The Pitt-Greensburg student team might have won the competition on the gym floor, but Westmoreland County’s Welcome Home Shelter was the ultimate winner when it received a donation of $1,250 as the result of the Charity Basketball Game held at the University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg on Feb. 27 in the Chambers Hall Gymnasium. The event, now in its 18th year, was organized by the Student Government Association (SGA).
Driving the fundraising effort each year is a basket raffle that runs from noon through the end of the game on the day of the event. Prizes included tickets to the PPG Zoo & Aquarium, a signed/framed photo of Cam Haward, gift-card trees, and more. A grand prize of tickets to the May 29 Post Malone and Jelly Roll concert at PNC Park highlighted the drawings.
“Each year, the Student Government Association chooses a local non-profit to highlight during the Charity Game. This year, there were several suggestions, but the Welcome Home Shelter was selected by the students because of the critical work they do in the Greensburg community,” said Al Thiel, director of the Student Center and Student Involvement. “Beyond the efforts that SGA makes for the game, they also engage every club on campus to contribute to the Charity Game or one of the other major spring charity events (Pitt Fight, Relay for Life, or Walk a Mile in Their Shoes). SGA efforts make the spring service/charity programs ones that encompass the entire Pitt-Greensburg community, not just those students who plan and execute the programs.”
The Welcome Home Shelter is a temporary emergency shelter located in the heart of Westmoreland County that offers a clean, safe place to stay for families and single women experiencing homelessness. Annually, an average of 250 women, children, and men who find themselves homeless in the County are assisted by Welcome Home, with approximately 7,000 shelter nights provided.
The shelter offers 30-60 days of emergency shelter, provides for basic needs, and offers life skills classes to help its guests. On-site behavioral health counseling services are also offered. Individuals who are eligible for SNAP and Foodbank assistance are encouraged to secure their own food and prepare meals on-site, in addition to house food being available for the guests.
Matt Blair, Dan O’Connor, Dr. Todd Brown, Dr. Tim Holler, Laura Giovannelli, Adam Craig, Will Weller, and Nick Blair represented the faculty and staff. Andrew Ross, Liam Ivory, Andres Lemus, Jacob Tysarczyk, Josiah Whipkey, Miguel Perez, Gustavo Arias-Gonzalez, Lando Cowen, Danial Cipcic, Clifton Reid Jr., Jack Schiffhauer, and Laura Vittone represented the students. Alex Scarlett coached the student team, and Conor Tatano and Kevin Hrobak officiated the games.
Nineteen regional organizations were recognized as event sponsors and donated products or gift cards for raffles and prizes.