SPRING 2013

United by Faith. Dedicated to Service. EECMImpactStories of a Community of Congregationsby Ammon Ripple

In my first few months as EECM Community Relations Director, I have been impressed by the story of our community. So many people have stories about how East End Cooperative Ministry has affected their life or their community.

I have heard stories of the beginnings of EECM – a group of concerned clergy who gathered in a coffee house in 1968 for dialogue between denominations. They noticed that young people were going to Peabody High School without breakfast. So they worked with Pittsburgh Theological Seminary across the street to host a breakfast program. People of faith gathered in community and saw a need for cooperative ministry. East End Cooperative Ministry was born in 1970 with 18 congregations who came together to serve our community. Over the years, we grew and congregations from other faiths joined in the work. We can do more together!

I have heard remarkable stories of courage and tenacity and hope and transformed lives from the decades following. People have turned their lives around. Children grew up in our programs and now bring their own children back to us. I have marveled at the stories of the journey these past six years to our new home, Community House – how the whole community has been contributing to a vision in which all people are treated with dignity and in which we cross social and economic barriers that keep us apart. Community is the most powerful response to the problem of poverty.

Community House, coming this fall, will give us a chance to write a new chapter in our story as a community of congregations. The possibilities are immense. Our Council of Congregations is beginning a process of reimagining a community of congregations which will be more dynamic, more engaged, and build a stronger community than ever before. We hope you will help us write the next chapter! All congregations are welcome to participate in the process, regardless of geography, resources, faith tradition, or prior involvement. To be included, send an email to me at ammonr@eecm.org or call 412-361-5549 x411. We can do more together!

East End Cooperative Ministry

Penn Circle Partners

Rena’s Day Camp StoryHaving been introduced to East End Cooperative Ministry’s Children & Youth programs at a very early age, I can truly say that the programs and the staff have played an integral role in my development into the person I am today. Of all the programs, it must be said that Summer Day Camp has been the most impactful. While the afterschool and tutoring programs were helpful in their own right, they are a component of Children & Youth services used to initiate relationships between mentors and youths, but Day Camp is where those seeds of mentorship really come to fruition.

Day Camp gives mentors the opportunity to be a consistent figure in a child’s daily life, and a child the opportunity to grow in many ways. For me, Day Camp was the opportunity of a life time; the chance to explore new challenges, overcome fears, and be exposed to life outside of my small frame of reference. I honestly cannot remember one trip where I didn’t learn something and have fun. Besides field trips, Day Camp offered me the opportunity to develop my artistic talents in singing, acting, and writing. During all my years of Camp, I never picked any other clinics outside of Drama, Arts and Crafts, and Music. Participating in the Day Camp Production was the highlight of my year every year that I was a camper. In my first summers of working as Jr. Counselor I learned about plotting, writing, and auditioning campers for the production. I also learned about building and teaching curriculum and of course how to stage and direct a large cast production. Because I was able to prove myself on stage as both a camper and a Jr. Counselor, I was able to move into the position of Senior Counselor, where I was responsible for writing and teaching the drama curriculum, as well as writing and directing the production with the help of a small team. Day Camp gave me my first introductions to meaningful leadership and as a result, I am now in a full time leadership position within EECM’s Children & Youth department.

by Rena Woodson

Day Camp field trip to the Pittsburgh Zoo Day Camp field trip to Kennywood

Calvary Episcopal Church was founded in the developing East End of Pittsburgh in 1855. The congregation moved to its current building, at the corner of Shady Avenue and Walnut Street, in 1906. The congregation reflects Calvary’s inclusive spirit. Thoughtful Christian formation, inspiring music, and worship in the beauty of holiness continue to be the hallmarks of our common life, and the source of strength for our service to the world.

