The Allegheny County Parks Foundation is dedicated to improving, conserving and restoring all 12,000 acres of our region’s nine county parks – Boyce, Deer Lakes, Harrison Hills, Hartwood Acres, North, Round Hill, Settlers Cabin, South and White Oak.

The Allegheny County Parks Foundation strengthens the health and vibrancy of our community by improving, conserving and restoring the nine Allegheny County Parks. Working in partnership with Allegheny County, the Parks Foundation brings together ideas, leadership as well as resources to make the parks more sustainable and enjoyable for all.

More About Allegheny County Parks Foundation

The Parks Foundation restores historic landmarks such as South Park’s Cascades and Carol R. Brown Sculpture Garden at Hartwood Acres, preserving cultural treasures while creating spaces the community can enjoy year-round. Guided by Ecological and Stream Assessments, the Parks Foundation improves water quality, expands wildlife habitats and strengthens green infrastructure to protect the environment for future generations.

The Parks Foundation led a recent Economic Impact Study that found the parks welcome 23.2 million visits each year, including 7.2 million from non-local visitors who contribute $8.45 million in the regional economy, demonstrating how the parks support both community life and local businesses. The parks’ 9,180 acres of tree canopy, worth $5.8 million in total annual tree cover value, provide clean air ($3.0 million annually), manage stormwater ($1.1 million annually) and store carbon ($53.7 million total value). Since its founding, the Parks Foundation has raised over $12 million, matched by Allegheny County, resulting in more than $19 million invested in projects that touch millions of visitors and strengthen the region.

How You Can Help

Join us at signature events like Pour at the Park and Twilight Picnic for the Parks, volunteer at a tree planting, donate to support our mission or sign up for our monthly newsletter to stay connected.

Every donation makes a visible impact: planting trees, repairing trails, conserving natural landscapes and restoring historic landmarks. Because Allegheny County matches most funds the Parks Foundation raises, every contribution doubles your power to transform your parks and our region.

To donate visit, https://acparksfoundation.org/donate/.

Story and Photography Courtesy of Allegheny County Parks Foundation

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The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to finding a cure for cystic fibrosis and helping those living with the disease lead long, fulfilling lives. The Foundation funds innovative research, advances new treatments, and supports high-quality care through a network of accredited centers across the country. The Foundation promotes advocacy for the CF community and brings people together through fundraising events and volunteer efforts that raise awareness, build hope, and drive progress toward a cure.

The mission of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation is to cure cystic fibrosis and to provide all people with CF the opportunity to lead long, fulfilling lives through funding research and drug development, advocating for high-quality, specialized care, and partnering with the community. The foundation’s efforts focus on finding cures for all mutations, improving existing treatments, and ensuring equitable access to care for everyone affected by CF. 

More About Cystic Fibrosis Foundation

The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation is deeply committed to uniting communities in the fight against cystic fibrosis through a series of impactful as well as inspiring events. Signature initiatives such as Great Strides, Pittsburgh’s 50 Finest, A Passion for Wine, Cycle for Life, and Corporate Cup bring together volunteers, families, and corporate partners to raise vital funds and awareness for cystic fibrosis research and care.

Each event offers a unique way for the community to get involved—whether walking in solidarity, cycling for a cure, celebrating philanthropic leadership, or engaging in friendly corporate competition. Collectively, these events not only generate essential support for life-changing research and programs but also foster a powerful sense of connection, hope, and progress toward the Foundation’s mission to make CF stand for “Cure Found.”

How You Can Help

Magazine readers can get involved with the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation in many meaningful ways. They can participate in or volunteer at local fundraising events such as Great Strides, Cycle for Life, or A Passion for Wine, which bring communities together to raise awareness and support for those living with CF. Readers can also donate directly to help fund life-saving research and care programs, or become advocates by sharing the Foundation’s mission and supporting public policies that improve access to treatments. Additionally, businesses and community groups can sponsor events or form corporate teams, strengthening both community engagement and impact. Every action—big or small—helps move us closer to a world where CF stands for Cure Found. 

In addition, companies can make a powerful impact by engaging employees in the Foundation’s mission through volunteer opportunities and participation in events such as Great Strides, Cycle for Life, and Corporate Cup. These activities foster teamwork, community connection, and shared purpose while directly supporting the fight against cystic fibrosis. 

Donations

Fundraising is essential to advancing our mission, which is why donations are vital to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Every contribution directly supports our efforts to find a cure and enhance the quality of life for those living with cystic fibrosis. Donations fund innovative research that leads to breakthrough treatments, sustain a nationwide network of specialized care centers, and strengthen our advocacy work to ensure access to life-saving therapies. They also make it possible for the Foundation to provide education, resources, and community programs that empower individuals and families affected by CF. Thanks to the generosity of our supporters, the Foundation continues to transform lives—extending life expectancy, improving care, and moving closer each day to a cure. 

