At PMHFOS, giving back to the communities in which we serve is part of our culture. Our employees are encouraged to think creatively on how they can improve their own community, and we also work as a team to design programs that connect our staff with our mission and philosophy.
PMHF Community Service Scholarship
In Memory of Jamie Ellenberger
The PMHF Community Service Scholarship was created in memory of Jamie Ellenberger. Jamie was a young man who PMH was privileged to serve. He thrived in his community despite adversity. Diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder, Jamie successfully transitioned from living in a state facility to becoming an active member of his new residential community at PMH.
While part of PMH’s community residential program, Jamie was an enthusiastic and contributing member of society, both in community-based activities and in our vocational training program. His positivity and perseverance were always paired with kindness and a smile. After his passing, this scholarship was established in his honor, so his legacy can continue to make a lasting impact in the community in which he loved being a part of.
Through our scholarship program, we hope to encourage local students to pursue a post-secondary education as well as take a renewed look into their community and to find unique opportunities to become a part of its furtherance. We want our youth to recognize that community service can provide opportunities to acquire valuable life skills and knowledge as well as provide a service to those who need it most. We want to show students that their actions can have a lasting and positive impact on our society at large. Community service can teach compassion and acceptance; it can foster cultures of inclusion and advocacy; it can build positive, lifelong relationships that can ultimately strengthen our communities. We want our next generation of leaders to experience that.
Scholarship Award
- One (1) $10,000 award annually, granted to one (1) recipient
Eligibility Requirements
- Candidate must be a graduating high school senior in 2023 – 2024 school year
- Candidate must be graduating from a high school in one of the following western Pennsylvania counties: Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Bedford, Butler, Cambria, Clarion, Crawford, Erie, Fayette, Greene, Indiana, Jefferson, Lawrence, Mercer, Somerset, Venango, Washington, or Westmoreland
- Candidate must be qualified and planning to attend an accredited two- or four-year post-secondary education program
- Candidate must complete the application form in its entirety, including all letters, references, and essay information
- If requested, the candidate must be available to participate in an interview with the PMHF’s Scholarship Review Committee
The acceptance window for applications for the 2024 PMHF Community Service Scholarship is now closed! Thank you to all those who applied!
Supporting Those Impacted by the Midwest Tornado Disaster
January 6, 2022
On December 10th, 2021, a series of tornadoes devastated the Midwest which impacted six states including Arkansas, Kentucky, Tennessee, Missouri, and Illinois. The state of Kentucky, in particular, experienced massive devastation due to these powerful tornadoes. As a faith-based organization, Passavant Memorial Homes Family of Services (PMHFOS) is deeply rooted in service to others, and as an organization, we wanted to find ways to honor our history and founding principles by taking action to help those who need it most.
In order to provide tangible support to those impacted, our individuals and staff are hard at work assembling and packaging blankets for families in need. In total, our efforts will provide 130 blankets that will be distributed to those impacted by these tornadoes!
Furthermore, PMHFOS has made a monetary donation to support the efforts of Brother’s Brother, a Pittsburgh-based organization whose mission is to help bridge the gap between aid and sustainability by supporting localized programs and providing essential resources in the areas of Healthcare, Infrastructure, Disaster Response, and Education. This organization is coordinating vital aid and disaster recovery support to those impacted.
We continue to pray for the families impacted by these devastating tornadoes and are proud of our individuals and staff for taking action to provide support to those who need it.
PMHFOS Participates in the 2019 #RockYouSocks Campaign
PMHFOS staff and individuals proudly participated in the Rock Your Socks Campaign on World Down Syndrome Day, on March 21, 2019. Rock Your Socks is an awareness campaign that encourages people to wear their brightest, most colorful, whacky socks or even multiple pairs of socks to show their support for those with Down syndrome. It was started to bring attention by prompting questions such as, “Why are you wearing such crazy socks?” It gives a fun opportunity to spread awareness and create a single global voice of advocacy for the inclusion and well-being of people with Down syndrome.
Why on 3/21? People with Down syndrome have three copies of the 21st chromosome, while most people have two copies. People with Down syndrome have an increased risk for certain medical conditions such as congenital heart defects, respiratory and hearing problems, Alzheimer’s disease, childhood leukemia, and thyroid conditions. Many of these conditions are now treatable, so most people with Down syndrome lead healthy lives.
All people with Down syndrome experience cognitive delays, but the effect is usually mild to moderate and is not indicative of the many strengths and talents that each individual possesses.
Quality programs in stimulating environments, good health care, and positive support enable people with Down syndrome to lead fulfilling and productive lives. People with Down syndrome attend school, work, participate in decisions that affect them, have meaningful relationships, vote, and contribute to society in many wonderful ways.
Fruth Chapel Service
Thank you to all who organized and participated in our annual Fruth Chapel Holiday Service! It was a fantastic service and well attended by the individuals, friends, and staff of PMHFOS. We had some amazing performances from Rochester High School Choir, as well as from some of individuals we serve! Thank you to all our participants and attendees! We look forward to the service in December 2019.
PMHFOS Angel Tree
Each year, the staff at PMHFOS host an “Angel Tree” to benefit some individuals we are privileged to serve. This past holiday season, our staff blessed 67 children and adults, served through PMHFOS, through this wonderful program.
Breast Cancer Awareness
In 2019, PMHFOS was proud to recognize National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Employees who donated in support of this effort received a beautifully decorated pumpkin, created by those we are privileged to serve.
The perfectly painted pumpkins were then hand-delivered to each of our office locations. Employees were encouraged to have a Pink Out Party to welcome our artists!
Funds raised will go to the National Breast Cancer Foundation. The National Breast Cancer Foundation’s mission is to provide help and inspire hope to those affected by breast cancer through early detection, education, and support services.
Hurricane Relief Efforts
The team at PMHFOS joined together in the spirit of giving to help those affected by Hurricane Florence. PMHFOS partnered with The Diaper Bank of North Carolina, whose vision “…is that every family in North Carolina will have access to basic necessities to support their dignity, health, and quality of life.” The individuals we are privileged to serve decorated PMHFOS labels with pictures and words of care and compassion, hoping to provide encouragement to those in need.