Non-profit organizations in the news | News | Pittsburgh

At the end of October, non-profit organizations are preparing to defeat monsters, organize lavish dinners and raise funds for good causes.

Bloomfield-Garfield Corporation

Bloomfield-Garfield Corporation and Beacon Communities leaders will host the 18th annual Aggie Brose Awards on Nov. 11 at the Omni William Penn Hotel.

This annual luncheon is designed to honor community members with the Aggie Brose Award for their outstanding service in community engagement in Pittsburgh. The event runs from 11:30 a.m. to 1:45 p.m., and tickets are $100. A three-course meal will be provided, with all proceeds going to support the Bloomfield-Garfield Corporation.

Honorees include Garfield Jubilee Executive Director Joan Monroe, Octopus Garden Founder Christine Hughes, Garfield Community Farm Community Engagement Coordinator AJ Monsma, and Duolingo Head of Social Impact Dr. Kendra Ross. The event’s keynote speaker is Celeste S. Smith, nonprofit and community leader, arts administrator, artist, and co-founder of 1Hood Media.

Bloomfield-Garfield Corporation was founded in 1975 to serve Garfield and the greater East End community. Since its inception, the organization has provided workforce development and employment, affordable housing, mentoring and college preparation for local youth, new business development in the Penn Avenue commercial district, and beautification projects. bloomfield-garfield.org.

Dress for success in Pittsburgh

Dress for Success Pittsburgh is hosting its annual Black & Gold Gala fundraiser on November 5 at the Westin Pittsburgh.

After a 3-year hiatus, Dress for Success Pittsburgh is resuming its annual fundraiser. The event will run from 6:00pm to 9:30pm and guests are asked to dress in formal black and gold attire. The fundraiser will focus on the latest achievements of Pittsburgh’s Dress for Success. Food and drinks will be served.

All funds raised will be used to purchase a new mobile boutique, which will help the organization better meet the needs of the community. Dress for Success Pittsburgh is an anti-poverty organization committed to providing each client with professional attire and the confidence to land a job. The organization serves the Southwestern Pennsylvania region, including Allegheny, Butler, Fayette, Greene and Washington counties.

Dress for Success Pittsburgh provides women with access to resources to achieve gender equality. The organization has Online Resource Center to empower women entering or returning to work. pittsburgh.dressforsuccess.org

Christopher’s Kitchen

Christopher’s Kitchen is hosting its annual Monster Bash fundraiser on Oct. 29 at the Edgewood Club.

The Monster Bash fundraiser will be held from 7:30 to 11:30 p.m. Guests are encouraged to wear costumes and dance to featured band NO BAD JUJU. Prizes will be awarded for the best individual, pair and group costumes. Tickets are $150 per person and include an open bar and two rounds of hors d’oeuvres. Guests must be over 21 to purchase a ticket.

Proceeds from the event will benefit Christopher Kitchen’s mission to provide food and drink to people caring for loved ones in the hospital. In 2017, founder Joan D’Alessandro decided to start the organization after volunteering at UPMC Children’s Hospital for several years. As a volunteer, she met many parents who needed support while their children were in the hospital. The organization now delivers bags of food to caregivers and supports several free pantries at the hospital.

The work of the organization was made possible thanks to grants from The Pittsburgh Foundation, The Pittsburgh Penguins Foundation, as well as food from the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank and 412 Food Rescue. In 2021, the organization opened office space in Ben Avon and currently has an all-female board of directors. christopherskitchen.org.

Arts Council of Greater Pittsburgh

The Arts Council is awarding $450,000 to 55 local artists and arts organizations as part of the Allegheny Arts Revitalization Grant.

The Arts Council of Greater Pittsburgh awarded $10,000 grants in general support to 35 arts and cultural organizations and $5,000 grants to 20 individual artists. The Allegheny Arts Revival Grant is a one-time grant program funded by the National Endowment for the Arts. The grant program is part of an effort to make America’s Rescue Plan fund more accessible to the arts sector.

Organizations and artists were evaluated by several grant participants. Forty-five percent of honorees identify as individuals or organizations led by Black, Indigenous, or People of Color. The Arts Council has also committed to giving priority funding to applicants with budgets of less than $250,000. Prize winners represented more than 200 disciplines.

The Arts Council of Greater Pittsburgh provides financial, professional and policy support to the arts and culture sector of Southwestern Pennsylvania. Council services include research, legal and business advice, networking, professional development and policy advocacy for the arts at the local, state and national levels. www.pittsburghartscouncil.org.

