Fox Chapel-based Women's Board of Pittsburgh delivers 50 boxes of food for children

Members of the Fox Chapel-based Women’s Board of Pittsburgh collected a hearty amount of food with the mission of feeding needy children at the holidays.

“No child should ever go hungry,” member Lisa Bowden said.

She said the group delivered 25 boxes of food to each of two local organizations that support children facing food insecurity:

• 412 Boxing, a group associated with the Police Athletic League that provides gym equipment, boxing/life lessons, while instilling the values of discipline, integrity and respect.

• Propel Schools Homestead, one of a network of public charter schools that transforms the lives of children in underserved communities through student-centered learning.

“We were especially happy to do this food drive in December,” Bowden said.

Founded in 1991, the Women’s Board began with a small group of friends who wanted to improve the lives of children across the Pittsburgh region.

In its first year, a luncheon fundraiser brought in $1,200. Since then, the total raised has topped $1.3 million.

Both 412 Boxing and Propel School Homestead were recipients of the 2022 Women’s Board fundraiser, which included a cocktail party and runway fashion show, as well as a virtual cooking demonstration and auction. The luncheon hosted on May 6 at the Pittsburgh Field Club marked its 30th year and brought in $73,000.

Bowden said that as the Women’s Board spent more time with the grant recipients, members learned that many of the children were impacted by hunger.

“Participants often show up hungry,” Bowden said.

“Women’s Board members were impressed with the work of these nonprofits but sad to hear that many children in both programs faced food insecurity.”

Money to Propel School Homestead from the annual fundraiser benefited its STEM program — science, technology, engineering and math.

Volunteers learned that the site also has a food pantry for students from which they can take food home, and they wanted to help fill it.

School administrators requested easy-to-prepare food, but also canned items and food that could be cooked and prepared for meals at home.

Likewise, 412 Boxing needed quick items like peanut butter, protein bars, cheese crackers, applesauce and cereal.

“Since many of the youth who come into boxing practice were often hungry, 412 Boxing started a food pantry and our drive added a significant amount of items to it,” Bowden said.

Recipients of the 2023 Women’s Board fundraiser, Springtime in Paris, have not been announced yet. The event will be April 27 at the Fox Chapel Golf Club.