Brashear will partner with Joseph-Beth Booksellers, 2705 East Carson Street, to conduct a toy drive throughout the months of September and October. During that time patrons will receive 10% off the purchase of a book or toy that they donate to Brashear.

To kick off this event on Saturday, September 5, 2009, Brashear will be holding an all-day Book Fair at Joseph Beth from 10am-10pm. Customers will have the opportunity to learn about Brashear and its Holiday Assistance Programs. Food and face painting will also be provided! Coupons will be available that day and, when presented at the time of purchase, Joseph-Beth will give a generous 20% of the purchase to Brashear!

So, while you’re out enjoying the holiday weekend, stop by Joseph-Beth for some good browsing and a great cause. If you can’t make it to the kick off on September 5, stop in any time during the months of September and October and donate to Brashear’s Holiday Assistance Program.

For more information or if you would like to coordinate a toy drive, please contact Dora Walmsley at her email address or at 412-431-2237. The Brashear Association is a United Way Agency. Our United Way Contributor Choice Code is 063.

The Christmas in July Toy Drive and Happy Hour event, graciously hosted by the Double Wide Grill, garnered over $2,000 dollars and 250 toys. All proceeds will benefit Brashear’s Holiday Assistance Program, which serves low-income families in South Pittsburgh.

Gabriel Cashman Photography captured the festivity and the generosity of Pittsburghers who attended the event. New photos have been posted at:

http://picasaweb.google.com/Doraleah/BrashearAssociationChristmasInJulyToyDriveHappyHour

For more information or if you would like to coordinate a toy drive or contribute the holiday collection, please contact Dora Walmsley at her email address or at 412-431-2237.

The Brashear Association is a United Way Agency.  Our United Way Contributor Choice Code is 063.

The Brashear Association board and staff would like to extend a grateful thanks to all those who attended and supported the Christmas in July Toy Drive & Happy Hour, held this past Wednesday, July 29^th. Big thanks to Double Wide Grill for hosting the event and for providing such delicious appetizers.

The event was a great success raising over $2,000 dollars and approximately 250 toys. Proceeds and toys will benefit Brashear’s Holiday Assistance programs, serving families in the South Pittsburgh region. The following individuals and businesses greatly contributed the success of the event:

Amalfi on 10^th, American Eagle, Bradley Michaels Furniture, BYS Yoga, Conservation Consultants, Inc., Ed Savikas for the coveted Steelers tickets, Hair Designs by Karen Greb, Hofbrauhaus, Hot Metal Bridge Faith Community for their generous monetary donation, In the Blood Tattoo, Janice Goliwas, Johno Pracsak, Joseph Beth Booksellers, Just Ducky Tours, Kirk Livery, Morning Glory Inn and Sinners and Saints Tattoo.

Brashear would also like to thank all those who braved the rain and attended. Their continued support of the Association will help ensure a successful 2009 Holiday Assistance Season.

For more information or if you would like to coordinate a toy drive, please contact Dora Walmsley at her email address or at 412-431-2237. The Brashear Association is a United Way Agency. Our United Way Contributor Choice Code is 063.

Each year, the Board of Directors of The Brashear Association recognizes outstanding volunteer leadership through its presentation of the Georgina Chamberlain Peters Scholarship.  The scholarship is given in memory of Georgina Peters, a South Side resident who was an active volunteer and board member at the agency.

To apply, candidates should request an application form from Christine Gaus, Director of Services at Brashear, at 412-431-2236 or at her email address.  Preference is given to participants in any Brashear program, whether as a recipient of service or as an agency volunteer.  The deadline for applications is July 31, 2009.

In addition to the completion of an application, candidates must be enrolled in an accredited post-secondary training program or at an educational institution in a certificate or degree program.  Scholarship applicants must also demonstrate strong leadership skills as well as a commitment to community service.

All applications must be received at The Brashear Association by Tuesday, July 31, 2009.  The recipient of the Peters Scholarship will be determined by the members of the agency’s Board of Directors.  For further information, contact Ms. Gaus at 412-431-2236.

The Brashear Association is a United Way agency.  The Peters Scholarship is supported through donations from the Peters Family and friends.

The Brashear Association (located at the corner of 20^th and Sarah Streets) has provided assistance to families, children and senior citizens in South Pittsburgh for over 90 years.  Over the past year, we have seen the demand for our services dramatically increase.  During the 2008 holiday season, we provided assistance to nearly 700 families.  Unfortunately, we do not expect the need for our services to decrease for the 2009 Holiday season.

One of our most needed services during the holiday season is to provide presents for the children of all families seeking assistance.  Knowing that our need will be even greater this winter, we must start now to meet all of the anticipated needs.

