Category Archives: Non-Profits

March Madness and April PULSEations

Back in March, a group of Pittsburgh bloggers organized a March Madness bracket challenge – we all agreed that each blog would write a post about the winning bloggers favorite nonprofit organization.

Kate Stoltzfus (aka the brains behind the blog Yinzpiration) had the winning bracket and her nonprofit of choice is PULSE.  I am more than happy to write about PULSE as I think this is one nonprofit that has been quietly making a big impact on some Pittsburgh neighborhoods and is well positioned to continue to do more for the city.

PULSE stands for Pittsburgh Urban Leadership Service Experience.  Each year PULSE takes a group of college graduates, gives them a place to live and matches each person with a Pittsburgh nonprofit.  To provide housing for the participatns, PULSE has been rehabbing and improving homes in different Pittsburgh neighborhoods.

From the PULSE website:

We have a three-pronged model for accomplishing this purpose:

  • NONPROFIT WORK PLACEMENT – Invite talented, university graduates to partner with nonprofits for a year of service and leadership
  • COMMUNITY LIVING – Cultivate community by having participants live together and share meals, household tasks, finances and learning experiences.
  • TRAINING/DEVELOPMENT – Train and equip participants to become servant leaders in Pittsburgh by providing regular, personal and professional development opportunities.

I’ve learned more about PULSE because some of my favorite Pittsburgh things have a link to PULSE.  The Union Project – yep, that was the idea of some of the PULSE participants.  Have you checked out Kate’s blog Yinzpiration?  Kate came to Pittsburgh to participate in PULSE, now she writes great interviews with Pittsburghers at Yinzpiration and she is one of the founders of Propelle.  You can read some of the other PULSE alumni stories here.

If you would like to learn more about PULSE or support the PULSE programming you are in luck.  This Friday, April 12, 2013 is their annual fundraiser PULSEations which will be held at the Union Project from 7-10pm.

I have been wanting to share the invite to PULSEations – I kind of wish this could be the logo for IheartPGH, city skyline.

The event features food, drink, fun and an auction which includes:

  • Cooking Class/Lunch with Kevin Sousa at NaCl
  • Weekend in Chautauqua from John and Milonica Stahl-Wert
  • Weekend in Myrtle Beach from Chris and Kelly Cooke

More info about the auction is available here.  I will be there and I would love to see you there too!

But you don’t have to take my word for it.  Here is what others are saying about PULSEations on Twitter…

Tree Pittsburgh Presents Arbor Aid 2011

Arbor Aid is an annual fundraiser for Tree Pittsburgh, an environmental non-profit organization dedicated to enhancing the City’s vitality by restoring and protecting City trees.  This fundraiser has grown over the years into one of Fall’s more fun and unqiue events.  Art made from salvaged wood is exhibited, food and drink is plentiful, and entertainment this year is provided by Pairdown, and the Armadillos.  And the folks at Tree Pittsburgh know that to make it a true Pittsburgh celebration you need to include an epic Cookie Table … and a Hug a Tree Photo Booth.  So strap on your dancing shoes and head over to Guardian Storage Solutions this Friday, October 28th at 9pm.

Pittsburgh Premier of Documentary “Food Stamped”

Just Harvest is a Pittsburgh nonprofit organization that works to eliminate hunger in Allegheny county.  On Tuesday, June 21, 2011 – Just Harvest will hold their annual meeting followed by a screening of the documentary Food Stamped.  Both the meeting and the documentary are free and open to the public.

About Food Stamped:

The husband-and-wife filmmaking team Shira and Yoav Potash of San Francisco, Calif.  In their new documentary, ‘Food Stamped,’ they decided to put Shira’s cooking knowhow as a nutrition educator to the test by attempting to eat healthfully for one week on an average food stamp allotment – about $1.00 per meal in their case.  More info is available at FoodStamped.com.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YzY7duIVMoE&feature=player_profilepage[/youtube]

Pittsburgh Screening of Food Stamped
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
6pm-9pm
United Steelworkers Building
Facebook Event – http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=202047416503792

Redd Up Thread Up is BACK!

In the Fall of 2010, Redd Up Thread Up raised nearly $300 for the Women’s Center & Shelter of Greater Pittsburgh. The event is back again for a warmer weather clothing swap and 100% of the proceeds will benefit East End Cooperative Ministries.

Pull out those too small (or too big) sundresses, shorts, sweaters, pants, jeans, tops, t-shirts, and whatever else you might find in your closet (that’s in decent enough condition for someone else) and bring your donations down to 120 Federal Street (Old Firewaters Pub across from PNC Park) Wednesday, Thursday or Friday this week from 6:00-9:00 p.m. then come back on Saturday between 12:00 – 6:00 p.m. to “shop” for new additions to your closet!

Tote bags will be available to purchase at the event and you can stuff in as many pieces as you can for $10 ($5 if you donate at least one bag of clothing). Everyone is welcome!!

Redd Up Thread Up is being held in partnership with The Mattress Factory and The Saxifrage School with event assistance by The Cotton Factory and others.

The North Shore will be bustling all week with Pirates games and foot traffic from the Arts Festival, so be sure to stop down!

Check out the event website for more information.

Nonprofit Laws You Should Know

Thought this would be of interest to some of our readers who are interested in non-profits and how they work.  The Young Nonprofit Professionals Network is hosting a workshop on nonprofit laws.

YNPN Pittsburgh Presents: Nonprofit Laws You Should Know
REGISTER NOW!May 25, 2011; 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Allegheny HYP Club, 619 William Penn Place, Downtown
Cost: $10
This evening workshop will feature an expert panel and include a formal presentation with a facilitated Q&A.

Nonprofit Laws You Should Know will focus on the dos and don’ts of lobbying as a nonprofit as well as touch upon insurance and liability issues. Complimentary appetizers will be provided. Cash bar.
Current Panelists:

  • Jack Owen, Esq, Rhoades & Wodarczyk, LLC
  • Todd Whiteman, Nonprofit Insurance Specialist at Enscoe Long Insurance Group, LLC

Facilitator: Erin Molchany, Executive Director, PUMP

Click here to register online at PUMP.org

Here are some other interesting blog posts on nonprofits…