News

June 11, 2019

Summer Food Service Program: Free Meals & Activities

The Summer Food Service Program is a federal program providing free meals and fun activities to kids 18 and under during the summer when school is out of session.

Who Can Visit A Summer Food Site?

Hundreds of sites are opening this summer throughout Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Cambria, Fayette, Greene, Indiana, Lawrence, Somerset and Washington counties. Meals are served free to any kid 18 and under. There is no registration required to participate, kids can visit any site during its specified serving time to receive a free meal.

Find A Summer Food Site Near You

To find a summer food site near you:

More Information

For questions, call the United Way hotline at 2-1-1.

*Information provided by Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank

News

May 8, 2019

Zoo Day: Down Syndrome Association of Pittsburgh

Celebrate spring alongside the Down Syndrome Association of Pittsburgh (DSAP) by joining them for a day of fun at their 2nd Annual Picnic at the Pittsburgh Zoo.

About

On Saturday, May 25, families and community members are invited for a day of socializing and fun at the Pittsburgh Zoo. The group will be gathering at 12:30 p.m. at the Garden Tent for lunch and socializing with all of their DSAP families and friends.

Registration

Registration for ALL guests attending is required, including those who hold annual zoo passes and those under the age of 24 months. However, the ticket price will be waived for these guests upon registration. To attend, RSVP by May 11 via the event webpage.

Please bring your own picnic lunch; DSAP will provide snacks, dessert, and beverages.

Ticket Prices

  • General: $7
  • Annual Pass Holder: Free
  • Children (2 & Under): Free

News

May 7, 2019

Pittsburgh Apraxia Specialists Panel

Join Apraxia Kids on May 16 for their Pittsburgh Apraxia Specialists Panel. Attendees will join local speech-language pathologists (SLPs) for a one-of-a-kind panel and Q&A session, visit the Apraxia Kids headquarters, and network with local families, caregivers, and therapists.

About

Apraxia Kids is the leading nonprofit that strengthens the support systems in the lives of children with apraxia of speech by educating professionals and families; facilitating community engagement and outreach; and investing in the future through advocacy and research.

This event coincides with Apraxia Awareness Month, an important time for informing the local community of the struggles that children with apraxia face each day. Apraxia Kids hopes to bring the Pittsburgh community together to raise awareness, support each other, and build a bridge between parents and professionals!

Speakers

  •  Megan Overby, Ph.D., CCC-SLP – Duquesne University
  • Kathy Helfrich-Miller, Ph.D., CCC-SLP- Rehabilitation Specialists
  • Jen Rakers, MSLP, CCC-SLP, LSLS Cert. AVEd. – UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh
  • Carrie Van Soest, MS, CCC-SLP – UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh
  • Eileen Cirelli, MS, CCC/L-SLP – Allegheny Intermediate Unit
  • Gretchen Myers, MSLP-CCC; Recognized by Apraxia Kids for Advanced Training and Expertise in Childhood Apraxia of Speech – Center4Speech
  • Katie Micco, MS, CCC-SLP; Recognized by Apraxia Kids for Advanced Training and Expertise in Childhood Apraxia of Speech – Duquesne University

Registration

Registration for this event is free and may be accessed via the event’s webpage.

News

April 22, 2019

Foundations Urged to Unite to Reinforce Early Learning

In a recent article in the Chronicle of Philanthropy, Gregg Behr and Kristen Burns, both Executives of the Grable Foundation, discuss the topic of early childhood programs and explore the increasing general awareness of the important role of early learning experiences.

Overview

Data has repeatedly shown that “kids who participate in high-quality programs develop a greater capacity for cognitive and social-emotional skills like collaboration, communication, and perseverance — skills that improve school attendance, grades, and more.”

However, with the current levels of early childhood funding, only “two-thirds of American four-year-olds are enrolled in early learning programs…with less than a quarter of those programs being considered high-quality.” Because of this, advocates are calling for grantmakers and foundations to step up, as many have, to reinforce the positive impact of early childhood programs.

