buzzword Archives

News

December 3, 2025

Trying Together Surpasses Fundraising Goals for Give Big Pittsburgh

Thanks to the generous support of donors, Trying Together exceeded its fundraising goal for Give Big Pittsburgh, a 24-hour online fundraising effort held on GivingTuesday that was hosted by Pittsburgh Magazine and presented by GBU Life.

The organization’s goal for the day was $5,000, but ultimately raised $7,180.

Learn More

The donation form will remain open until the end of the year, but individuals who want to make a year-end donation can do so on Trying Together’s website.

Cara Ciminillo, Trying Together’s executive director, said that donations made on GivingTuesday will help to further the organization’s mission of ensuring that every child has quality early care and education.

“Thank you to those who donated through Give Big Pittsburgh on GivingTuesday,” she said. “Every gift, whether big or small, fuels this work. And every dollar moves our community closer to the care system children deserve. I’m incredibly fortunate to lead an organization filled with people who show up every day for children, families, and early educators across Southwestern Pennsylvania. We believe in a future where every child has access to affordable, high-quality care and education – and where the educators who make that possible are valued, supported, and fairly compensated.”

Double Your Donation

Donors can double their donation if their employer has a matching gift program. Once an individual makes a donation, they will be prompted to check for matching gift opportunities.

They will be prompted to enter their employer’s name and the Double the Donation database will identify whether the employer has a matching gift program and determine if the donor was eligible.

If eligible, the donor is guided through the process of submitting a matching gift request to their employer.

How Donations Help

Individuals who donate to Trying Together are helping to support a number of initiatives, including:

Community-Based High School Child Development (CDA) Program
Buzzword literacy initiative
Rapid Response Team
Developmentally Appropriate Parenting (DAP) Resources series
Homewood Early Learning Hub & Family Center Diaper & Formula Banks
Institute for Early Childhood Career Pathways
Pediatric First Aid/CPR Facilitation and Instruction
Home-Based Child Care Business Cohort

To learn of other giving opportunities, visit Trying Together’s Give Now page.

News

October 28, 2025

The Buzzword is RECIPE

As part of its programming, Buzzword distributes its signature “BUZZ Boxes” to local families to help excite children from birth to age five as well as their caregivers about new words that are all around them. These family engagement kits come complete with a high-quality children’s book and enriching activities that support early literacy skills and development.

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This month’s Buzzword is RECIPE, which means a set of instructions for preparing something. Buzzword’s RECIPE Activity Book will give children – ages birth to five – and their caregivers the opportunity to connect through science, art, music, and early literacy activities.

Caregivers are encouraged to read through Empanadas for Everyone by Jackie Azua Kramer with their child. Then, they should go through the different activities and ideas together, taking time to explain the meaning of the words and connecting them to their child’s real-life experiences.

Buzzword has also provided a RECIPE book list of recommendations from the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh for further reading.

View the RECIPE Activity Book and book recommendations.

More Information

Want to learn more on how to get involved with Buzzword? Ask your local Allegheny County Family Center about the program, or email buzzword@tryingtogether.org.

News

May 26, 2025

The Buzzword is COUNT

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This month’s Buzzword is COUNT, which means to name numbers in order. Buzzword’s COUNT Activity Book will give children – ages birth to five – and their caregivers the opportunity to connect through science, art, music, and early literacy activities.

Caregivers are encouraged to read through Gato Guapo by Anika Aldamuy Denise with their child. Then, they should go through the different activities and ideas together, taking time to explain the meaning of the words and connecting them to their child’s real-life experiences.

Buzzword has also provided a COUNT book list of recommendations from the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh for further reading.

View the COUNT Activity Book and book recommendations.

More Information

Want to learn more on how to get involved with Buzzword? Ask your local Allegheny County Family Center about the program, or email buzzword@tryingtogether.org.

News

April 16, 2025

The Buzzword is FRIENDSHIP

This month’s Buzzword is FRIENDSHIP, which means a state of mutual trust and support. Buzzword’s FRIENDSHIP Activity Book will give children – ages birth to five – and their caregivers the opportunity to connect through science, art, music, and early literacy activities.

Caregivers are encouraged to read through Eleven Words for Love by Randa Abdel-Fattah with their child. Then, they should go through the different activities and ideas together, taking time to explain the meaning of the words and connecting them to their child’s real-life experiences.

Buzzword has also provided a FRIENDSHIP book list of recommendations from the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh for further reading.

View the FRIENDSHIP Activity Book and book recommendations.

More Information

Want to learn more on how to get involved with Buzzword? Ask your local Allegheny County Family Center about the program, or email buzzword@tryingtogether.org.

News

February 3, 2025

The Buzzword Is USEFUL

This month’s Buzzword is USEFUL, which means to be used for a practical purpose. Buzzword’s USEFUL Activity Book will give children – ages birth to five – and their caregivers the opportunity to connect through science, art, music, and early literacy activities.

