WHAT’ S NEWS IN NORTH ALLEGHENY
THE WOODLANDS FOUNDATION PLANS SECOND ANNUAL BLOCK PARTY
The community is invited to pull up a lawn chair or blanket and attend The Woodlands Foundation’ s second annual Block Party on Saturday, Aug. 20, from 4 to 7 p. m. at the 52‐acre campus in Wexford.
The Block Party will feature live music from Good Brother Earl and host the Las Chicas Taco Truck as well as the BRGR tent. Also, Bella Christie & Li’ l Z’ s Sweet Boutique will make little donuts to order on-site. The event will include refreshments with beverages from Deschutes Brewery as well as activities throughout the day including golf competitions on the organization’ s nine-hole golf course and carnival-style games with prizes. A raffle will feature Steelers tickets and many local venue activities and gift certificates.
Tickets can be purchased at mywoodlands. org and are $ 35 for adults, $ 15 for children ages 14 and under, and children ages 4 and under will be admitted free of charge.
Proceeds from the Block Party will go to the Woodlands’ mission of providing year‐round recreational and educational programs and camps to children and young adults who have special needs. These programs take place at the Woodlands Wexford campus, which includes all adaptive activities such as a large indoor heated pool, a zip line, a nine-hole golf course, an art center, nature trails, a recreational center, a sports court, campgrounds and other activities that participants might not otherwise have the opportunity to explore.
Block Party sponsorship opportunities remain. Contact Stephanie Weinberg for more information at sweinberg @ woodlandsfoundation. org or call 724.935.6533.
MARTIN NEAL WINS WOODROW WILSON NATIONAL FELLOWSHIP
The Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation announced the selection of 60 WW Georgia Teaching Fellows for 2016.
Among them was Wexford native Martin Neal. The new Fellows were introduced at an event on June 1 with Georgia Governor Nathan Deal.
The highly competitive program recruits both recent graduates and career changers with strong backgrounds in science, technology, engineering and math— the STEM fields— and prepares them specifically to teach in high-need secondary schools.
Each Fellow received $ 30,000 to complete a specially designed, cutting-edge master’ s degree program based on a year-long classroom experience. In return, Fellows commit to teach for three years in the urban and rural Georgia schools that most need strong STEM teachers. Throughout the three‐year commitment, Fellows receive ongoing support and mentoring.
For more information, contact Patrick Riccards, Chief Communications and Strategy Officer, at riccards @ woodrow. org or 703.298.8283.
WORLD OF MAE 5K AND 1-MILE FUNRUN
Be sure to join in on this year’ s World of Mae 5K and 1-Mile FunRun scheduled for Oct. 1 at Hartwood Acres. The event will include a 5K and 1-mile handicappedfriendly course as well as free face painting, Henna tattoo artistry, Hula Hoop Troop Interactive Entertainment, live music every half-mile, basket raffles, food, beverages and much more! Proceeds benefit Ada Mae Grashow.
Ada Mae Grashow is seven years old with Phelan McDermid Syndrome( PMS), an extremely rare genetic disorder. Despite being nonverbal, Ada’ s message is powerful, and the Grashows want to help others by sharing her story.“ Learning about Ada’ s diagnosis when she was just over age five allowed us to start understanding the mysteries we were constantly experiencing. By bringing awareness to PMS, Ada’ s story sparks empathy and acceptance for individuals with disabilities. Because PMS is so rare, we hope to promote earlier diagnosis and help other families get the proper treatment that their loved ones with PMS deserve,” says Ada’ s mother, Katie Grashow. The Grashows’ foundation, World of Mae, is dedicated to empowering Ada as well as the surrounding community. World of Mae holds an annual festival uniquely designed to celebrate people of ALL abilities and disabilities.
For more information and to follow Ada’ s story, visit facebook. com / worldofmae. home or email kathryngrashow @ yahoo. com.
ALAINA RODI AWARDED THE FUTURE TEACHERS SCHOLARSHIP FROM NAFT
The North Allegheny Federation of Teachers( NAFT) proudly announces Alaina Rodi as recipient of this year’ s NAFT Future Educators Scholarship. Rodi, the daughter of Bob and Marina Rodi of Gibsonia, received a cash award of $ 2,500 to be used toward her higher education.
The scholarship is awarded to a graduating senior at North Allegheny High School on a competitive basis of high scholarship, recommendations from teachers, campus leadership and service, and promise of future contributions to the teaching profession.
Rodi is an honor student who has been involved in the German Exchange Student Program at North Allegheny High School. The Rodi family hosted a German student and Rodi spent three weeks in Germany the summer before her junior year. She earned the gold medal for the national German test in 2014, and a silver medal in 2015. She is a member of the National Honor Society and DECA( winning regional awards and competing at the state competition as both a junior and senior), and has been active with chorus and women’ s lacrosse, all while continuing youth mentoring and tutoring.
Rodi will pursue her degree in Education at Pennsylvania State University, University Park
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