Toxic Stress and Trauma

In the article, Behr and Burns discuss the negative impacts of sustained exposure to toxic stress and trauma. Because of this, disadvantaged kids may be taking the brunt of the impact with greater risks for developmental delays linked to problems such as “poor academic achievement, substance abuse, and diabetes.” However, studies show that even if a young child is exposed to toxic stress and trauma, many of the negative impacts may be reduced if the child has access to a positive, safe, and supportive early learning experience. By advocating for increased investments in early childhood, foundations are advocating to support the healthy development and success of our nation’s children.

Current Funding

Behr and Burns state that “among the 91 grantmakers surveyed, one-third reported funding [efforts related to early childhood programs]. Of those, well over half anticipated increased support in the next two years.” However, despite wide and growing support for the cause, early childhood spending gets just four percent of foundation dollars. Because of this, advocates are calling on grantmakers and foundations to unite in an effort to support the benefits of early childhood programs. While philanthropy cannot take the place of adequate government funding, any supportive effort today “may lead to better public policy tomorrow.”

Learn More

To read the full article, including clear examples highlighted in the Grantmakers for Education report, visit the website.

Gregg Behr is executive director of the Grable Foundation and chairman of Grantmakers for Education. Kristen Burns is associate director of Grable.

News

April 11, 2019

Science Tots Book Fair | Barnes & Noble

Join Science Tots from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. to learn more about S.T.E.A.M.: Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math. The event will have hands-on, educational and fun activities based on the upcoming Earth Day! No registration required!

See the event page.

About Science Tots

Science Tot’s mission is to connect families with the instruction and tools to power early  S.T.E.A.M. learning.

News

March 29, 2019

Kids in Motion! Workshop

This is for all the children that love moving to music! Children will enjoy expressing themselves through creative movement while being introduced to the elements of dance and choreography led by a professional artist. This event is intended for children age 3 to 5.

Registration

To register for this event, visit the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust website.

Accessibility:

For personal assistance selecting accessible seats or for more information about accessibility for a person with a disability, please contact Customer Service at 412-456-6666.

 

News

December 6, 2018

100,000 Books Campaign: Free Book Fair

United Way’s 100,000 Books initiative is giving away new and gently used books to support your students’ developing reading skills.  A variety of books are available for various age groups, although this year’s selection appears to have more in the pre-k to 3rd-grade range.

To qualify, your program must use a mentor – reader model. This event is first come – first serve, so show up early. Bringing boxes is recommended. Register here.

What is 100,000 Books?

100,000 Books builds on research that demonstrates the importance of connecting a caring adult or older student with a child.  This mentor model has been shown to have a significant impact on the life of a child and will be the primary model that 100,000 Books uses to support reading skills development.  Mentors (teachers, librarians, youth workers, caring adults, older students…) will reinforce reading skills through one time and on-going read-along opportunities that will help kids to build this critical love of reading.

Questions

If you have any questions, please contact Tanya Baronti at tanya.baronti@unitedwayswpa.org or Joe Welsh at joe.welsh@unitedwayswpa.org.

News

December 5, 2018

What’s Next for the Allegheny County Children’s Fund?

Although the outcome of “Our Kids. Our Commitment.” initiative was not what proponents wanted, key stakeholders are looking toward the future and finding some victory in the vote.

Voting Results

During the recent election, over 513,000 Allegheny County residents cast their vote on a proposed amendment to establish the Allegheny County Children’s Fund through an increase in property taxes (0.25 millage rate, an estimated $30 increase per year for the average household). The fund would have supported early learning opportunities for children, after-school programs and nutritious meals. The amendment was defeated, with 48.31 percent of voters in support and 51.69 percent against.

“What I heard from my constituents was that they liked the idea of increased and specific funding for early learning, after-school programming, and nutrition programs,” says Councilwoman Deb Gross. “But they had concerns about the governance of the fund.”

