Since 2009, Friends and the National Park Service have worked in partnership to deliver sustainable educational programming for grades 4-12. The content of the programming focuses on the events of September 11, 2001, with an emphasis on the Flight 93 Story.

Ranger-guided field trips to the Memorial are offered in the spring and fall of each year. During the 2022 school year,over 10,000 children visited the Memorial through education scholarships provided by the Friends of Flight 93.

Field trips offer a unique learning experience for students of all ages. In the visitor center, students learn about the passenger and crew members, the events of 9/11, and the Flight 93 story through exhibits and displays. Weather and time permitting, students walk to the Memorial Plaza for a ranger-led program. From the plaza, students visit the Wall of Names and pay respect to the forty passengers and crew members. Students can visit the Tower of Voices, the monumental ninety-three-foot-tall musical instrument holding forty wind chimes, representing the forty passengers and crew members.

Virtual programming is offered year-round to students worldwide who wish to learn about the events of September 11 and the Flight 93 story. Through a state-of-the-art distance learning studio, Friends and National Park Service educators can accommodate those unable to visit the memorial. The Friends’website also includes a virtual tour for students to experience the Memorial features remotely.

The Friends’ Scholarship program is funded in part through corporate donations from the Education Improvement Tax Credit Program(EITC) and through donations from businesses and individuals. During the 2021-2022 school year the demand for education scholarships increased dramatically. The Friends funded over $70,000 in scholarships to schools in Allegheny, Armstrong, Bedford, Blair, Butler, Cambria, Center, Clearfield, Clarion, Elk, Erie, Fayette, Huntington, Indiana, Jefferson, Somerset, Tioga, and Westmoreland counties.

On Giving Tuesday, The Friends of Flight 93 National Memorial asks donors of all types to consider supporting the organization:

*Businesses who participate in the Educational Improvement Tax Credit Program (EITC) may consider directing a portion of their EITC allocation to the Friends Scholarship program.

*Corporations may consider directing a portion of their donation dollars to the Friends Scholarship program.

*Individuals may consider directing a portion of their budgeted donations and year-end giving to the Friends Scholarship program.

All donations will help the Friends continue the tradition of supporting school field trips to the Memorial where students learn about the events of September 11, 2001 and the story of Flight 93.

Visit www.flight93friends.org to learn more, and to see the organization’s Giving Tuesday video.

STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY FRIENDS OF FLIGHT 93

For nearly 80 years, Animal Friends has served as a center of hope and healing for homeless animals in Pittsburgh and the surrounding region. Since the organization’s founding in 1943, Animal Friends has supported millions of pets and people and has grown from “the shelter in the Strip District” to a full-service companion animal resource community located on a 75-acre campus in Ohio Township, just north of downtown Pittsburgh.

Each day, Animal Friends provides rescue, rehabilitation and rehoming for pets in crisis, a diverse collection of educational, therapeutic and outreach programs, and pet retention resources for people who love their pets but have fallen on hard times and are struggling to give them the care they need.

Simply put, Animal Friends is saving lives … and so much more.

At the forefront of Animal Friends’ lifesaving work is a vision of a humane and compassionate future for every animal friend –two-and four-legged alike. This vision is about so much more than providing adoption services for homeless animals.

Outreach Programs

Animal Friends’ approach to supporting the pets and people of the region has long been rooted in promoting the animal-human bond through outreach, education, and therapeutic programs. These programs include Humane Education opportunities that engage the next generation of animal lovers; Therapets certified pet therapy teams that offer compassionate support to those in need; Animal Friends for Veterans which continues the organization’s longstanding commitment to the brave individuals of our military; and more.

Pet Retention

The best place for a pet to be is in the comfort of a home with a family to call their own. That’s why Animal Friends believes in a holistic approach to pet retention that helps to keep companion animals out of shelters and in loving homes where they belong. Through initiatives like Friends for Life and the Chow Wagon Pet Food Bank, Animal Friends eliminates barriers and provides a safety net for struggling pet owners. And, by offering low-cost spay/neuter, vaccines, wellness, and specialized procedures at their Animal Wellness Center, they are making veterinary care affordable and accessible for more pet owners.

Lifesaving Operations

Each year, Animal Friends cares for thousands of animals in crisis who have nowhere else to turn. Their Humane Society Police Officers investigate reports from the community and offer safe haven to animals who are victims of abuse, cruelty and neglect. Animal Friends also partners with organizations on a local, regional and national level to give second chances through transport initiatives. Animal Friends also serves as a resource for pet owners who have no choice but to surrender their beloved pets due to circumstances beyond their control. With experienced and credentialed medical and behavioral staff, each dog, cat, and rabbit who comes through the doors receives individualized care and support to set them up for success.

The animals need you now.

This lifesaving work cannot continue without your support. You can help Animal Friends continue its commitment to the pets and people of our community who are in the greatest need of support. Please consider making a life-changing donation to Animal Friends at ThinkingOutsideTheCage.org.

Your gift will save lives …and so much more. Donate here.

STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY ANIMAL FRIENDS

Families are facing unique challenges in 2022. A global pandemic changed hospital births. Breastfeeding is hard to do, and formula is hard to find. Postpartum depression can be detrimental.

In order to address all of the above, one local nonprofit organization is connecting expectant and new parents in the Commonwealth to birth workers who care. For over 30 years, Healthy Start Pittsburgh has supported healthier pregnancies, safer births, and stronger families.Their goal is to end infant mortality, especially for Black families.

Infant health disparities are striking. In 2019, Black babies in Allegheny County died before the age of 1 at a rate over five times higher than white babies. But there’s hope. Families who receive Healthy Start services show far better outcomes than the general population of Black women and babies in Allegheny County.

