Latrobe group's winery gathering combines female empowerment, community philanthropy

A Latrobe-based group of women have made it their mission to support other women and local organizations that benefit women and children.

Since forming in 2019, SHE — which stands for Sophisticated, Humble, Empowered — has raised money and donated materials toward a shelter for victims of sexual assault and domestic violence, a shelter for homeless animals, a program that augments the wardrobes of female job seekers and a nonprofit that has a goal similar to SHE’s: female empowerment.

At a “Women, Wealth, Wellness and Wine” event May 17, SHE will focus its efforts on supporting single mothers by raising money for Westmoreland Community Action’s Mothers Making More program.

“We voted for it and agreed that was the charity we wanted to help,” said SHE founding member Tawnya Rockwell.

With primary funding from the United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania, Mothers Making More (M3) provides educational support and, in some cases, emergency assistance to single moms who are the heads of their households in Westmoreland and Fayette counties, are working at least part-time and have at least one child younger than 18.

M3 is meant to help single mothers who earn at least 18 credits per year in a postsecondary program that “is part of a growing career field and will lead to a family-sustaining wage,” according to the Westmoreland Community Action website. To be eligible, participants also must earn less than 200% of federal poverty guidelines.

M3 partner organizations include a local college and university, the Westmoreland-Fayette Workforce Investment Board, Excela Health and two organizations SHE previously has helped: YWCA Westmoreland County, which is dedicated to “eliminating racism, empowering women and promoting peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all,” and the Blackburn Center of Greensburg, which advocates for “the rights of all individuals to live free from domestic and sexual violence and other forms of violence.”

Dress for Success Pittsburgh and Animal Friends of Westmoreland also have benefited from semi-annual social and networking gatherings SHE has held.

SHE was founded by the female staffers of GOAL Magazine, where Rockwell is chief production manager. The magazine is published by GO2GOAL, a nonprofit organization based in Latrobe that also organizes community fundraising events.

According to Rockwell, SHE was created to provide “a forum for women to empower one another without judgment.”

In addition to raising money for causes that are important to the group, SHE gatherings highlight the female-led businesses and organizations that host the events while providing an opportunity for the women attending to make mutually supportive connections.

“There is no membership fee to belong, and the events are open to any women who would like to attend,” said Rockwell. “It is an evening social event as opposed to a lunch meeting, and the format of the event always changes to showcase the female-led small businesses and charities we choose.

“The only fee is the entry fee to the event, and 100% of that goes to the charity.”

The May 17 event begins at 5:30 p.m. at Hunker’s Bella Terra Vineyards, which was co-founded by Joanna Bell. Female attendees will enjoy wine samples and hors d’oeuvres. Costs of the event will be covered by Bella Terra and other participating businesses, with the $20 donation requested from attendees benefiting M3.

“For this event, we’re going with an educational approach,” Rockwell said.

Those attending will learn about the history of the hosting winery. They also will hear presentations on financial wellness from Jessica Marazza, managing partner and certified financial planner with SecondHalf Coach Wealth Management, and on mental wellness and “thriving, not just surviving,” from Tara Stowers, owner of Sanctus Spa and Salon.

Visit go2goalus.com/she for more information and to register for the Bella Terra event by the May 12 deadline.

Golf outing benefits students

GOAL Magazine is planning its seventh annual golf outing for Aug. 15 at Arnold Palmer’s Latrobe Country Club. The event has raised more than $127,500 for Greater Latrobe School District’s autistic support, learning support and life skills classrooms, through the Greater Latrobe Partners in Education Foundation.

A Paint-and-Sip art lesson will be offered as an alternative for non-golfers. For details and registration, visit go2goalus.com and select from the “GOAL Events” heading.