Passavant Memorial Homes Foundation Awards $15,000 in Community Service Scholarships to Local High School Graduates

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Passavant Memorial Homes Foundation (PMHF) is proud to announce the recipient of its 2022 Community Service Scholarship. This scholarship was created to honor the memory of Jamie Ellenberger, an individual served by Passavant Memorial Homes Family of Services (PMHFOS) who was an active member in the community.  The principle of community is central to PMHFOS’s mission, to empower individuals with intellectual disabilities, autism, and behavioral health needs to live successfully in the community.

PMHF aimed to award this scholarship to a student in the region who brings that same understanding of the value of community service, and this was found in Ms. Norah Carter of Pine-Richland High School in Allegheny County who was presented with a check for $10,000 to be applied to her college tuition..

As the Community Service Chair for a local organization, Ms. Carter has led initiatives to support Operation Christmas Child, collected over 800 canned goods and over 150 coats for local charities, and raised over $5,000 for Riding for the Handicapped of Western PA. Ms. Carter also realized that she had the ability to make a difference in the community by using her passion for mental health awareness to help other youth cope during the COVID-19 pandemic. She developed and facilitated five educational workshops for tweens and teens that focused on resilience, healthy behaviors, and adaptive coping using the 4-H Thoughts Matter and Health Rocks curriculums. As a result of the program, the youth participants articulated that they felt stronger, more confident, and in better control of their lives. Ms. Carter’s hope is that they take these skills back to their own communities where they can impact their peers.

In addition to many other examples of community service activities, Ms. Carter has also tutored her peers as well as eighth grade students in her school district, is a care provider to a student with special needs, and serves as the National 4-H Youth Mental Health Ambassador, a role she has held since 2020.

Ms. Carter had the opportunity to visit the PMHFOS corporate office in Warrendale, PA and convey to the PMHFOS executive management team her passion for serving others and her commitment to pursuing a career where she can influence change in order to facilitate opportunities for individuals with disabilities. Ms. Carter will be attending Denison University, in Granville, Ohio, in the fall, where she will be double majoring in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics and Global Health.

This year, PMHF received 118 scholarship applications from students across 19 counties in Pennsylvania. Ms. Carter exemplifies the commitment of PMHF and the late Jamie Ellenberger to serving and improving the community.

PMHF also awarded $2,500 scholarships to Laneah Hunker from Mount Pleasant Area High School, who will be attending Waynesburg University, and Christian Cropper from Eden Christian Academy, who will be attending Hope College, based upon their service to their communities, their passion for helping others, and the leadership they have demonstrated.

Persevering and Expanding Our Efforts to Continuously Pursue Our Mission

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Our 2021 Impact Report, “Persevering and Expanding Our Efforts to Continuously Pursue Our Mission” is now available!

Learn more about the ways in which Passavant Memorial Homes Family of Services (PMHFOS) has reemerged from the pandemic and created opportunities for the individuals we are privileged to serve to reengage in their communities in a safe manner.

 

PMHFOS – 2021 Impact Report

 

Supporting Those Impacted by the Midwest Tornado Disaster

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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.

More than $135,000 raised at the PMHF 28th Annual Golf Classic!

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The Passavant Memorial Homes Foundation held the 28th Annual Golf Classic, presented by First National Bank, on Monday, August 16, 2021 at Olde Stonewall Golf Club in Ellwood City, PA.

Celina Pompeani, KDKA-TV Pittsburgh Today Live Reporter and Pittsburgh Penguins TV Host, emceed the event, which was highlighted by features such as a live on-the-course magician, three hole-in-one competitions (including a chance to win a $100,000 gift certificate to LW Automotive), a host of exclusive silent auction items (including throwing the first pitch at a Pittsburgh Pirates game), and many other raffle prizes and golfer giveaways.

The winners of the event were a foursome representing the Pittsburgh Penguins, a proud partner with PMH (including Jack Tipton, Senior Director, Partnership Sales and Jim Meyer, Senior Manager, Partnership Marketing).