There’s still more work to be done to change the trajectory of our region, and Healthy Start is leading that charge. Living out their mission looks like free perinatal care, community-based education, and one-on-one support to new parents in their homes. The organization envisions a society where everyone has the opportunity for optimum health and wellbeing, despite race, economic status, or zip code.

One of their focuses in 2022 is safe infant feeding during the formula shortage. What’s best for one family may be different from what’s best for another family. Whether a mother decides breastfeeding, formula feeding, or supplementing is best for her and her baby, HealthyStart is here to help people like Lovie.

Lovie Jewell Jackson Foster—mother, wife, yoga teacher, and social butterfly—chose a combination of breastfeeding, infant formula, and human donor milk to nourish her three children. In 2014, Lovie gave birth to twins, Magnus and Justus. Her breastmilk supply alone wasn’t enough for her growing boys, so supplementing with formula worked for Lovie and her family. Eight years later, as she awaited the adoption of her third child, Lovie took steps to relactate and found a human donor milk resource. Her adopted daughter, Angel, was born in 2021 and has been breastfed by Lovie and supplemented with human donor milk and formula ever since.

As a Black woman, Lovie’s choice to breastfeed was not the norm. Even though breastfeeding is recommended, a 2018 report from the Allegheny County Health Department demonstrated that mothers who identified as Black consistently had the smallest percentage of intention to breastfeed. Healthy Start’s Center for Urban Breastfeeding offers free, on-demand lactation support to Black mothers in Allegheny County. Last year, they conducted 67 lactation visits.

In addition to the infant formula shortage, Healthy Start is working to support physical and mental health. Their Doula Program supports pregnant moms every step of the way, including labor. They also offer in-home therapy to new moms experiencing postpartum depression. This holiday season, Healthy Start asks that you give a gift to connect more families with birth workers who care. bit.ly/ConnectFamiliesWithBirthWorkers

STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY HEALTHY START

For 125 years, the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium has served as home to thousands of amazing animals and has welcomed community members of all ages to learn about our shared world. A proud regional institution rated among the top in the country, it is the Zoo’s honor to care for over 600 species and operate as a resource for conservation, education, and research.

Generations of families have formed fond memories at the Pittsburgh Zoo. From toddlers delighting in tigers to grandparents appreciating gorillas, every visitor has the opportunity to encounter awe-inspiring wildlife. Your family may have met friendly Lewis the giraffe or our loveable red panda, Kovu. You may have heard a lion roar in person, felt a smooth sting ray, or discovered just how big elephants really are. You undoubtedly had a day to remember.

While the Zoo honors the past, it also recognizes the challenges of the present. An increasing number of animals, both in the Zoo’s care and in the wild, are threatened or endangered, frequently from habitat loss and actions of humans. Pollution and climate change has a drastically negative impact on people and animals alike.

New discoveries, practices, and ongoing education gives the Zoo the tools to make a difference for future generations. Beyond the Zoo’s featured residents, it takes action for animals and protects their counterparts and habitats in the wild. The Zoo currently participates in 93 conservation programs on all seven continents. Whether it’s rescuing and rehabilitating stranded sea turtles, caring for a one-year-old elephant at the International Conservation Center in Somerset, PA, or making sustainable choices right here in Pittsburgh, the Zoo is making an impact.

The Zoo cannot affect change alone; it relies on the partnership of donors and visitors like you to maintain, revitalize, and inspire. The Zoo requires support for daily maintenance and animal daily care, ongoing conservation initiatives, and the active participation of learners in its educational efforts. You can support the Zoo multiple ways, such as making a donation, becoming a member, adopting an animal, or participating in programs, classes, and events at the Zoo. Your actions now set up the next 125 years of biodiversity.

Donate to the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium here.

STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY THE PITTSBURGH ZOO AND PPG AQUARIUM

In 1902, a small group of compassionate Pittsburghers established a specialized home to care for a five-year old boy severely injured in an accident.

From those humble beginnings, The Children’s Institute of Pittsburgh has continually grown with the world around us. Just as health care and society has changed, the organization has adapted its services to best address individuals with unique abilities and their loved ones.

From polio care to early intervention, The Children’s Institute has responded to the needs of the community with innovative programs that foster healing, growth, and independence.

As the organization celebrates its 120th anniversary, the team is proud of its growth and the impact it has had on the community. More than 6,000 kids and families rely on The Children’s Institute each year and trust the organization to provide unique services for young people with special needs.

Through it all, The Children’s Institute remains rooted in phenomenal care and innovative practices. While located here in Western Pa. with satellite offices across the region, the organization is known throughout the country and beyond for its comprehensive and compassionate care.

From Emil to Anniyah, from Christopher to Amiyr, The Children’s Institute continually improves the quality of life for amazing kids and families by providing expert resources and care.

The staff serves families through educational services, autism services, outpatient physical and behavioral health services, early intervention, and child and family services. To best meet the needs of families, many services are available both in-person and via telehealth.

As it looks forward to the next 120 years, The Children’s Institute seeks to be the lifelong partner to individuals with a disability and their families. It will continue to reach more individuals with an array of exceptional services and be an influential voice on the subjects of disability, education, family support services, behavioral health, and more.

The Children’s Institute will build on its 120 year legacy, and will continue to provide compassionate, personalized care for every child. Just as it has done since 1902.

For more information about The Children’s Institute, please visit www.amazingkids.org or call 412.420.2400.

You can also help ensure each child receives the care they need, regardless of their family’s ability to pay, by making a gift to the Amazing Kids Fund at www.amazingkids.org/giving.

STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY THE CHILDREN’S INSTITUTE