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.
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 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.  About three years ago, Jennifer Turner signed up as a 3 Cups of Coffee mentor. “I have had some great mentors in my life and wanted to give back,” Jennifer recalled.
Since becoming a mentor, Jennifer has made a huge difference for our clients. “I mentored a woman reentering the workforce, and we worked together on how to properly answer behavior-based interview questions and discussed what employers are looking for during an interview,” Jennifer remembered. “After just two cups of coffee, she successfully gained employment.” Jennifer not only mentors, she is a member of our Corporate Advisory Committee, conducts virtual mock interviews for clients, has written a blog post for our website, and helps promote our work whenever she can. “Volunteering with PA Women Work is a great opportunity to help others. Not only has the organization impacted so many of their clients’ lives, through volunteering I have improved my own resume, developed my professional network and boosted my self-esteem, as well,” Jennifer said. “It is a wonderful feeling to be at the point of my career where I can give back.” Volunteers like Jennifer make our work possible. If you are interested in becoming a volunteer, sign up for one of our opportunities today!  After volunteering for our annual Circle of Hope Awards Dinner in 2011, Lindsay was eager to jump in head-first and get more involved with the organization.
“Listening to the clients speak about their stories and how PA Women Work helped them through their career transition, I knew I had to do more and wanted to be involved,” Lindsay remembered. Since then, Lindsay has volunteered on multiple event committees; fundraises through the Highmark Walk every year; contributes to the Silent Auction; assisted with our virtual event, Hope for a Brighter Tomorrow; and helped with our advocacy efforts. “My second year involved, I traveled to Harrisburg for ‘advocacy day’ to speak to our legislators about New Choices. I got to spend the day with clients of PA Women Work and learn and listen to their stories,” Lindsay shared that this was one of her favorite memories as a volunteer. Additionally, Lindsay is an active member of our Corporate Advisory Committee. In her role at BNY Mellon as Lead Manager, Payroll Tax and Accounting, she actively encourage her colleagues to support PA Women Work in various ways throughout the year. Thank you to Lindsay for your continued support of our organization! We are so lucky to have you on our team. If you’d like to join Lindsay as a volunteer, sign up for one of our current virtual volunteer opportunities today. |
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Centre City Tower, 650 Smithfield Street, Suite 520 | Pittsburgh, PA 15222 | 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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