As we finish our 16th year of being the region’s sole provider of free school resources, The Education Partnership reflects on a year filled with growth, resilience, and gratitude. We welcomed more schools, teachers, and students into our programs than ever before, extending our reach across all eight counties we serve in Southwestern PA.
Introducing Partnership Pantries
A major highlight of the year was the launch of our new Partnership Pantries. With some partner schools located more than an hour away, we set out to create a more accessible way for them to receive core school supplies. Our pilot program placed pantries in 11 full-partner schools, each stocked with the materials teachers need most, bringing support closer to the classrooms that rely on it.
Community and Events
We were thrilled to see many beloved events return as well. Community-driven fundraisers like Pack the Bus with WPXI and Bazzy and Bubba’s Backpack Brigade helped fuel our mission, and our golf supporters had multiple opportunities to “hit the links” through both our annual Golf Outing and Giant Eagle’s Golf Outing. Our donors truly remain a hole-in-one for us every time.
Rising to Meet Challenges
While this year brought many bright moments, it also presented challenges. A government budget impasse temporarily halted funding for public schools. In response, our team acted quickly to support educators by providing one of the most essential classroom supplies: printer paper for lessons, homework, and tests. Thanks to the dedication of our team and the generosity of our suppliers, we distributed 7,510 reams of paper to 139 schools during this critical time.
Celebrating Teachers
We also celebrated the incredible educators in our network. This year’s TEPPIES awards celebrated dedicated and passionate teachers in our programs. The Pittsburgh Pirates also hosted a special Teacher Appreciation Day at PNC Park to recognize those shaping the future of our communities. Over the summer, we were honored to host teachers in our facility for a professional development “Summer Camp,” complete with workshops and roundtable discussions focused on strengthening our programs to better meet evolving classroom needs.
Welcoming New Team Members
Our team grew in wonderful ways this year as well. On the Program Team, we welcomed Kendra Hamilton as our new Adopt-A-School Program Coordinator and Marco Femiani as our new Teacher Resource Center Program Coordinator. Our Advancement Team had two new members, Advancement Manager Natalie DelVecchio-Wolfe and Advancement Coordinator Jill Weida. The Operations Team grew by adding Operations Associate, Inventory Brian Willson, and Operations Associate, Programs Courtney Clemens. Finally, we were excited to welcome Chris Smith as our new Administrative Data Management Associate. We are grateful to have such a talented and dedicated group of new colleagues.
Looking Ahead to Year 17
As we head into the new year, we remain deeply thankful for the supporters who make our work possible. We can’t wait to see what our 17th year brings, and we look forward to continuing to serve our teachers, students, and communities together.
Author: The TEP Team
