CHRISTOPHER
MARTIN,
Southwest Region
President, Northwest
Savings Bank
(l to r): Grace Brueggman, Natalie LaLama and Macy Hall.
When they reached eighth grade, they
decided to give their project a name: “Bring
A Smile To The Service.” They even created
a presentation that they shared with other
middle school students across the state at a
statewide Student Government Conference.
Their goal was to encourage other students
to replicate the girls’ efforts at their schools.
The girls also presented their project to the
Bethel Park Community Foundation and
the Rotary Club of Bethel Park and received
funding to help defray the cost of mailing the
care packages.
“I’m so thrilled to hear about our award!!!”
LaLama said. “I love being able to write and to
bring hope and support to a place where there
isn’t much of either. It’s a wonderful feeling–
being able to do my part for the service right
from home, and to let the soldiers know that
they aren’t forgotten. They know that we care
and that we are here to support them, even if
we aren’t overseas with them.”
Since the project’s inception, the girls have
even received correspondence back from
the soldiers and have even met some of the
soldiers after they returned to the states. The
soldiers shared with the group how much
their units anticipated the letters and how
they stopped what they we ɔ