Pittsburgh Fatties Social Club

The Pittsburgh Fatties Club will host its third plus-size clothing swap on Nov. 12 in Wilkinsburg.

The clothing swap will be held from 1-3pm at 321 Pennwood Ave. The swap accepts women’s sizes 16 and up, men’s sizes 2XL and up, and shoes of all sizes. The exchange will be free for all participants and there is no limit to the number of clothes. Masks will be mandatory in the premises.

Organizers will be accepting clothing from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm the day before the event at the Wilkinsburg site. To coordinate drop-offs in the North Hills, East End and eastern suburbs of Pittsburgh, those interested should contact the organization’s Instagram account. Previous exchanges have provided a wide range of clothing styles, from formal wear to athleisure. The rest of the clothes were previously donated to Dress for Success, Style for Good and local high school clothing closets.

The Pittsburgh Fatties Social Club is a community organization dedicated to providing social gatherings for the greater and fatter community of Pittsburgh. The club also documents fat-friendly resources and creates or expands peer support opportunities. @PittsburghFattiesSocialClub

PUMP

PUMP is beginning a search for new leadership after ten-year CEO Brian Magee announced his departure in December.

The organization says there will be a smooth transition to a new CEO on January 1, 2023. Magee, who became CEO in 2012, will remain with the organization for a short period of time to support the new CEO. While some may only associate PUMP with the Pittsburgh Sports League, Magee worked to rebrand PUMP and reconnect with its advocacy roots.

During Magee’s time with the organization, he championed iconic PUMP events such as the Capital City World Cup and Kickball for a Cause, as well as the 40 Under 40 Awards with partner Pittsburgh Magazine. Magee also led the Our Kids, Our Commitment campaign, which spurred the creation of the Allegheny County Department of Children’s Initiative, and the Parks for All campaign, which now provides funding for Pittsburgh’s city parks and open spaces.

PUMP was founded in 1996 with a mission to make Pittsburgh the most dynamic and diverse place by engaging, educating and mobilizing all young people to be creative. The organization works with more than 25,000 young people in Pittsburgh and offers civic, social and recreational programs. www.pump.org

“Pure Thought” Foundation.

The Clear Thought Foundation’s annual Roll for a Reason Gala will be held on November 5th on the South Side.

The fundraiser will begin at 6pm at J. Verno Studios. Funds raised at the event will go towards dementia research. The event will be themed “Casino Night in Monte Carlo” and will be hosted by KDKA’s Robert Mangino. It will feature the live magic of Lee Terbosik and a performance by Cody Sabol. Appetizers and food items will be provided by Cuisine Custom Catering and beverages by PA Libations.

There will be a silent auction, with some items available online and in person, as well as a basket raffle. Items featured in the online portion of the auction will be available starting November 1 at noon.

The Clear Thought Foundation was founded in 2010 to fund the discovery of breakthrough drugs and treatments for dementia. The organization launched a research initiative in 2020 in partnership with leading researchers and clinicians from the University of Pittsburgh and UPMC to accelerate progress in the study of dementia. clearthoughtsfoundation.org

Pittsburgh Action Against Rape

PAAR announces the date saved for its annual Teal Ball on May 6, 2023.

The Teal Ball will be held at the Wyndham Grand downtown next year. This is an annual event to honor and celebrate the strength of sexual assault survivors. The event also recognizes people working to end sexual violence in the Pittsburgh community.

PAAR was founded in 1972 and this year celebrated 50 years of service to Pittsburgh. PAAR remains the only organization in Allegheny County dedicated exclusively to sexual assault. The organization offers advocacy, counseling, prevention, and education services. paar.net

Pittsburgh Opera and National Opera House

Johnette Salomen serves on the board of directors of the Pittsburgh Opera.

Solomon is the executive director and founding member of the National Opera House, a nonprofit organization dedicated to restoring and preserving the historic headquarters of the National Negro Opera Company, the first black opera company in the United States. The National Negro Opera Company is headquartered in Homewood and has been listed by the National Trust for Historic Preservation for 2020 America’s 11 Most Vanishing Historic Places. Now it is the subject of large-scale rehabilitation.

Solomon’s joining the Pittsburgh Opera Board of Directors strengthens the partnership between the Pittsburgh Opera and the National Opera House. The partnership will include the development of programs and curricula in arts development, music education and community engagement. Programming will take place at the headquarters of both organizations.

Pittsburgh Opera was founded in 1939 and prides itself on creating live operas accessible to diverse audiences. The organization also offers educational programs and training programs for famous artists. nationaloperahouse.org and www.pittsburghopera.org.