“It is important to support other women along their career path,” said Jenn. “We should always remember to reach down and others to come up to where we are, just like those who went before us.”
Her commitment and involvement to PA Women Work continues to grow. While still volunteering as a mentor, Jenn donated her time to support our annual fall fundraising event, Circle of Hope. Additionally, she recently signed up for The Coffee Club, our monthly giving circle. “It's a great organization with a solid mission and team, and I feel that volunteers can really make a huge impact in the lives of those they interact with through the programs,” said Jenn. Thank you, Jenn, for joining our team as a donor and volunteer. Your time and commitment makes a life-changing impact.
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We are so thankful for our amazing partners who help us support the working women and families of our region. Thank you CentiMark and EQT for your incredible contributions to our mission.
strategy meetings to venue walkthroughs, event registration and prize committees.
“It was fun to visualize how everything would play out,” said Sharon. “ The volunteers I had the opportunity to work with that night were amazing.” Judy and Sharon are both longtime volunteers with PA Women Work. They are always eager to support the mission and the organization's needs. “I am very passionate about empowering women to achieve their goals, maximize their value and find meaningful employment,” said Judy. “To do this you need to be confident and believe in yourself, and PA Women Work provides many opportunities with their services and programs to achieve that.” Thank you Sharon and Judy for your time and commitment to our organization!  A Pittsburgh native, Maple Chen, Manager of Omni Business Strategies at Aerie, was eager to give back to the city that she loves. After graduating from college in 2017, she went to work for American Eagle Outfitters (AEO).
Last year, Maple learned that AEO was a strong supporter of PA Women Work through volunteerism and grant funding. She was inspired to get involved after learning more about the organization. “This is an organization I want to be a part of,” she thought. Shortly after, Maple signed up as a volunteer mentor through the 3 Cups of Coffee program. “My involvement in the program helps me strengthen the community I am trying to build in the city.” Maple recognizes the importance of support and mentorship during all phases of a professional career, and feels she can offer mentees information based on her experiences and cheer them on as they move ahead with their career goals. “It’s nice to get other’s perspectives at different stages in your life and career,” said Maple. “With my most recent mentee, we learned a lot from each other. ” Additionally, she sees her participation in 3 Cups of Coffee as an opportunity to meet more working women and grow as a professional, herself. “Give 3 Cups of Coffee a try, it’s nice to expand your professional network,” said Maple. Thank you to Maple for her continued volunteerism, and a special thank you to the AEO Foundation for their support of our 3 Cups of Coffee GRAD program.
As 2022 comes to an end, and we look toward a new year, we feel incredibly grateful for the hundreds of volunteers who provided for our clients and organization this year. When women in our region plunged deeper into poverty, battled against unemployment and underemployment, or struggled to meet their evolving needs, you were there. Together, we are creating an environment of support and connection for the working and job-seeking women of our region.
We would like to offer a special thank you to our 3 Cups of Coffee mentors; the team from EQT who stuffed backpacks so our clients’ kids could go back to school ready for success; the many PNC Bank volunteers who provided guidance, office support and more; the friends from KeyBank who offered a financial literacy workshop for our clients; our incredible Circle of Hope volunteers who made our event possible; all of the members of our Board of Directors, Volunteer and Ambassador Council and Employer Partner Committee; and so many more. Thank you for being a part of our village.  Feeling isolated and disconnected during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, Ana Kay Yaghoubian, Director of Building for Success in School and Life at United Way of Southwestern PA, was questioning how to find community and meaningful interactions. She found her answer scrolling through LinkedIn one day – Pennsylvania Women Work’s 3 Cups of Coffee mentoring program.
“The pandemic was very difficult, especially for those of us who are extroverted and used to being in an office environment and with people every day,” said Ana Kay. Ana Kay began volunteering as a 3 Cups of Coffee mentor shortly after learning about the program. Using her diverse experiences, she connected with mentees and helped transform their professional goals into achievable actions and milestones. “As you embark on every new stage of your life, I think it’s important to do it in solidarity with other women,” said Ana Kay. Looking back fondly on her own past mentors and the impact they had on her career, Ana Kay feels called to share her wisdom with young women and women transitioning in the workplace. “I’ve learned a lot from the women and mentors in my life,” said Ana Kay. “I feel like if there is any piece of that that I can give to other women, I have a responsibility to do that.” Ana Kay continues to make a difference in the lives of job-seeking women as a 3 Cups of Coffee mentor. If you’re interested in joining us as a volunteer, sign up today.  “PA Women work is transforming lives every day for our neighbors and our own communities.” Those are the words of Anne Kauffman, HR Business Partner at Peoples, an Essential Utility Company. Anne has been involved with PA Women Work since 2017, lending her time and expertise in a number of different capacities. She’s mentored women in our 3 Cups of Coffee program, been a key member of volunteer committees, and interviewed Customer Service class graduates for open positions at Peoples.
