Events

Grocery stores hosting 'flower sale' for United Way

4/29/21 - RICK KAZMER  - United Way of the Laurel Highlands

Randy’s BiLo and Ideal Market locations in Johnstown and Windber are hosting a fundraiser for the United Way of the Laurel Highlands this spring. 

Customers can donate at least $1 to the United Way and sign a paper tulip badge, which will be displayed in the stores. The “flower sale” is set to start on May 1.

The funding will help us to fund crucial health and human services needs in Cambria and Somerset counties, including youth drug and alcohol prevention work in public schools.  

Final diversity and equity training focuses on an action plan

4/28/21 – RICK KAZMER – United Way of the Laurel Highlands

Participants in the final diversity, equity and inclusion training session Tuesday culminated the discussion in part by trying to define equity.

It was the last of four sessions hosted by the United Way of the Laurel Highlands, funded by a Lee Initiatives grant.

The sessions, taught by Dr. Melissa Marks of the University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg, were online via Zoom.

She asked the participants how they would know if equity exists.

Thanks to North Star for the 'jeanerosity'

4/26/21 - Members of the North Star Youth Machine Pitch Team, Griffith Excavating, hold a donation check for the United Way of the Laurel Highlands.

North Star School District staff participated in a jean dress-down day to raise money for the nonprofit organization.

North Star staff raised $390, which will go to help the United Way fund youth drug and alcohol prevention, early childhood education and parental engagement, among other health and human services, in Somerset and Cambria Counties.

United Way wraps up diversity and inclusion training

4/20/21 - RICK KAZMER - United Way of the Laurel Highlands

During the first three diversity, equity and inclusion training sessions hosted by the United Way of the Laurel Highlands, participants have looked inward as part of an effort to understand how implicit biases impact their interaction with the outside world.

“It’s not always easy. It’s not always comfortable,” the instructor, Dr. Melissa Marks of the University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg, said during one of the sessions, which was geared to learning about ways to build diverse organizations.

Training snapshot: Highlights from the third diversity, equity and inclusion session

3/24/21 – RICK KAZMER – United Way of the Laurel Highlands
 
The third diversity, equity and inclusion training session hosted by the United Way of the Laurel Highlands focused on interview processes, organizational buy-in – and even government cheese. 
 
The latter topic came up as part of discussion on unintended consequences. The two-hour session Tuesday night was the third of four about diversity, equity and inclusion. It is funded by a Lee Initiatives grant. 
 

Berlin Market selling pledge badges for United Way of the Laurel Highlands through Easter

2/25/21 - Berlin Market, located at 540 Main Street in Berlin, is hosting a fundraiser for the United Way of the Laurel Highlands through Easter.

Customers can donate at least $1 to the charity and sign a paper pledge badge, which will be displayed in the store.

The donations will help the organization fund crucial health and human services needs in Cambria and Somerset counties, including youth drug and alcohol prevention work in every school.

Home heating, food and utility assistance, as well as the PA 211 call center, are among other programs being funded.

Diversity and inclusion training part 2: -isms and their impact

2/24/21 - RICK KAZMER – United Way of the Laurel Highlands
Participants during the second diversity and inclusion training session on Feb. 23 were asked by the instructor to “lean into” uncomfortable topics. 
 
The group of 33 participants, attending virtually on Zoom, talked about race, racism, sexism and other -isms and their impact on society.  
The session, hosted by the United Way of the Laurel Highlands, is funded by a Lee Initiatives grant. A session will be held in March and April as well. 
 
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