To donate, visit https://www.cff.org/chapters/western-pennsylvania.

Story and Photography by Cystic Fibrosis Foundation

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A+ Schools is a Pittsburgh-based nonprofit that rallies the community to support public schools so every kid succeeds in every school every day. They do this by raising funds for high needs schools to cover everything from basic needs to field trips through A to Z Funds, partnering with schools that have the highest rates of chronic absenteeism – missing 10% or more of the school year – to work with their staff, families, as well as communities to address the barriers that keep kids from school.

They work city-wide to build a movement of people Showing Up for their kids by convening the Pittsburgh Learning Collaborative – a group of over 130 organizations working together to help all of their kids get to school and learn – and providing data through their Annual Report to the Community – so they have a common set of facts around which their community can strategize to make improvements.

At A+ Schools, they envision a Pittsburgh where every kid succeeds, in every school, every day. They are on a mission to ensure:

• Every community is a place where all kids can get to school safely and on time.
• Every family has what they need so kids come to school ready to learn.
• Every school is a place where all students and staff feel they belong and are excited to be.

More About A+ Schools

They helped to Reimagine Perry High School. In 2018, they were invited by Perry High School staff to help them strategize and come up with a plan to reimagine their neighborhood high school to meet the needs of their students and making it a place where every Northside high school student would want to come. Over the course of 6 years and hundreds of thousands of dollars of investment, students at Perry now experience:

• Project-based learning that is codesigned by teachers and community institutions like the Kamin Science Center (link to article), Manchester Craftsmen’s Guild, Artist Image Resources, the Warhol Museum and others, bringing their curriculum to life with hands-on activities.
• College in High School courses delivered by the University of Pittsburgh’s Justice Scholars Institute with over 100 students now taking college level courses and earning credit at Perry (link to story).
• Improved school spirit and attendance incentives supported by A+ Schools’ A to Z Fund.

A+ Schools also partnered to get kids to school at Arlington.

Coming out of the pandemic, many students lost their yellow buses due to a bus driver shortage, with Pittsburgh Arlington PreK-8 being hit the hardest with over 200 students that now had to walk to school. This loss of transportation led to a 64% chronic absence rate in the first year back out of the pandemic. Following that year, they partnered with the school and the Brashear Association to buy two vans and support the Brashear Association with the creation of their Nana Nudge program (NPR link). This effort, along with work done by school staff to engage families and create attendance incentives led to a significant decrease in chronic absence in the following year.

How You Can Help

A+ Schools raises a dedicated fund to support partner schools—they call it the A to Z Fund. Your donation to this fund directly supports improved student attendance by providing basic needs, attendance incentives, school supports, and resources for improving family engagement.

Did you know- Only 9 schools (out of 54!) in PPS have PTOs. While parents are active in every school, the ability to fundraise for field trips, student activities, and other enrichment opportunities are not available everywhere—creating a huge difference in the educational experience of children across the city. A to Z Funds help bridge those gaps, providing community funding for those extras that families can’t always afford. The more A to Z Funding they have available, the deeper they can partner with schools who need that support the most.

To donate to the A+ Schools, visit https://givebutter.com/4i7LHq.

Story A+ Schools
Photography by TreFlicks

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Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank is a nonprofit organization dedicated to achieving lasting solutions to hunger and its root causes in southwestern Pennsylvania. Serving an 11-county region, the Food Bank distributes nutritious meals through a network of over 1,000 partner agencies, programs and community initiatives to ensure that individuals and families have access to the food they need to thrive.

Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank’s mission is to leverage the power of community to achieve lasting solutions to hunger and its root causes.

More About Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank

Through community distributions, a network of agencies and partners and “The Market” at its headquarters in Duquesne, the Food Bank provided enough food for 53 million meals last year, including 18 million pounds of fresh, healthy produce. The Food Bank hosted more than 300 direct distributions, assisted 2,200 people with submitting SNAP applications and provided more than 66,000 boxes to seniors through Commodity supplemental Food Program.

How You Can Help

Volunteers are the heart of the mission at the Food Bank, donating 78,800 hours last year. Volunteers pack food boxes for seniors, package produce and meat into family-sized portions and sort donated items in the Volunteer Engagement Center. In The Market, volunteers stock shelves and help visitors select food. They help with our distributions and provide skill-based support. We welcome companies and groups for team building opportunities. Every volunteer hour helps provide meals and hope.

Every dollar donated to Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank provides up to three meals for neighbors in need. Donations help sustain food distribution, support outreach programs like SNAP enrollment and maintain partnerships that connect families to life-stabilizing resources.

To donate, visit http://pittsburghfoodbank.org/donate.

