase and donate books that were then given to teen readers living in HCEF-partner homeless housing. Among the many events were visits by a live penguin from the National Aviary and an Ice Cream Sunday Social,

 

 

and a special visit by Pittsburgh Steeler defensive end and HCEF Advisor Brett Keisel. Brett read three of his favorite story books to the attentive children — books that his own son likes to hear again and again: The Belly Book, Just Me and My Dad, and Put Me in the Zoo. See and hear this SewickleyPatch video of the event and listen as Brett reads. (Keep up with Brett here!)

Wondering what you can do about homelessness? Consider suggestions from the National Coalition for the Homeless. Here in Pittsburgh, you can become a partner or volunteer with HCEF through the donation of monetary contributions and/or your time and talents.

We welcome your ideas for fundraising efforts to further HCEF's work – providing innovative educational programs that bring hope through learning to children living in 17 Pittsburgh and Allegheny County residential facilities for families.  (See Get Involved!)

Benefiting HCEF isn't always a matter of raising funds.
Raising awareness about the extent of children's homelessness
is equally important.

(updated 1/10/12)

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