Since 1984, they have provided these services at no cost to families enrolled: early childhood education, parenting classes, career exploration, tutoring, counseling, referrals and assistance with practical needs such as food, clothing and nursery supplies.  Their goal is to enable student parents to complete their education, secure lucrative employment and become independent, successful members of our community.

In addition to the 12,500 in unrestricted funds from PSVP, Angels’ Place will receive professional consulting from our team of partners.

Please watch for details for our next investment events — our Fall Pitch (open to programs dealing with kids in the Juvenile Justice system), scheduled for October 2010, and our Fast Pitch (open to any non-profit in Allegheny County who works with at-risk youth), scheduled for January 2011.  Details on both events will be added to the website as the events draw closer.  Please contact us at info@psvp.org for more information.

Nobel Prize winner in economics, Dr. James Heckman on early education and early investment.

Check out the rest of the website, as well.

“There are lots of great ideas incubating around the network all the time – programs of both SVPs and investees that are ripe for replication. Learn about the best of these and find out how to bring them to your community.” – Dallas SVPI Conference Agenda

Pittsburgh Social Venture Partners (PSVP), a partnership of philanthropic-minded individuals who invest their time, expertise and capital in nonprofits serving at-risk youth, was recently recognized at the Social Venture Partners International (SVPI) Conference in Dallas, Texas.

“PSVP is dedicated to impacting at-risk children in our region,” said Tessa Nicholson, Vice-Chair of PSVP. “During the recent international conference, a “Fast Pitch” event was held that involved each Social Venture Partner organization from 24 cities around the country and internationally “pitching” their most innovative and successful investment to the audience. Members recognized Pittsburgh for its SNAP™ program model, which PSVP Partner Tom Canfield brought to Pittsburgh in 2007. With his passion, an $8,800 grant was leveraged into a $6 million initiative that has impacted hundreds of at-risk youth.”

SNAP™ is a cognitive-behavioral strategy that helps children and parents regulate angry feelings by getting them to stop, think, and plan positive alternatives before they act impulsively. The strategy was developed in the late 1970’s for use in a classroom by the former Earlscourt Child and Family Centre, Toronto, Canada.
In 2006, PSVP Partner Tom Canfield set out on a personal mission to find the best possible program to keep troubled kids out of trouble. With an $8,800 grant from PSVP, Tom brought SNAP™ to Pittsburgh and in 15 short months, with the help of the United Way and Allegheny County, Tom leveraged $6 million to start 4 pilot programs and undertake a 10 year study of the kids in the program. The program works with boys between the ages of 6-10 who have already encountered significant trouble with the law or within school and is currently being piloted in three locations in Allegheny County – Holy Family Institute, Auberle, and an Auberlie location in Homestead.

Pittsburgh Partners who attended the SVPI conference in Dallas, Texas included Tom Canfield, Tessa Nicholson and John Denny.

In case you didn’t catch the wonderful story last Friday on DUQ about SNAP™, down load it now and take a listen: http://www.wduq.org/news/BehavioralHealth/index.html (Broadcast Date: July 17, 2009)

PSVP Partner Tom Canfield set out on a personal mission three years to find the best possible program to keep troubled kids out of “Real” trouble. With an $8,800 grant from PSVP, Tom brought SNAP to Pittsburgh and in 15 short months, with the help of the United Way and Allegheny County, Tom leveraged $6 million to start 4 pilot programs and undertake a 10 year study of the kids in the program.

Way to go Tom!

Tom Canfield, PSVP partner extraordinair, single handidly brought a Toronto based initiative called SNAP™ to Pittsburgh. SNAP™ works with boys ages 6-11 who have encountered some significant trouble at school or with the law and works to prevent future incidents.

PSVP invested $8,800 initially in the program which Tom Canfield leveraged into $6 million in 15 short months.

Take a listen to the report on DUQ this morning about SNAP. I think you will be amazed.

http://www.wduq.org/news/BehavioralHealth/index.html

John Denny

A word from Magali Curiel

Reading in this morning Post Gazette the sad news about the detainment of a 19 year African American homeless man in connection with the rape case, made me understand and realize the importance of My Place for Alleghany County. My heart goes out to the victim, and the Stanton Height/ Morningside communities.