The 28th Annual PMHF Golf Classic raised more than $135,000 for individuals with intellectual disabilities, autism, and behavioral health needs served by PMHF’s parent not-for-profit organization, Passavant Memorial Homes (PMH). All of the funds raised will be used to further enhance the services and supports provided to over 600 individuals that PMH serves across western and central Pennsylvania.

Thank you to all of the PMHF supporters, donors, volunteers, staff, and friends who helped make the golf classic a truly memorable event!

See below for the gallery of images from the event!

2021 Passavant Memorial Homes Foundation Community Service Scholarship Recipient Announced!

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Passavant Memorial Homes Foundation (PMHF) is proud to announce the recipient of its 2021 Community Service Scholarship. This scholarship was created to honor the memory of Jamie Ellenberger, an individual served by Passavant Memorial Homes Family of Services (PMHFOS) and who was an active member in the community.  The principle of community is central to PMHFOS’s mission, including efforts to engage in community initiatives and to be involved in community improvements.

PMHF aimed to award this scholarship to a student in the region who brings that same understanding of the value of community service, and this was found in Ms. Sydney Komoroski of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart High School (OLSH) in Allegheny County. Her lengthy and impressive resume of community service began in 2014 when she hosted her birthday party where, instead of gifts, she asked guests to bring Easter baskets for the children of North Hills Community Outreach. In addition to hosting a party like that each year thereafter, Ms. Komoroski has volunteered for St. Alexis, Aquinas Academy, and the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. She has also completed various service projects for the Little Sisters of the Poor, Satchels of Caring, Light of Life Missions, Yellow Ribbon Girls, and Vincentian Home. She is a member of LeadersNow International and the Girls Scouts of America, where she is working to earn her Gold Award. She has hosted a five-week long Peanut Butter and Jelly Food Drive for North Hills Community Outreach, and she has helped at her high school with Open Houses, Galas, Freshman Foundation Day, and Transfer Student Welcome Day. She has baked cookies for the troops, served meals at soup kitchens, and built a Free Little Library for North Hills Community Outreach in their outdoor vegetable garden. In addition to many other examples of community service activities, Ms. Komoroski has also helped rescue sea turtles, volunteered at her local library, and made seatbelt pillows for cancer patients with ports.

In addition to her community involvement, Ms. Komoroski has been involved in several extracurricular activities. She was a member of her high school bowling team, was in the OLSH concert choir, was an OLSH Ambassador, and was part of the OLSH theatre program where she participated in 17 productions. She is also a member of the OLSH Honor Roll.

Ms. Komoroski will be attending Walsh University, in North Canton, Ohio, in the fall, where she will be studying nursing.

This year, PMHF received 72 scholarship applications from students across 19 counties in Pennsylvania. Ms. Komoroski exemplifies the commitment of PMHF and the late Jamie Ellenberger to serving and improving the community.

Should you have any additional questions or need more information, please email PMHFoundation@passavant.org.

 

Applications are now being accepted for the 2021 PMHF Community Service Scholarship!

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Passavant Memorial Homes Foundation (PMHF) was established to support Passavant Memorial Homes Family of Services (PMHFOS) and its commitment to enriching the lives of children and adults with intellectual disabilities, autism, and behavioral health needs. PMHF creates awareness of and provides additional financial resources for the quality programs of PMHFOS, which care for the physical, emotional, social, and spiritual needs of individuals while promoting choice and independence. PMHF upholds the contention that all people have the right to lead full, productive, and independent lives.

The PMHF Community Service Scholarship was created in memory of Jamie Ellenberger. Jamie was a young man who Passavant Memorial Homes (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.

To find out more about the scholarship and download the application, please click here.  Applications must be submitted by 3:00pm on Friday, April 30th, 2021, so apply today!

Safeguarding Those We Serve and Supporting Our Community Amid the Pandemic

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Our 2020 Impact Report, “Safeguarding Those We Serve and Supporting Our Community Amid the Pandemic” is now available!

Learn more about the ways in which Passavant Memorial Homes Family of Services (PMHFOS) has kept the health and safety of the individuals we serve our sole focus and priority, taken a proactive, preventative approach to protect the PMHFOS community, and continually supported our local communities throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

PMHFOS – 2020 Impact Report