We are planning a special event to kick-off our Holiday Toy Drive. The event details are:

Christmas in July

Toy Drive & Happy Hour

to benefit the Brashear Association

Double Wide Grill

2339 East Carson Street

Wednesday, July 29, 2009

5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

Gift Stocking Raffle, Free Appetizers

Cash Bar

Admission – A new, unwrapped toy or cash donation

We hope that you may be willing to help us support our neighbors.  There are several ways you could assist with this event:

• Donate a gift or gift certificate to be used in our prize stockings
• Coordinate a Toy Drive at your place of business
• Attend our event and celebrate Christmas in July!

If you would like to contribute a gift or gift certificate, please contact Brashear Association Board Members Leigh White at (412)606-9877 or at her email address to arrange for pick-up.

If you would like to coordinate a Toy Drive at your place of business, please contact Brashear Association staff member Dora Walmsley at (412) 431-2237 or at her email address.  We will be happy to provide you with posters promoting the toy drive, as well as arrange for pick-up of donations.

We hope you will be our partner in this important initiative.  Your support and assistance is greatly appreciated.

Attention walkers: think spring! Join the Brashear Association in this year’s Walk for a Healthy Community, sponsored by Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield. The 5K walk benefits 44 organizations including Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank and their partner agencies.  Interested walkers can register here.

Save the date, Saturday, May 30, at Heinz Field at 9 am. There will be entertainment, refreshments, raffles and free health screenings available for all participants. Highmark underwrites the cost of the walk, so 100% of the money raised by our food pantry will go toward feeding hungry people in our community.

If you are interested in sponsoring Team Brashear, please contact Dora Walmsley at 412.431.2236 or at her email address. The Brashear Association is a United Way Agency serving over 500 individuals each month through our two neighborhood food pantries.

Staff members from The Brashear Association used their feet for a good cause at the annual Walk for a Healthy Community, sponsored by Highmark Blue Cross/Blue Shield On May 30, 2009. Case managers Dora Walmsley and Kalem Wright walked the route to support the agency’s two food pantries, located at the Brashear Center in South Side and the Kaufmann House in Arlington.

Kalem and Dora were joined by over 7,000 civically-minded Pittsburghers who walked on behalf of scores of local non-profit agencies. Our thanks go to everyone who donated to Team Brashear and who contributed to the health and benefit of hundreds of South Pittsburgh residents who rely on the Brashear Association’s pantries.

You can see Dora and Kalem in action at the start of the race on the WPXI Website and see pictures from the finish line. If you’d like to learn more about the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank or get help for yourself or someone close to you, please visit the food bank’s website.

The Duquesne University Chapter of Strong Women, Strong Girls (SWSG), in partnership with The Brashear Association and the Hill Top United Methodist Church, has ended its first year in the Hilltop. The program engaged over twelve girls from Pittsburgh Grandview and Pittsburgh Miller and four college mentors from Duquesne University. The program ended with the program participants reading to second graders at Pittsburgh Grandview and a field trip to Duquesne where girls participated in SWSG’s annual Jump into Spring event.

The mission of Strong Women, Strong Girls is to build upon the lessons learned from strong women. The program uses an innovative afterschool model which includes the study of contemporary and historic female role models, the development of mentoring relationships with college undergraduate women, and participation in skill building activities to help at-risk girls in grades three through five build positive self-esteem and skills for life-long success. By building communities of women committed to supporting positive social change, Strong Women, Strong Girls works to create cycles of mutual empowerment for women and girls.

In an effort to reach out to more youth in the Hilltop, DU SWSG looked to The Brashear Association to facilitate the program this past fall. Brashear contacted Hill Top United Methodist Church to request that the use of the church once a week throughout the school year. Pastor Sue Hutchins and the congregation excitedly accepted the proposal and programming began in October and lasted through April. Strong Women, Strong Girls will begin again in October and will serve even more girls from the Hilltop communities. If your child is in grades three through five and is interested in the program, please contact Dora Walmsley at her email address or at 412-431-2237 for more information. Visit SWSG.org to read all about this national organization and sign-up for their monthly E-Newsletter.

The Brashear Association’s New Artists program held its final art exhibit on Monday, May 18, 2009. The program, which ran for the duration of the school year at Pittsburgh Phillips K-5, taught a wide array of artistic styles and skills, from sculpture to abstract painting. The show displayed art from all of the students as well as short biographies of each student which outlined their thoughts on the importance of art to themselves and the world.

The show was well attended by students and parents alike. Parents took the opportunity to speak to Amy Adams, the New Artists instructor, about the skills the student artists had learned over the course of the year. Ms. Adams expressed how was pleased she was with the work of the children and overall results of the program and the exhibit.

For any questions about New Artists or any Brashear program, please call the agency at (412) 431-2236. Brashear’s educational programs for children are made possible by generous support from the William V. and Catherine A. McKinney Charitable Foundation and the Pennsylvania Neighborhood Partnership Program. The Brashear Association is a United Way agency.