On Monday November 19, 2012, Strong Women, Strong Girls Pittsburgh was invited to be a part of the Yelp Helps Event, which took place at the O’Reilly Theater in Downtown Pittsburgh.  The Yelp Helps Event is a volunteer expo that celebrates volunteer opportunities with local non-profit organizations throughout the Pittsburgh area.  There were twenty non-profit organizations present and over 100 guests in attendance.  The organizations at the expo included Dress for Success, East End Cooperative Ministry, WHIRL Magazine, Animal Rescue League, Family House, National Ovarian Cancer Society, Riverlife, and the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, just to name a few!
There was also a special Town Hall series panel discussion, moderated by KDKA-TV’s Lynn Hayes-Freeland.  The panel discussion highlighted celebrating volunteerism throughout the Pittsburgh community.  Featured speakers included Marc Howison for Catalytic Funding & the Sprout Fund; Heather Starr Fiedler, creator of Play It Forward Pittsburgh; Thomas Hughes, volunteer board member from Assemble; and Kristen Holloway, founder of Operation Troop Appreciation.  Each of the featured speakers touched on the importance of the willingness to try new opportunities, to have a can-do attitude, residing in the great city of Pittsburgh, and how they came to the decision to be a part of the non-profit world.  It was an awesome night out with light bites, beverages, excellent music, wonderful scenery, and wonderful faces looking to give back to their community.
Quote of the night: “When you leave Pittsburgh, you will return.”