What Does This Mean?

The defeat means that Allegheny County still does not dedicate any funding to early learning programs and nutritious meals but does allocate approximately $8 million to after-school programs. Advocates of the Children’s Fund say, despite the vote’s outcome, the need for these programs is still there, and that the vote showed that there is great public interest in finding a solution to funding these programs for our children.

“What this tells us is that just over a half-million people in Allegheny County care about this issue,” says Patrick Dowd, executive director of Allies for Children. “There is wide consensus that these types of programs are something we should be supporting, and clearly a number of people care about this issue. That part to us is helpful and inspiring.”

James Doyle, executive director of Higher Achievement, Pittsburgh, appreciates the number of people who did vote yes. “The people are saying they care about these three critical things enough to support a small increase in their taxes,” he says. “That sends a strong message for us to continue our work.”

Advocates agree that the vote shows people care about this issue and people want to see some sort of funding be provided for this type of early childhood support.

What’s Next?

The 10 organizations that came together to form the Allegheny County Children’s Fund Initiative will continue to advocate for these programs in the day-to-day work of their organizations.  The path to move forward, Dowd says, is through continued conversations with supporters, as well as listening very carefully to those who weren’t supportive.

The group plans to create a space for people to re-engage as they sift through many ideas and other feedback they received.  A future source of funding will need to have a transparent means of reporting back to the public, they say, but the source of that funding remains to be seen.

Allegheny Children’s Fund supporters will continue to advocate for these initiatives in the day-to-day work of their organizations, as well as through their continued collaboration to create a source of funding that will support these programs in the long-term.

“Our organization’s mission has been and will continue to be one that focuses on advocating on behalf of the needs and rights of children,” says Cara Ciminillo, executive director of Trying Together. “The needs remain and the needs are great.”

“I am hopeful that the state will continue the pattern of the past few years with incremental increases to funding for these programs, but this has not been enough to fill the gap,” she says. “We will be continuing the effort to look for local revenue to help support some of that gap.”

*Information provided by Kidsburgh*

News

November 29, 2018

The VOICE for Children Awards Celebration

The Pennsylvania Association for the Education of Young Children (PennAEYC) announced that their 2019 VOICE for Children Award Celebration will be held at the historic Hotel Hershey on April 5, 2019.

About the Award

PennAEYC recognizes the critical role advocacy plays in high-quality early learning settings and celebrates those who speak on behalf of Pennsylvania’s children. As the voice for early care and learning, community advocates play an important role in assuring all Pennsylvania’s children get the start that they deserve in school and in life.

The VOICE for Children Award is the only statewide award in Pennsylvania recognizing the grassroots leaders whose work impacts the quality of care for young children. Now in its 9th year, the VOICE Award celebrates not only individual award recipients, but the early childhood profession.

Hotel Reservations

If you plan to stay at the Hotel Hershey, reserve your room online or call (855.729.3108) today as rooms are limited. If calling, ask for the room block for the PA Association for the Education of Young Children at The Hotel Hershey, April 5-6, 2019. Other area hotels are also available.

Questions

For more information, contact Rose Snyder via email (rsnyder@pennaeyc.org).

*Information provided by PennAEYC*

News

Skate with Santa at the Schenley Park Ice Skating Rink

Looking to celebrate the holiday spirit with your young children? Enjoy a special opportunity to take to the ice with Santa Claus just days before Christmas! Bring along the kids and the camera to capture these holiday memories at the Schenley Ice Skating Rink. This event includes great music and the chance to skate outdoors in beautiful Schenley Park.

For more information, call 412-422-6523 or visit www.pittsburghpa.gov/schenley/rink.

Admission Costs

  • Adults:  $5
  • Seniors:  $4
  • Veterans with ID:  $4
  • Youth (17 and under):  $3
  • Skate Rentals:  $3
  • Skate Sharpening:  $5

Schenley Skating Rink accepts credit cards, Google Pay and Apple Pay.