However, I feel compassion and sad for this young man, who had a terrible upbringing resulting of him being homeless at a young age. While the community condemned him, I cannot stop and think about this young man’s life, and how different it could have been, if we only took time to help to coach and mentor him. I cannot justify the wrong he did, but made me realize that I failed him too by being selfish and self centric with my time and finances.

Born and raised in Curacao, at 19 years my world was about study hard to secure a future. Raised at home, by both parents, and provided with healthcare, education, and role models at home and in my community, I cannot imagine this young man’s life. At 19 he saw and experienced more than I will ever do.

I like to congratulate ACTION Housing for taking upon them this challenge. I am fortunate to be a member working with them in partnership with PSVP. I hope  Alleghany County can release the necessary funds to start My Place. Hope that the pilot project can be replicated in other communities, by not only providing adequate housing and job coaching to the under privilege and despair, but HOPE! Moving forward, I like to continue volunteering my time and resources to ACTION Housing and hope to continue working closely with them.

- Magali Curiel, PSVP Partner

Happy Reading

A to Z Survival Guide for Uncertain Times

John Denny

Chair

We had a wonderful discussion with Lynn Garfinkle, the E.D. of Strong Girls Strong Women.  Our partners (three of the four who attended have less than one year experience as a partner) asked very good questions about the girls, the mentors, the current and future plans of the organization, its financial situation, board participation — all the things you would expect from “seasoned”, professional grant-makers — not first time, and part time grant-makers!

But at the end of the discussion, when the executive director left the room so we partners could talk, we didn’t talk much about or critique Strong Girls Strong Women.  Oh we asked some clarifying questions among ourselves — but here is the real kicker — we were more concerned about whether we, PSVP as a funder, were strong enough and had the resources (mainly human capital talent) to really help this organization.  How cool is that — as funders we are more concerned about our end of the deal rather than the applicant living up to their end of the deal!  A total reversal in philanthropy.

The second awesome event started with me picking up my 10 year old daughter,Kelsey, from swim team practice and rushing to meet 25 other kids between the ages of 8 and 11 and their parents for the launching of PSVP KIDS. We met at an amazing place in Squirrel Hill — The Children’s Institute.

PSVP partners and really great moms Carrie Barman and Tesse Nicholson worked all summer long in planning and launching an eight month long program for partner’s kids and a few friends of PSVP to learn about giving back in the community, the needs of the community, and their role in helping our community. Carrie and Tesse were really smart in enlisting the help and coordination of Dan Horgan, Executive Director of Pittsburgh Cares. Dan, Carrie, and Tesse lead the kids through some fun team building exercises that taught them about team work, inclusion, and thinking outside the box.

Over the next eight months our PSVP Kids will go on site visits and do volunteer work with senior centers, foster care kids, environmental groups, and homeless families.  At the end of their work after raising $200 per kid in the program, our PSVP Kids will decide among themselves which of the organizations they visited will receive the $2,500 in grant money.

But that’s not all!  PSVP Kids will learn about leverage — after making the grant they will go pitch some companies and foundations to match their $2,500 grant by making a formal presentation.  Stay tuned!

John Denny

Chair

80% of the money that foundations distribute to charitable causes is earmarked for charity programs and other purposes so it cannot be uses for basic operating costs like utilities, rent, supplies, etc.

Our very own Paul Shoemaker, founding partner and Executive Director of Seattle SVP directs the online conversation.

check it out.

John Denny

Chair, PSVP 

University of Pittsburgh, 3 Others get violence prevention grant

The University of Pittsburgh and three community groups will share $3.9 million in funding from Pennsylvania to study causes and the prevention of violence.

The project will examine how such factors as brain function and environmental characteristics may interact to place children at risk for violent behavior, according to a news release from the University of Pittsburgh, which is working with Auberle, Holy Family Social Services and the Kingsley Association on the study.

Another factor in the study is the evaluation of the Stop Now and Plan (SNAP™) Program, designed to target young children at risk for developing serious violent tendencies.

The grant was awarded as part of Pennsylvania’s share of the national tobacco settlement.

Auberle is a McKeesport-based agency that serves at-risk youth and families; Holy Family Social Services is a multi-purpose social service agency for residents of the Hill District; and the Kingsley Association creates neighborhood-based programs with a focus on helping youth.

More info on SNAP™

• SNAP™ Webpage
• Allegheny County Press Release
• Post Gazette Article