A Season of Connection, Growth & Community
Spring and summer are always full of joy here at HEARTH. From sunny days and group volunteer projects to special visits from friends and family – and all the little moments in between – there is never a dull moment. Join us as we look back on the past six months at HEARTH.
This Season's Highlights
April 2026: HUD Secretary Scott Turner Visits HEARTH
We were grateful to welcome HUD Secretary Scott Turner and his team to HEARTH. Secretary Turner spent the morning speaking with mothers, hearing about the challenges they have overcome, their accomplishments, and the goals they are working toward for themselves and their families.
Thank you to Secretary Turner, Joseph DeFelice, and your teams for spending time at HEARTH, listening to our families, and learning more about the work happening here every day.
June 2026: After School Program
The end of spring marked the completion of the first full year of our after-school program! Thank you to PCCD BOOST for helping us provide a safe place for the school-aged children in our program to learn, grow, and have fun. We are also so grateful to our 2025-26 University of Pittsburgh interns, volunteers, and enrichment providers for helping us create and cultivate this space.
July 2026: Legacy Society Launch
This past July, we launched HEARTH’s Legacy Society – a meaningful way to create a lasting impact for mothers and children experiencing homelessness and domestic violence. By including HEARTH in your estate plans, you can help ensure that future generations have a safe place to call home. Interested in joining HEARTH’s Legacy Society? We would be honored to speak with you about leaving a legacy through HEARTH. You can email Christy at cpietryga@hearthpgh.org.
August 2026: Summer Camp
Our kiddos had a summer full of field trips, crafts, playground adventures, and plenty of fun – we could hardly keep up with them! We will share more about our incredible childcare enrichment providers below, but a special thank you goes to Each One Teach One for creating a space where kids could simply be kids all summer long.
August 2026: Back to School Night
We marked the end of summer with our annual Back to School Night! Over 40 children at HEARTH selected their school supplies and new backpacks for the year ahead! Families also invited friends and loved ones to join us for an evening of food, crafts, and picking out new school supplies for the year ahead. Thank you to AIU, United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania, CentiMark, HCEF, First National Bank, Duolingo, Pine-Richland High School National Honor Society students, and all of the individual donors who made the evening possible!
The Heart of HEARTH: Our Volunteers
From childcare and organizing to setting up apartments and stocking our pantry shelves, HEARTH volunteers do it all. Monday Night Childcare volunteers show up week after week, building relationships with families and spending time with our littles. Corporate volunteer days with National Health Corps, AEO, and Federal Home Loan Bank of Pittsburgh helped beautify campus. From the entire HEARTH community – thank you!
Volunteer Spotlight: Diane Bickford
Diane has been involved with HEARTH for over 5 years, both as a volunteer and as a member of our Board of Directors. As the Programs Committee Chair, she is deeply invested in bringing meaningful enrichment to every member of every family at HEARTH. You can find Diane almost every Monday evening helping with childcare, leading Cooking With Diane in our after school program and summer camp, or furnishing and decorating graduates’ new homes alongside her sister, Mary Murray, through the Your Home Volunteer Initiative. Diane truly embodies what it means to be part of a community, and we are so grateful she is part of ours!
Mission Alignment: Our Community Partners
We are so thankful for our community partners, whose ongoing support helps make our work possible: Able Vision, AEO, Beverly’s PGH, The Blessing Board, Costa Contracting, East End Brewing Co., Empower & Elevate PGH Women, Federal Home Loan Bank of Pittsburgh, Kendra Scott, Knights of Columbus, National Health Corps, North Hills Community Baptist Church, Northern Allegheny Women’s Association, PNC, Treasure House Fashions, University of Pittsburgh students, Urban Therapy, Yinz Just Wanna Have Fun, and Your Home.
Community Partners Spotlight: Children Enrichment Providers
Our childcare enrichment providers are truly next level. We are so grateful to work with organizations and individuals who help create safe, fun, and positive experiences for our young ones. A very special thank you to AIU, Attack Theatre, Dante Mitchell, Each One Teach One, Mad Science, STEM Coding Lab, and the University of Pittsburgh interns.
Stakeholders: Grateful For Your Funding Support
A heartfelt thank you to our donors for supporting HEARTH over the past six months and beyond. Your generosity helps make this work possible every single day. Thank you to everyone who participated in #ONEDAY Critical Needs Alert; The Pittsburgh Foundation; The Community Foundation of Westmoreland County; PHARE; United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania; our Neighborhood Assistance Program partners – UPMC Health Plan, Huntington Bank, TriState Capital Bank, and First National Bank; our fundraising event sponsors; Donor-Advised Fund supporters; foundation and grant partners; and all of our individual donors.
This past spring and summer, six families moved from HEARTH into safe, stable housing, and each left with increased income. As families moved into their next chapter, HEARTH welcomed new families to campus. Following six planned move-outs in June, all 16 HEARTH homes were filled again by July.
Children at HEARTH had a busy summer, too. Every child participated in summer programming, with opportunities ranging from academic enrichment and entrepreneurship to STEM, arts, cooking, and field trips.
Together, these outcomes tell a bigger story: families increasing their income, moving into stable housing, children discovering new opportunities, and new families beginning their own journey at HEARTH.
Coming Up Next
Our flagship fundraiser was put on hold due to inclement weather, but we are so excited to get back on the green! We look forward to welcoming our registered guests on Monday, October 12, at the beautiful Longue Vue Club, presented by Costa Contracting.
A Bright Night
Join us for our newest annual fundraiser, A Bright Night, at the Wintergarden at PPG Place, presented by Federal Home Loan Bank of Pittsburgh. It’s an evening to celebrate the people who make this work possible, recognize resilient HEARTH graduates, and honor the brighter futures we create together. Tickets can be purchased here!
Interested in becoming a sponsor for A Bright Night? View Sponsorship information here, or email Megan Lang, our Development Director, at mrlang@hearthpgh.org.
Get Involved
Looking to get involved with HEARTH? There are so many ways to use your time, talents, or resources to make a direct impact in your community.
Becoming a monthly donor is a simple way to make your support last and become a Safe Place Partner.
Run a drive for HEARTH this fall or during the upcoming holiday season! We are always accepting donations for our food pantry, free store, and apartment needs. View our needs lists here. Questions? Email Danny Mohr, our Office Manager, at dmohr@hearthpgh.org.
Volunteering is a hands-on way to make a difference. Whether you are joining us for childcare, helping keep our campus clean and welcoming, or rallying your team for a group volunteer day, there is a place for you at HEARTH. Learn more here and email us at volunteer@hearthpgh.org.
