Pittsburgh Social Venture Partners (PSVP) Announce their 2011 Fall Pitch Investee.
With about 100 attendees witnessing the Fall Pitch presentations, Partners selected Kristen Hughes and the Fitwits Program for the first place prize award – $12,500 and up to 18 months of professional technical assistance from PSVP partners. Healthy Family Home Training Camp, a program of the YMCA of Greater Pittsburgh, received $2,500 to support developing its pilot family model. A selection committee composed of PSVP partners selected these two finalists from among eight semi-finalists. The two finalists took part in a “tips for giving an elevator pitch” training session. Following that session, each presenter had the assistance of two coaches to prepare for their ten-minute (powerpoint) presentation on event night.
The Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh Foundation hosted the Fall Pitch event on October 19th, which focused on “improving health and nutrition to reduce obesity in children in Allegheny County.” Parkhurst Dining Services and Eat’nPark Hospitality Group provided a magnificent and healthy dinner and desserts to all the guests, while the presenters pitched their programs. At the conclusion of the two pitches, partners mingled with guests to discuss the programs proposed according to the voting criteria:
- The program is innovative in its response to the issue of improving health and nutrition for overweight and obese children in Allegheny County;
- The specific technical ”ask” can be responded to skillfully and persistently by PSVP in the next 18 months; and
- The use of the financial award by the winning program will allow it to leverage achievement of its desired outcomes.
After carefully considering these criteria, the Partners voted.
Fitwits was awarded $12,500 to support its “system of educational health games and services designed to enable individuals, families, peer groups and communities customized opportunities for action towards healthy eating and lifestyle changes.” In addition to the financial support, Fitwits will receive skilled volunteer time for specific technical assistance.
PSVP will begin working with the Fitwits Program in the upcoming weeks to define the specific technical assistance partners can provide to meet its goal – becoming a free-standing and self-sustaining nonprofit.
The YMCA of Greater Pittsburgh was the second nonprofit to successfully vie for PSVP support (YMAC presenter, Gretchen North, pictured at left with Kristen Hughes). The YMCA was awarded $2,500 to support their Healthy Family Home Training Camp, which “targets underserved children ages 5 – 12 and a caregiver in a 12-week obesity prevention program that strengthens the pillars of a healthy home.”
In addition to the PSVP awards, guests pledged an additional $1,500 that evening to the two programs. Similarly, guests also pledged personal volunteer time to help each program meet its defined objectives.
How to get involved
If you are an innovative Nonprofit who is interested in upcoming PSVP funding and skill development opportunities, please consider PSVP’s 2012 Fast Pitch. If you are interested in learning how to join in the effort to be more engaged in your giving to nonprofits in our community, please contact us. We would love to share what PSVP is all about!
Inquiries can be directed to info@psvp.org.