The Education Partnership

August 21, 2023

Every 2023 issue of The Reporter will provide an update on one of GBU Life’s (GBU) four Community Pillars—Wellness, Education, Charitable Giving and Hometown Hero Support. The summer 2023 issue focuses on “Education,” including opportunities to enrich your community through volunteering and fundraising.

Part 1: The Education Partnership

GBU Supplying Pittsburgh’s Classrooms

GBU first connected with The Education Partnership in Pittsburgh, PA, as part of Cardigan Day 2022. The annual, now national Cardigan Day recognition celebrates kindness and the inspiring work of Pittsburgh native, the late Mr. Fred Rogers. The GBU Home Office held its first school supply drive for the organization in October 2022, and the GBU Foundation awarded a $20,000 grant to The Education Partnership in November of that same year.

The Education Partnership provides school supplies to students and teachers in over 190 schools in the Pittsburgh region, where 70% or more of their students qualify for free or reduced-price lunches through the National School Lunch Program. In those schools, student and classroom supplies often not included in the budget. The Education Partnership purchases, packages and distributes the “basics” and operates a Teacher Resource Center, where teachers shop, once a semester, for donated specialty supplies.

In February of this year, GBU visited the Teacher Resource Center to educate teachers about the GBU Youth Leaders program. In March, a team of GBU employees volunteered to help restock, organize and clean the Teacher Resource Center, sort and count inventory and write encouraging notes to students.

For the 2023-2024 school year, GBU will begin a three-

year sponsorship of Pittsburgh Carmalt PreK-8 through The Education Partnership’s Adopt-A-School program. Pittsburgh Carmalt is a Pittsburgh Public Schools Science and Technology Academy, just miles from the Home Office. Employee volunteers will package supplies this summer and present them to students when they return to school this fall.

(L to r) Josh Whiteside, The Education Partnership Executive Director and Ken Elliott, Jennifer Stockdale, Rachel Cummins and Anna Meek from GBU.

If you are in the Pittsburgh region and would like to

contribute to GBU’s online supply drive, please text

GBUSupply to 41444 or visit gbu.org/supply.

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Pawprints on My Heart Coloring Contest

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GBU members between the ages of three and nine years old can enter their colored page in this year's contest, which is themed Pawprints on My Heart. Three age categories will be judged as follows: Category I: Ages three and four Category II: Ages five and six Category III: Ages seven, eight and nine Entrants may use crayons, colored pencils, markers or watercolor paints. Entries will be accepted through Monday, August 18, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. EST. The picture on the next page can be reproduced, or copies can be obtained by calling the Community Engagement Team at the GBU Home Office (800-765-4428) or by printing the image above. Cash Prizes for Each Category First prize: $75 Second prize: $50 Third prize: $30 How to Enter Send the three- to nine-year-old GBU member's coloring contest entry with their name and address on the colored page to: GBU Life ATTN: Member Benefits 4254 Saw Mill Run Boulevard Pittsburgh, PA 15227-3394. Or email contest@gbu.org with "Coloring Contest Entry” as the subject line. General Information Judges reserve the right to accept or reject any or all entries. Their decisions will be final. Artwork will be handled at the GBU Home Office with the utmost care. GBU reserves the right to reproduce entries for whatever use it wishes, provided proper credit is given. Permission does not include the sale of such work.