Reflecting on a Wonderful Fall & Winter
As we embrace the new year, we look back on a beautiful fall and winter season filled with heartwarming moments and incredible support from our community. Your dedication has helped us continue to provide a safe place for families to heal, grow, and thrive. Thank you for making it all possible.
This year marks HEARTH’s 30th anniversary!
We’re proud to unveil our special 30th-year logo as we celebrate three decades of empowering families, breaking cycles of trauma, and creating brighter futures. Stay tuned for more updates on our anniversary celebrations!
Fall Highlights
Hats Off to HEARTH
On September 12th, we hosted our annual Hats Off event at the PPG Wintergarden. Guests enjoyed an evening of fine wines, curated food pairings, live music, and inspiring stories of change. Thanks to your generosity, we raised essential funds to support our mission and families at HEARTH. Thank you to all sponsors, donors, volunteers, and attendees!
Science Demos by PPG Science Education Council
Thanks to the PPG Science Education Council, our children had the chance to explore the wonders of science! From hands-on experiments to educational demos, the kids were able to get a closer look at how science plays a role in their everyday lives. We’re so grateful for PPG’s commitment to empowering our children through education.
Dental Health Workshops with Pitt Dental Students
A special shoutout to the University of Pittsburgh Dental Students for coming in and teaching our kids about the importance of dental hygiene! Through interactive workshops, the children learned the basics of caring for their teeth, the importance of regular dental check-ups, and fun ways to make brushing and flossing a daily habit.
Boo Bash & Trunk or Treat
We kicked off October with our annual Boo Bash, an evening of fall festivities and fun! Families enjoyed a pumpkin patch, delicious treats, and a costume truck that helped our little ones show off their Halloween best. With the help of our wonderful volunteers, we also hosted a Trunk or Treat event that was filled with laughter, excitement, and, of course, plenty of candy. A huge thank you to everyone who made this event so special for our families!
Thanksgiving Meals from the Knights of Columbus
As we enter a new year, we are overwhelmed with gratitude for the Knights of Columbus, who once again provided Thanksgiving meals for our families.
Their generosity ensures that every family at HEARTH can enjoy a delicious and comforting meal during this time of year. Thank you for helping us make this holiday season a little brighter for our families!
With the Women’s Center & Shelter
This November, our staff had the opportunity to attend the Supporting Survivors Summit, a domestic violence conference dedicated to empowering organizations that work with survivors.
Our team came away inspired, informed, and ready to continue providing the best support possible for the families at HEARTH.
Winter Highlights
Purses with a Purpose
Our December 1st Purses with a Purpose event was a stunning success! Guests participated in a silent auction of designer purses and more, raising vital funds for HEARTH. We’re grateful for everyone who attended, our HEARTH speaker, our sponsors, and our Emerging Leaders Board who supported this meaningful evening!
Holiday Giving Program
This holiday season, the generosity of our sponsors and donors was truly remarkable. We had sponsors for 11 of our HEARTH families, ensuring they had a joyous holiday. Additionally, many others contributed to our families’ needs including:
- Cold weather kits to help get through the winter season.
- Coats, gloves, and hats for each of our children.
- Personal care kits filled with essential items for our moms.
- Trees and holiday decorations to brighten their homes.
- Gifts to support our Permanent Housing families
Thank you to all for the thoughtful gifts that brought smiles and comfort this holiday season!
Annual Holiday Party with the Norwin Show Choir
Our annual holiday party was a magical evening filled with joy and togetherness. Families and Norwin students enjoyed singing and dancing performances by the talented Norwin Show Choir. The evening also featured fun activities like face painting and holiday ornament making, delicious food, and thoughtful gifts. It was a memorable celebration for all involved!
