ETC: YWCA gets an unexpected $20 million grant from MacKenzie Scott and more news
YWCA Greater Pittsburgh receives $20 million grant
Philanthropist MacKenzie Scott, the ex-wife of Jeff Bezos, bestowed a surprise $20 million grant not a typo–to the YWCA Greater Pittsburgh to advance its mission to provide support services for people in southwestern Pennsylvania, especially women and girls of color. YWCA, which just confirmed the grant, was among 384 nonprofits in the country selected to receive the unrestricted funds. Scott wrote about the $4.1 billion she gave to organizations in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and Washington, D.C. over the last four months in this article for Medium. The gift will enable the YWCA to increase Covid relief efforts and expand critical initiatives that impact the intersectionality of race and gender.
Tribune-Review
Tom Davidson | Tribune-Review
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Lauri Ann West Community Center is hosting “Love the Center,” a fundraiser that teams residents with local small businesses for a Valentine’s Day celebration to enjoy at home.
Participants can choose to make purchases from couples or family dinner options from Aspinwall Everyday Gourmet, cocktails from 4Four6 Distillery and flowers from Fox and the Fleur. Everything will be offered for curbside pickup at the center on Feb. 13. For an additional donation, orders can be delivered.
Support will benefit programs and services at the center, 1220 Powers Run Road, O’Hara.
Sharpsburg is seeking interested volunteers to fill a vacancy on council.
Longtime member Greg Domian resigned, citing personal reasons.
Manager Bill Rossey said the appointee would fill the term through Dec. 31. Anyone interested must be a registered voter and have lived in the borough for at least a year.
Domian has spent several years in local government, reelected most recently in 2019.
He served as personnel chairperson, acted on the finance and public safety committees and represented the borough on the North Hills tax collection committee.
Domian shined in his work enhancing many amenities to spotlight the borough.
As coordinator of the wildly popular Open Streets festival, Domian grew the event from a handful of people in 2017 to an affair that drew thousands in 2019. The event was canceled in 2020 because of covid-19.
Joyce Hanz | For the Tribune-Review
Fox Chapel Area High School students, along with those at Dorseyville Middle School, could see an increase in in-person instruction as early as February.
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Fox Chapel Area School District officials said a decision to increase in-person class time for middle and high school students could come in early February.
Superintendent Mary Catherine Reljac said there’s been no alternate guidance from the state regarding older students, despite last week’s recommendation by health and education experts to return elementary students to classrooms.
Nate Smallwood | Tribune-Review
Blawnox Volunteer Fire Company will be the site of grab-and-go meals every Tuesday through Feb. 2 for Fox Chapel Area School District families.
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Free grab-and-go meals will be available in Blawnox each Tuesday through Feb. 2 for Fox Chapel Area School District families.
Sponsored by Backpack for Hunger and Fox Families Care, the meals will be served at the Blawnox firehall, 376 Freeport Road.
“This is for anyone,” volunteer Lisa Bowden said. “There are no income requirements.”
Borough manager Kathy Ulanowicz said families can access meals from 5 to 6 p.m. Everyone is required to wear a mask to enter the firehall.