Story and Photography by Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank

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Foster Love Project provides tangible support to children impacted by foster care throughout the Pittsburgh region. This includes a free shopping center, teen mentoring program, hair care support, a Back 2 School event, Family Support Weekend, annual bag drive and an Angel Tree holiday gift program.

Foster Love Project shows love in action to children impacted by foster and kinship care through the provision of goods, services and support.

More About Foster Love Project

When kids arrive at our free shopping center for the first time, they often feel uncertain and anxious—worried they’ll have to choose from clothes that don’t reflect their style or help them fit in with their peers. But the moment they step through the doors and see racks of brand-new clothing from stores and brands they recognize, their shoulders drop in relief. They quickly realize this is a place where they are seen, valued, and cared for.

How Can You Help

Foster Love Project offers many ongoing opportunities to get involved. This holiday season, there are two special ways to make an impact. You can pack a bag of essentials for a child entering a new home (see our website for the full contents list) or grant a wish through our Angel Tree Gift Program (details available on our website). For those who may like to host a community drive, we can provide a wishlist of items needed to keep our shelves stocked. And as always, financial donations help us respond quickly to the many requests for support we receive throughout the year

Foster Love Project serves more than 3,000 youth each year through our seven programs. Without the support of our community, we would not be able to provide this amount of goods, support and services. Financial donations allow us to ensure our shelves can always be stocked, community drives meet very tangible needs and our bag drive participants ensure that foster youth receive care from their first moments of entering a new home

To donate, visit https://www.fosterloveproject.org/donate/.

Story and Photography by Foster Love Project

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The Greater Pittsburgh Nonprofit Partnership (GPNP), a program of The Forbes Funds, is a growing coalition of more than 500 nonprofit organizations leveraging their collective power for good. GPNP strengthens the region’s nonprofit sector through advocacy, education, and capacity-building initiatives that help organizations thrive and create lasting impact across Southwestern Pennsylvania.

The Forbes Funds fuels local change, drives regional collaboration, and sparks national innovation by empowering and scaling the social impact sector for a resilient, future-ready ecosystem.

More About Forbes Funds

Through the Forbes Funds’ ecosystem of support, GPNP helps organizations operate smarter, advocate louder, and innovate faster. Signature initiatives such as the GPNP Summit, Policy Impact Series, and new AI for Social Impact programs give nonprofit leaders access to the tools, insights, and partnerships needed to tackle complex challenges.

From workforce development to technology adoption, GPNP’s capacity-building approach ensures nonprofits have the strategy and strength to deliver on their missions — today and for the next generation.

How You Can Help

Community members, funders, and businesses can invest in the future of Pittsburgh’s nonprofit sector by donating to support GPNP’s policy and advocacy work, sponsoring the upcoming 2025 GPNP Summit, or joining as members to connect with peers shaping the region’s collective impact.

Every dollar given to The Forbes Funds and GPNP multiplies in reach — expanding access to policy expertise, and professional development that empower 500+ nonprofits to strengthen communities across our region.

To donate, visit https://forbesfunds.org/about/.

Story and Photography by The Forbes Funds

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For more than 65 years, Familylinks has been proudly serving individuals and families across western Pennsylvania. Our clientele reflects a wide range of cultures, abilities, and life experiences. They all have one thing in common – when they turn to Familylinks in their time of need, we are here for them. To achieve this level of support, we offer a vast continuum of services in the areas of Behavioral Health, Youth & Family Services, Service Coordination, and Aging Services. Our programming currently operates out of 14 service sites and reaches people in 29 Pennsylvania counties.

To positively impact lives through integrated community, behavioral, and social programs.

More About Familylinks

Familylinks is the only organization in Allegheny County that operates an emergency shelter solely dedicated to meeting the needs of young adults ages 18-25 who are experiencing homelessness. This shelter offers more than just a safe haven from the dangers of the streets; it is a place where young adults can build the foundations of a healthy and independent future. It operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, and serves 150 young adults annually.

How You Can Help

Readers can get involved by visiting Familylinks’ website to learn more, sign up for our newsletter, or make a donation.

Every dollar donated to Familylinks directly supports programs that help people in our community build stronger, healthier lives. Donations make it possible for us to:

• Provide safe housing and supportive care for youth and adults facing homelessness, trauma, or behavioral health challenges.
• Offer mental health counseling and emotional support to children, families, and individuals who otherwise might not have access to care.
• Help people with disabilities live independently, through Supports Coordination and life skills programs.
• Strengthen families through parenting support, early childhood programs, and in-home services.
• Invest in our staff and infrastructure to ensure high-quality, compassionate care across every program.

When someone gives to Familylinks, they’re helping a young person find safety, a family heal, an adult with autism achieve independence, and a community grow stronger.

To donate, visit https://familylinks.org/.

Story and Photography by Familylinks

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