“Me and the kids absolutely enjoyed it and I felt they were so good with the kids. It was so heartfelt watching how enjoyable it was for everyone. Once again thank you!” ~ HEARTH mom
“I will like to say thank you to the HEARTH staff members and everyone else for the party. Me and my little ones had a wonderful time and we appreciate everything we received. God bless everyone that was a part of all this. We pray they are blessed also.” ~ HEARTH mom
A Heartfelt Thank You!
We are incredibly grateful to the Homeless Children’s Education Fund, Jeff Mercadante, and Neal Donovan for including HEARTH children in their Winter Coat Distribution. Thanks to their generosity, each one of our children received a warm winter coat to keep them cozy this season. Your kindness makes a big difference in the lives of our families!
Successful After-School Program Launch
We’re thrilled to announce the successful launch of our very first After School Program in collaboration with HCEF! The kids dove right into engaging activities focused on learning, homework help, and skill-building, all in a safe and nurturing space. This program is already making a difference by offering stability and support for our children during the critical after-school hours.
While we work alongside a group of Occupational Therapy student interns at Pitt, we hope to expand this program in early 2025 to multiple days a week to best support the school-aged children at HEARTH. More to come!
End of Year Appeal
We are excited to share the success of our End of Year Appeal, which raised an incredible $120,000!
Your generosity will directly impact the lives of families at HEARTH, providing essential support and services as they work toward stability and independence. Thank you to our incredible donors for making this achievement possible! A special thank you to an Anonymous HEARTH Supporter who donated a $10,000 match for all new donors. What a special moment for all!
Mark Your Calendars
Save the date for our annual Tees & Traps event on Monday, June 23rd, 2025 at Longue Vue Club!
30th Anniversary Celebration
Save the date for our 30th Anniversary Celebration of HEARTH on Friday, November 7th at the Circuit Center. We hope to see you there!
Looking ahead in 2025
Join our after-school program
Are you passionate about making a difference in the lives of children? HEARTH is looking for dedicated After-School Program Volunteers to support our school-aged children with homework help, reading, and engaging activities.
DETAILS
When: Mondays from 4–6 PM (expanding to two additional days a week in early spring)
Who: Volunteers must be at least 16 years old and have a valid PA Criminal Background Check and PA Child Abuse Clearance.
This is a wonderful opportunity to make a meaningful impact and help children thrive in a safe and supportive environment.
Interested? Please reach out to our Community Engagement Coordinator, Morgan Cable at mcable@hearthpgh.org or sign up today.
Drive On 412 Partnership
We’re excited to spotlight our partnership with Drive 412, a local organization dedicated to providing reliable transportation to families in need. One of our incredible volunteers donated a car to Drive 412, which will be repaired and gifted to a HEARTH family.
The car’s owner is looking for additional vehicle donations to continue this impactful work. If you have a vehicle to donate, please consider supporting this amazing initiative. To take action email Drive On 412.
Stories of Impact
When asked what are some of the best parts of living at HEARTH, we heard:
“The food, clothing, children’s activities, incentives, family support, group activities, playground access, gardening, on-site pantry, clothing, gym, community room, daycare, laundry ”
“My favorite parts are the sense of community among the residents and kids here and also the location. Though you are going through maybe the aftermath of one of the worst seasons in your life. You are not alone and don’t feel judged or looked down upon. Our children get along well and are always happy to see each other. ”
“I can say it’s a perfect place for someone like me and my kids. I get all the help I need when I need it – everyone is here for me and my kids. They provide me with anything we ask or need. It’s a life changing place for my family ”
Make an Even Greater Impact: Here’s How You Can Support
Now that you’ve seen the difference your support makes in the lives of our families, we’d love for you to get involved even more! There are several ways you can help:
- Volunteer: Offer your time and talents to support our programs.
- Donate: Your financial contributions directly impact the families we serve.
- Support our Wish Lists: Help us provide essential items by purchasing from our wish lists.
Every bit of support counts and helps us continue providing a safe place for families to rebuild their lives. Thank you for being a vital part of HEARTH’s mission!