For more than 150 years, Calvary has been engaged in the changing life of the community. Calvary was among the first congregations which came together in 1970 to create East End Cooperative Ministry. A group of congregations joined to provide nourishing breakfasts for students at

Peabody High School, many of whom arrived at school not “fueled up” for a day of high school activity. Over the years, more than 700 volunteers from Calvary have participated in EECM programs, tutoring, delivering Meals on Wheels, providing dinners for the Men’s Shelter, serving in the Soup Kitchen or the Food Pantry. EECM even holds portions of Summer Day Camp at Calvary. A shopping cart in the Calvary Parish Hall continually collects food donations for the Pantry. In addition Calvary has been an on-going partner with EECM through Calvary’s outreach budget.

Council of Congregations Spotlight: Calvary Episcopal Church

Highland Ave. PartnersFedEx Ground ~ P&G Pamela’s Diner

Centre Ave. PartnerCommunity Care Behavioral Health

Baum Blvd. PartnersElliott S. Oshry, Fundraising Counsel ~ Bognar & Company ~ FHL Bank of Pittsburgh ~ Gateway Health ~

IngMar Medical, Ltd. ~ Jewish Healthcare Foundation ~ Keystone Metals, Inc. ~ Levin Furniture ~ Pollock Begg Komar Glasser & Vertz LLC ~ Trust-Franklin Press Co.

Wesbanco ~ West Penn Allegheny Health System ~ William Penn Tavern

EECM would like to thank our corporate partners:

Thank you for helping us feed our neighbors!Our 2013 Have a Heart for Hunger campaign was a rousing success! In February and March we always place an extra emphasis on our Hunger Services, and this year, our supporters (that’s you!) showed up to help!

The highlight of Have a Heart for Hunger is always our annual Pancakes in the PM event at Pamela’s in the Strip. Pamela’s famous crepe-style pancakes, eggs, bacon, sausage – what a delicious way to support EECM! More than 250 folks came out on March 7 and helped us raise $6,800. That was almost twice the total raised last year - and twice the number of people gathered to support EECM!

This year, we had a group of passionate young women approach us, looking for a way they could help. At the time, we were on the hunt for a new cargo van for our Hunger Services. The van that our staff uses to pick up donations from local stores and other donors has been in need of replacement. We challenged this group to raise between $3000 and $5000 to help us cover the cost of a new van. They were a little intimidated by those numbers, but they planned a great ‘Drive Away Hunger’ happy hour event at Up Modern Kitchen and invited everyone they knew. By the end of the evening, we had $8,000 for a new van! Folks from First Unitarian Church also pitched in for this cause and gave $2,000 more!

On top of all of these efforts, we had donors sending financial support for 6 whole weeks. Including the matching funds from our anonymous donor, we received more than $96,800!

Pancakes in the PM + Drive Away Hunger + Have a Heart for Hunger = $113,600

We also received several new monthly pledges which will amount to more than $2,000 to support our programs for the rest of the year! THANK YOU!

up 13%

Community House taking shapeDear Friends,

Each time I walk out of my office, I am overwhelmed by the sight of Community House. As construction progresses, I—like everyone I talk to—can’t believe how large it is. How quickly it is being built. How wonderful the design is. We look forward to moving into our new home with much anticipation.

What excites me the most, though, are the opportunities that Community House will afford for the area. For the first time in EECM’s 43-year history, almost all of our existing 16 programs will be under the same roof. And as Community House grows brick-by-brick, we continue to plan for new, improved, and much-needed community programs.

I am told that we will have the key to the building by October 1, 2013. At that point, we will move in, one program at a time. By the end of the year, our current programs should all be in the building, the interfaith chapel should be an integral part of Community House, and new programs should be in the early stages of implementation. We plan to have a community-wide open house next January at our Martin Luther King Celebration.

So, when you visit East Liberty in the coming months, stop and take a look at Community House. It is a visual reminder of how so many of you—and numerous other foundations, individuals, congregations, and corporations—heard the needs of our community, affirmed our vision for Community House as a way to help meet those needs, and responded with such enthusiasm, generosity, and support.

Thank you!

