WHAT’ S NEWS IN WEST ALLEGHENY
A WILD SUMMER BEGINS AT WACL
Summer at the Western Allegheny Community Library( WACL) is going to be wild! Last year’ s Summer Learning Programs were a great success. This year, WACL is ramping up the fun to another level. More camps. More mess! More art! More action! More opportunities to learn, have fun and discover! WACL is offering a preview of what it’ s doing on Saturday, May 20. The library will be abuzz with science and art programs
for all ages so you can see what summer at the library will look like. The Carnegie Science Center will also be there for some amazing programs all day long. All free! The three-day summer camps are also free!
WACL’ s Summer Learning Kickoff is Friday, June 2, from 6 to 8 p. m., with games, food and fun for the whole family! Camps begin June 12. You’ ll find everything you need to know in the summer newsletter and on the website in early May. Sponsorship opportunities are still available. If you’ re interested in sponsoring one of WACL’ s programs or camps, contact Amy McDonald at McDonalda @ einetwork. net.
There are many new things to look forward to at the library. The most noticeable change is the construction of the“ Backyard”— the library’ s new outdoor space expected to open late spring or early summer, depending on the weather.
CLEARVIEW RECOGNIZES OUTSTANDING VOLUNTEER WITH $ 2,500 DONATION
Clearview Federal Credit Union recently honored Alexis( Lexi) Campbell, the winner of the 9th Annual Joseph C. Cirelli Community Service Award, during an award and donation presentation.
Campbell, who was nominated for the award by her mother-in-law, is the founder and director of Camp Cranium, a weeklong overnight summer camp for kids ages 6-18 who have experienced a traumatic or acquired brain injury.
She began volunteering at medical camps when she was 18, and came to realize that camps can reach children with medical issues in a way that no other resources can. Because there were no similar camps offered in her local community, Campbell decided to start her own camp in 2007 and said it is the only one of its kind in Pennsylvania.
Camp Cranium’ s goal is to provide an experience where“ extraordinary kids can do extraordinary things” by promoting independence, improving self-esteem, and allowing the campers to form lifelong bonds with others experiencing similar struggles. For a week during each summer, children who have had a traumatic brain injury or stroke have the unique opportunity to meet other children with brain injuries in a safe, supportive and fun environment. Over the past nine years, the camp has grown from originally hosting 24 campers to hosting approximately 60 campers and 90 volunteers each June.
In honor of Campbell’ s hard work, Clearview is making a $ 2,500 donation to Camp Cranium, which will use it to expand its web presence by redeveloping the organization’ s website and offering
online chat sessions. This will help form a well-established online presence and improve communication with parents of children with brain injuries, as well as other community providers.
“ Our Board of Directors decided that the money from the Joseph C. Cirelli Community Service Award is being put toward our new website because we do feel that, although that one week of camp each year is amazing and helps them get through the rest of the year, we want to be able to provide services to them throughout the entire year, and this is the first step,” Campbell said.
The Joseph C. Cirelli Community Service Award was created to recognize a person who provides outstanding volunteer service to his or her community. The award is named in honor of former Clearview President / CEO Joseph Cirelli who served the credit union for 35 years.
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