Caregivers are encouraged to read through Lou by Breanna Carzoo with their child. Then, they should go through the different activities and ideas together, taking time to explain the meaning of the words and connecting them to their child’s real-life experiences.

Buzzword has also provided a USEFUL book list of recommendations from the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh for further reading.

View the USEFUL Activity Book and book recommendations.

More Information

Want to learn more on how to get involved with Buzzword? Ask your local Allegheny County Family Center about the program, or email buzzword@tryingtogether.org.

News

December 11, 2024

The Buzzword is DIRECTION

This month’s Buzzword is DIRECTION, which means the path along which someone or something moves. Buzzword’s DIRECTION Activity Book will give children – ages birth to five – and their caregivers the opportunity to connect through science, art, music, and early literacy activities.

Caregivers are encouraged to read through Tap! Tap! Tap! by Hervet Tullet with their child. Then, they should go through the different activities and ideas together, taking time to explain the meaning of the words and connecting them to their child’s real-life experiences.

Buzzword has also provided a DIRECTION book list of recommendations from the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh for further reading.

View the DIRECTION Activity Book and book recommendations.

More Information

Want to learn more on how to get involved with Buzzword? Ask your local Allegheny County Family Center about the program, or email buzzword@tryingtogether.org.

News

October 29, 2024

The Buzzword is GLIDE

As part of Buzzword’s programming, we distribute our signature “BUZZ Boxes” to local families to help excite children from birth to age five as well as their caregivers about new words that are all around them. These family engagement kits come complete with a high-quality children’s book and enriching activities that support early literacy skills and development.

This month’s Buzzword is GLIDE, which means the path along which someone or something moves. Our GLIDE Activity Book will give children – ages birth to five – and their caregivers the opportunity to connect through science, art, music, and early literacy activities.

Caregivers are encouraged to read through “Some Bugs” by Angela Diterrlizzi with their child. Then, they should go through the different activities and ideas together, taking time to explain the meaning of the words and connecting them to their child’s real-life experiences.

We have also provided a GLIDE book list of recommendations from the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh for further reading.

View the GLIDE Activity Book and book recommendations.

More Information

Buzzword will hold a family-friendly event from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 30. It will feature early literacy, science, art, and music activities. For more information, visit the event’s registration page.

Want to learn more on how to get involved with Buzzword? Ask your local Allegheny County Family Center about the program, or email us at buzzword@tryingtogether.org.

News

August 20, 2024

Buzzword to Explore ENTERTAINMENT at Family-Friendly Event in September

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This month’s Buzzword is ENTERTAINMENT, which means being provided with amusement or enjoyment. Our ENTERTAINMENT Activity Book will give children – ages birth to five – and their caregivers the opportunity to connect through science, art, music, and early literacy skills.

Buzzword will explore its latest buzzword during a celebratory, music-focused, and family-friendly event on Wednesday, Sept. 4. The event will run from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Clairton Family Center, located at 734 Miller Ave. in Clairton.

During the event, children and their caregivers will engage with each other to create meaningful moments through interactive activities provided by the Pittsburgh Festival Opera. Each family will take a BUZZ Box home with them and dinner will be provided.

Registration is required to attend.

More Information

Be sure to check back soon for more information on the ENTERTAINMENT Activity Book and other Buzzword materials for September.

Want to learn more on how to get involved with Buzzword? Ask your local Allegheny County Family Center about the program, or email us at buzzword@tryingtogether.org.

News

August 12, 2024

Buzzword: Family Entertainment Night

Join Buzzword as we explore our latest buzzword, ENTERTAINMENT, during a celebratory music-focused, family-friendly event.

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During the event, children ages birth to 5 and their caregivers will engage with each other to create meaningful moments through interactive activities provided by the Pittsburgh Festival Opera. Buzzword is collaborating with the Clairton Family Center on the event.

Each family will take a BUZZ Box home with them. Dinner will be provided.

The event will run from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 4 at the Clairton Family Center, located at 734 Miller Ave. in Clairton.

Registration is required to attend – and can be completed online.

News

June 4, 2024

The Buzzword is EXPERIMENT

This month’s Buzzword is EXPERIMENT, which means the test of an idea or method. Our EXPERIMENT Activity Book will give children – ages birth to five – and their caregivers the opportunity to connect through science, art, music, and early literacy activities.

Caregivers are encouraged to read through “Charlotte the Scientist Finds a Cure” by Camille Andros with their child. Then, they should go through the different activities and experiments in the EXPERIMENT Activity Book. Time should be spent explaining the meaning of the book’s words and connecting them to their child’s life experiences.

We have also provided an EXPERIMENT book list of recommendations from the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh for further reading.

View the EXPERIMENT Activity Book and book recommendations.

More Information

Buzzword will hold a family-friendly event from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. on June 5. It will feature early literacy, science, art, and music activities. For more information, visit the event’s registration page.

Want to learn more on how to get involved with Buzzword? Ask your local Allegheny County Family Center about the program, or email us at buzzword@tryingtogether.org.