Women's Board of Pittsburgh raises $90,000 for children's programs

Up against a pandemic, the Women’s Board of Pittsburgh hosted a virtual edition of its annual fundraiser and found that support still flooded in.

“Even in these unprecedented times, very generous sponsors and a large group of supporters from the Pittsburgh area helped make this event a big success,” spokeswoman Debbie Burke said.

Proceeds topped $90,000 and will be split among programs for children at both the Women’s Center & Shelter of Greater Pittsburgh and The Neighborhood Academy.

It brings the total to nearly $1 million doled out by the Fox Chapel-based Women’s Board since its inception in 1992.

Most often, money is distributed to underfunded programs that help local children. In past years, money has gone to the Sharpsburg Community Library, Project SEED and Family Literacy Center.

Last year, the group brought in $90,000 to benefit Hosanna House, Inc., a multipurpose health and human service organization assisting more than 35,000 people a year in Wilkinsburg and nearby communities.

This year, the money will assist two groups.

The Women’s Center works to protect victims of domestic violence, foster social change and rebuild lives. It was founded in 1974 as one of the first six domestic-violence shelters in the nation.

Proceeds will go toward the children’s program to help kids develop physically and emotionally.

At The Neighborhood Academy, money will support the middle school boys program.

The faith-based college prep school aims to break the generational cycle of poverty by preparing low-income children for postsecondary school.

“These difficult times presented a challenge for the event to proceed, but because of the hardships that so many in the community, especially children, are currently facing, the Women’s Board felt it was more important than ever to proceed,” Burke said.

Organizers said the pandemic caused the Women’s Board to depart from its previous in-person format at the Fox Chapel Golf Club and transition to an online fashion show from Carabella of Oakmont and a virtual cooking demonstration by big Burrito Restaurant Group Chef Bill Fuller.

There was an online auction, raffle and door prizes under the theme “Creating Safe Havens.”

The virtual event exceeded expectations, member Lisa Bowden said.

“Despite the pandemic, our sponsors and supporters really came through,” Bowden said. “The people of Pittsburgh are very generous.”