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Hannah Shuker in a Nilly Noggin cap, which is designed to help kids with epilepsy during treatments.
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Making a difference: Four Pittsburgh nonprofits awarded for community impact

Hannahtopia

Making a difference: Four Pittsburgh nonprofits awarded for community impact

Four Pittsburgh nonprofits have received a combined $50,000 in grants from a Houston-based consumer services and energy company to further work and outreach that is already making an impact every day, company officials said.

After online public voting conducted by NRG Energy, BikePGH and Beverly’s Birthdays were awarded $10,000 each, and Hannahtopia and the Lower Valley Community Food Bank each received $15,000.

“The program is more than just giving away money,” said Carla Ibarra, director of corporate social responsibility and marketing at NRG. “It's celebrating the work that they are already doing. It's enabling the continuation of good work and impact.”

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NRG awards $100,000 to nonprofits across Pennsylvania and New Jersey every year. Winners must be nominated, and then judged to determine whether the group’s mission aligns with the company’s “four pillars” — education, sustainability, resilience and community, Ms. Ibarra said. NRG picks eight finalists; the public determines the winners.

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Here’s a look at the local winners:

Beverly’s Birthdays

Megan Yunn recalled meeting a student years ago named Beverly who said that because of her family’s poor finances, she had never been able to celebrate her birthday with an actual party.

“We want to ensure that every child, regardless of personal or financial circumstances, has a very happy birthday,” said Ms. Yunn, who founded Beverly’s Birthdays in 2012 and today serves as its executive director. “We are all about coming alongside families and using the vehicle of celebration to help support their needs.”

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The organization works in seven counties and helps more than 40,000 families a year in the Pittsburgh region. In addition to organizing free parties and baby showers, Beverly’s Birthdays runs a formula bank and a crisis baby care item referral program.

“Any opportunity to receive funding and to develop a new partnership is incredible,” Ms. Yunn said. “Every dollar helps us really celebrate children in the community.”

Beverly’s Birthdays funds 1,000 birthdays a month, Ms. Yunn said — the extra money will only help the mission.

Hannahtopia

Heather Shuker’s daughter has severe epilepsy, and a treatment for it requires a form of testing that is hard on small children.

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“They glue electrodes to your head and then put white gauze and tape around your head and it just looks very medically sterile,” said Ms. Shuker. “So I created the ‘Nilly Noggin’ EEG cap to cover those up and to help make it just a little easier to do this testing, help kids smile, give them comfort and confidence.”

She founded Hannahtopia — named after her daughter — in 2017 with the mission of giving comforting Nilly Noggins to kids suffering from epilepsy nationwide. The additional funding, Ms. Shuker said, “is going to make such a difference.”

Hannah Shuker in a Nilly Noggin cap, which is designed to help kids with epilepsy during treatments. (Hannahtopia)

“We know how sad living with epilepsy can be. There's just so much sadness. We get the testimonials from the kids and emails from parents that just really make all of this worthwhile.”

Hannahtopia also will use the extra money to fund its “Warrior Box” initiative — care packages for kids with epilepsy.

Lower Valley Community Food Bank

The Lower Valley Community Food Bank distributes food twice a month to 200 families, or 750 individuals, in Springdale Township, Springdale Borough, Cheswick Borough, Harmar Township and Indiana Township.

In operation since the 1980s — but struggling to make ends meet since the pandemic set in — the extra funding comes at the perfect time, said Jennifer Novich, the food bank’s board secretary. Food insecurity in the 10-square-mile area the food bank serves is increasing, she said, especially among school-age children and senior citizens.

“We were very humbled to have even been (nominated), but to be one of the top four — and get the $15,000 donation — is just going to be incredible for our tiny food bank,” Ms. Novich said. “We want to make sure that our clients are getting a good variety of food, have healthy choices and have enough food.”

BikePGH

BikePGH is an advocacy organization for cycling and pedestrian infrastructure that aims to lower car dependence in Pittsburgh.

“We envision a Pittsburgh where people can thrive without needing to own a car — making Pittsburgh a world class leader in clean, affordable, and convenient transportation,” the nonprofit says on its website. It was launched in 2002.

BikePGH officials did not respond to requests for comment.

Ciara McEneany: cmceneany@post-gazette.com

First Published: February 4, 2024, 10:30 a.m.
Updated: February 4, 2024, 1:46 p.m.

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Hannah Shuker in a Nilly Noggin cap, which is designed to help kids with epilepsy during treatments.  (Hannahtopia)
Four Pittsburgh nonprofits received a combined $50,000 in grants from a Houston-based consumer services and energy company to further work and outreach that is already making an impact every day: BikePGH, Beverly’s Birthdays, Hannahtopia and the Lower Valley Community Food Bank  (Lower Valley Community Food Bank)
A ‘Nilly Noggin’ EEG Cap, which helps kids with epilepsy during treatments.  (Hannahtopia)
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