On March 28th, 2015 girls, mentors and parents braved the below freezing temperatures to attend Pittsburgh’s sixth annual Jump into Spring. The event, held at Squirrel Hill’s Jewish Community Center, took the theme of “Strong Girl University” and welcomed 200 girls, 150 college mentors, 20 parents, 45 adult volunteers, and numerous special guests.
The day kicked off with music, dancing and jump roping. Members from the Pittsburgh Passion and the Pittsburgh Steelers’ mascot Steely McBeam joined in on the fun filled day. From there, girls and parents rotated through three different sections of the JCC. In the gym, they were able to get active with Zumba led by Duquesne mentors, hula hoop with Carlow’s Hoop Troop, and participate in our traditional SWSG Jump Off.
Across the hall in the theater, girls were treated to performances by the Trevor C. Dance Collective and the University of Pittsburgh’s all female acapella group Sounds Like Treble. Local author Sharon Flake also spoke with the girls about her newest book, The Unstoppable Octobia May. Each girl went home with a copy of the book thanks to the Best of the Batch Foundation.
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Downstairs each of our college chapters hosted an activity in separate rooms. Girls could get their face painted by University of Pittsburgh mentors and participate in a photobooth with Duquesne mentors. Point Park’s chapter helped girls to make bead bracelets, and Carnegie Mellon mentors showed girls how to make paper airplanes. Carlow University hosted an interactive live museum of strong women featured in our curriculum throughout the years with a special appearance from Lauren O’Brien. Girls also had the opportunity to interact with 12 different community organizations from around the Pittsburgh area.
The day ended with a Jump Off between the Pittsburgh Steelers and members of the Pittsburgh Passion, and between parents and site facilitators.
 
Special thanks to our sponsors UPMC, UPMC Health Plan, Comcast NBC Universal, Giant Eagle, Best of the Batch Foundation, NuGo Nutrition, Dunkin Donuts, and all of our special guests, performers, mentors, and volunteers!
 
Written by Hannah Yu