Most recently, Anne sits on our Employer Partner Committee providing insights into hiring trends, professional development gaps and other topics that keep our programming relevant to the needs of both our clients and the region’s top employers. Her involvement has allowed her to witness the impact PA Women Work’s programs and volunteers make. “I love that you can see first-hand how your efforts affect women in the community, not at some later date, but now, when it is needed most.” Anne volunteers because she is passionate about the mission and the work to empower women. “Being involved in empowering women with employment opportunities and helping them build their confidence is amazing and rewarding work. I love to hear the success stories and how far some of the clients have come. It truly is moving.” To learn more about how you can join Anne in this critical work by becoming a mentor, joining our Employer Partner Committee, or through other volunteer opportunities sign up here.  Reflecting on her twenty years as a volunteer with PA Women Work brings back wonderful memories for Carla E. Frost. “It was so much fun to be part of the original Circle of Hope,” she recounted. “During those first few years, the late Steelers great Dwight White would show up to help sell raffle tickets. He could always charm the guests into buying more tickets than they had originally planned!” Over the past two decades, Carla has served as an active member of our Corporate Advisory Committee, assisted with our advocacy efforts, leant her hiring expertise to mock interview sessions, sold raffle tickets and so much more. “What I love most about Carla,” said PA Women Work Executive Director Kristin Ioannou, “is the energy and enthusiasm that she brings to her volunteerism. She deeply cares about the women we support and is personally invested in our mission to empower women in the workplace.” Carla’s own testimonial on what keeps her engaged highlights her connection to the mission: “I believe that women facing obstacles to gainful employment need and deserve a network of support and resources. The countless connections and collaborations that PA Women Work facilitates are transformative for clients.” Carla would like to see more volunteers get involved. “I like to say that PA Women Work is women-bred and women-led, and that by volunteering, women have the opportunity to provide solutions from an inclusive, woman-centric perspective. We bring insights through the lens of working, career-oriented women, who are uniquely positioned to open doors to places that can truly impact the economic trajectory of other women in our region.” Thank you, Carla E. Frost, for twenty years (and counting!) of volunteering your time and expertise to support our clients on their journeys to meaningful and family-sustaining employment. To join Carla and PA Women Work’s incredible team of volunteers, sign up here.  Behind every successful non-profit event, there is a team of dedicated volunteers working diligently for months on end to make sure that the celebration goes off without a hitch. We are incredibly grateful to our Circle of Hope event committee members who contributed to this year’s record-breaking success.
Joyce Rollins, a former client and current volunteer, was a key member of the team. “If you won a basket in the auction, thank Joyce Rollins,” said PA Women Work Development Director Lauren Riegelnegg. “Joyce was pivotal to our success – following up on donations, making phone calls to local businesses, and even contributing some silent auction items herself.” When asked what inspired her to get involved, Joyce had this to say: “I went through the 3 Cups of Coffee GRAD program at CCAC. It was such a rewarding experience for me. I believe in PA Women Work’s mission and wanted to give back to a program that has given me so much.” Joyce’s favorite committee moment was hearing about the success of the event, how “teamwork made the dream work,” and knowing that her efforts can help PA Women Work expand their programming and assist more clients. “If you are compassionate about helping others, this is one organization that can fill that space in your heart,” shared Joyce. Thank you, Joyce and the Circle of Hope Committee, for helping to make this year’s event such a success!  For the past six years, Kathy has advocated on behalf of PA Women Work, sat on our Corporate Advisory Committee, been an active participant in our Circle of Hope event, and helped secure donations and funding for the organization. When asked why she volunteers, Kathy expressed her passion for helping women achieve their goals. “Helping women gain skills for employment is essential for them and their children. PA Women Work provides all the tools needed for women to improve their employment situation. That's the key to building stronger, stable families,” Kathy explained. “I love learning the success stories and watching the powerful videos of women helping women achieve their goals.” Kathy has a caring and generous heart. We are lucky to have her in our volunteer community. Amazing volunteers like Kathy help make our work possible. If you would like to join Kathy and the rest of our incredible team of volunteers, sign up here. |
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5607 Baum Boulevard, Suite 333 | Pittsburgh, PA 15206 | tel: 412-742-4362 | fax: 412-904-4739
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The official registration and financial information of Pennsylvania Women Work may be obtained from the Pennsylvania Department of State by calling toll free, within Pennsylvania, 1 (800) 732-0999. Registration does not imply endorsement.
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