Yes! I want to make an impact!Name__________________________________________________________________ (As you wish to be listed in the Annual Report) I/we would prefer not to be listed in the Annual Report.

Address_________________________________________________________________

City, State, Zip Code________________________________________________________

Home Phone (___)______________________ E-mail______________________________

Please check box for payment method: Please find enclosed my check payable to EECM $_________________________________ I would like to donate by credit card (please complete information below)

Cardholder Name (please print)________________________________________________

Visa/Mastercard (circle one) Account Number__________________________________

Expiration Date__________ Gift Amount $__________ Signature___________________

I wish to make this gift: in honor of: ______________________ in memory of: ______________________

Save a tree and a stamp! Please send my acknowledgement via email. Be sure to include your email address above!

All donations are tax-deductible.

A copy of the official Registration and Financial Information may be obtained

from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Department of State. Within Pennsylvania, call 1-800-732-0999. Registration does not

imply endorsement.

SPR12

I wish to desginate my gift for the following program(s):

___ General Support

___ Hunger Services

___ Housing Services

___ Children & Youth Services

___ Sister Michele Fund for Homebound Elderly

___ Orr Compassionate Care Center ___ Campaign for Community House

We invite you to join us at our

7th Annual A Flavor of the East End

Friday, May 17th 7-10:30 pm

Pittsburgh Opera Headquarters, Strip District 2425 Liberty Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15222

At our 7th Annual A Flavor of the East End, we are pleased to have Candi Castleberry-Singleton as our Honorary Chairperson. Candi is the Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer at UPMC, our Impresario Sponsor for the event.

Candi oversees system-wide employee engagement and social responsibility initiatives involving employees and the communities served by UPMC. In 2008, she launched the UPMC Center for Inclusion, built on a foundation of dignity and respect and cultural competency. As a part of this new initiative, Candi also launched the Partnership on Workforce Readiness and Retention (POWRR). This program is part of Candi’s efforts to include disenfranchised members of our community in the workforce as productive citizens.

EECM’s Housing Programs Director is implementing POWRR in our Employment Program. POWRR and EECM’s employment program both focus on pre-employment skills and ways to increase employee success in the workplace. With the help of POWRR, EECM’s Employment Program is helping each individual understand their gifts, work styles, transferable skills and strengths, and become truly prepared to enter and be successful in the workforce. Several of our participants have been employed after their completion of the program.

Individual tickets: $100 RSVP Required

Reserve or purchase tickets at www.eecm.org/events or by phone at 412.361.5549

April - Peanut Butter

May - Rice

June - Hamburger Helper

July - Macaroni & Cheese

Each month, we make a special

appeal for a particular food pantry staple; however, donations

of all non-perishable foods are always welcome!

Non Profit Org.U S Postage

PAIDPittsburgh PAPermit No 1750

250 North Highland Ave. Pittsburgh, PA 15206 412.361.5549 www.eecm.org www.eecmblog.org United Way #325

Food Pantry “Food of the Month”

WANTED: Willing hands!

EECM needs more than 400 volunteers each month!

We are currently in need of volunteers to serve in a variety of roles, including: drivers and visitors• for Meals on Wheelshelpers• in our Food Pantry and Soup Kitchenmentors• and after-school homework helpersindividuals and groups to • serve meals to Shelter and Orr Center guestsindividuals interested in helping with • special projects and events from time to time

For more information about volunteer opportunities, please contact Tracy Hudson

412.362.1389 or tracyh@eecm.org.

EECM Board of Directors: Rita Pollock-President, Carla Frost-Vice President, Walter Fowler-Treasurer, Steven Reinsel, Esq.-Secretary, Jonathan Sewall-President Council of Congregations, Eric Davis, Esq., Phil Hallen, Florence Johnson, Abass Kamara, Stuart Miller, Elliott Oshry, Emily J. Rosenthal, DeWayne W. Tuthill, Myrna Zelenitz, CPA-Executive Director