Category Archives: Fundraisers

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…

The Brazen Kitchen and Yinzpiration Dish it Out for a Cause

Have you heard about No Menu Mondays at Bar Marco in the Strip?  It’s a chance for different chefs to take over the kitchen and offer up their own menu for the evening.  This popular event will be taken over this Monday (April 6), from 5-10pm, by The Brazen Kitchen and Yinzpiration and friends from the Highland Park Kitchen Staples Food Co-op (also one of the 10 yinzpiring things about Highland Park) .

All proceeds from the event will go toward tools and other materials for the Barack Obama High School Cooking Club which is part of Food Revolution Pittsburgh.

There are tons of great sponsors providing support and extra treats: check out the Facebook event page for more info.

This Week In Pittsburgh (Jan 28 – Feb 3)

After a week off, here’s your list of things to do this week. My calendar is a little thin at the moment, but feel free to post a comment and I’ll update the post!

 

Shift Change
Wednesday 6p, Free
Big Idea Bookstore, Bloomfield

This 2012 documentary film tells the little known stories of employee-owned businesses that compete successfully in today’s economy while providing secure, dignified jobs in democratic workplaces. After the movie, there will be informal discussion about the movie and cooperative owned businesses.
More information: (412) 687-4323

 

Pitts-burrrrgh Drowned Hog Swim
Saturday 11a, Charity Event
South Side Trail

Join the Pitts-burrrrrgh Drowned Hogs at the 18th Street Boat Ramp for a dip in the river to celebrate Groundhog Day — when, according to folklore, a groundhog named Punxsutawney Phil determines whether we will enjoy an early spring. Begun in 2006, the Pitts-burrrrrgh Drowned Hogs is an informal group of adventurous people who plunge into the chilly Monongahela River on Groundhog Day. Challenge co-workers and other teams to see who can raise the most money or wear the goofiest outfits. Proceeds benefit Circle C, a private, nonprofit agency serving troubled and disadvantaged youth throughout the greater Pittsburgh area since 1967.
More information: (412) 937-1605 ext 227

Some content provided by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Pitt-Starter: FLIPSTAND for iPad

Occasionally we like to feature some Pittsburgh related Kickstarter projects here on the blog.  This one caught our eye because it was designed by the folks who own 21st Street Coffee and created the FLIPSTAND for use in their shops.  We know a few others local businesses that use an Ipad to process credit cards and could use something like the FLIPSTAND to keep their iPads from walking out the door.

There are 4 days left to support this project – so if you think this is a nifty idea – make sure to contribute ASAP.

Here are some other blog posts about iPad stands for a variety of different places (including 2 different stands designed for iPad use in the bathroom?!?)

There is Still Time to Help Save Xmas & Win Some Pgh Stuff Too!

I wanted to post a reminder about supporting Community Human Services Holiday Gift Project.  The response to my post earlier this week has been amazing.  This is a great way to highlight some local business owners that have donated items for the raffle as well.  Here is an update on the event and on the online fundraising campaign & raffle – we’ve added some more great Pittsburgh items to give away.

IheartPGH has been a supporter of the CHS Holiday Gift Project for the past 3 years and we hope you will take a moment to learn more about this organization and check out some of the great local businesses and bloggers that have helped to support this project in 2012.

What is Community Human Services (CHS)? CHS is a Pittsburgh based non-profit that in located in Oakland and serves the entire Pittsburgh area.  CHS is over 30 years old and offers a variety of programs for Pittsburghers struggling with homelessness, mental illness, health issues and more.

What is the CHS Holiday Gift Project? CHS will use the funds raised to provide a small gifts for the individuals and families they serve.  Many of these individuals and families are not included in other holiday gift programs which are geared towards children and the elderly.

Party @ Hough’s Tonight

The Community Human Services Hoilday Gift Project Party today (Thursday, November 29, 2012) @ Hough’s in Greenfield.  We’ll be there 6-10pm.  (Facebook Event Link) There will be christmas cookies and some great raffle prizes…

  • a tote bag full of about $100 worth of goodies from Fleet Feet in Squirrel Hill (one of those goodies is a $25 gift card!),
  • a great (and fun!) “Wizard” basket from Eljay’s used books, (which also includes a gift card), that has some pretty neat stuff,
  • a bath & body basket

Donate Online or Tweet about the CHS

Click Here to Donate Online

We know not everyone can make it to Hough’s this evening but you can still help support the cause!  I’ve been looking for a way to give away some of our favorite Pittsburgh things here on the blog – and this is the perfect excuse for a raffle.  There are lots of ways you can enter – check out the Rafflecopter widget below (if you are reading this post in an email you will need to click on the Rafflecopter link).

 

$25 Gift Certificate to East End Book Exchange

Pittsburgh’s newest used book shop opened 2 weeks ago on Liberty Avenue in Bloomfied.  In addition to local books the East End Book Exchange has a section of new books by local authors.  Follow East End Books on Facebook for update and events here.

Pittsburgh Love T-shirt Special Edition Printed by Commonwealth Press

This t-shirt has been available from our online shop for years – but we had our friends at Commonwealth Press print up a special order of this design. You can pick from sizes S to XL.
Autographed Copy of the Food Lovers Guide to Pittsburgh

This is THE book on eating local published by the bloggers who write eatPGH.  The authors have kindly agreed to sign a copy of the book for our giveaway.
Bike Pittsburgh Membership

We think Pittsburgh is a better place thanks to the work of Bike Pittsburgh. Even if you aren’t a cyclist – making Pittsburgh safer for people to be outdoors on bike or foot is good for everyone.  Since we are already a card carrying member – we want to give away a year of membership to someone else who loves Pittsburgh and bicycles too.
A Pair of Pierogi

These little dumplings are made by Pittsburgh artist and author Alicia Kachmar and available on Etsy here or can often be found in the Pittsburgh-Craft-o-Tron Machines.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thank You

Check out these other bloggers that have been writing about the CHS Holiday Gift Project: