It’s hard to believe, but the end of 2018 is upon us. Whether the year was one of your best ever or one that you are ready to leave behind, this time of year is often one for reflection. It is a perfect time to think about all of the things that you did over the past year — and what you hope to accomplish in 2019. For many people, the last week of the year is also an opportunity to maximize their charitable giving. It is the last chance to make donations that can not only

Across the United States, author Marie Kondo’s book The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up has inspired millions to declutter and focus on paring down their possessions to what truly matters. While having too much “stuff” is absolutely a function of privilege, it does present an opportunity for those who are fortunate enough to worry about making more room in their homes: the chance to give back. Far too often, the holidays are a time of rampant consumerism, filled with wish

At Blackburn Center, we are always looking for ways to improve the services that we offer to victims of violence and to the community as a whole. Through this process, we have developed innovative ideas, such as our outreach to underserved populations, the Fearless Advocacy for Men’s Engagement (FAME) group, and our primary prevention work. Our latest idea may not be as ground-breaking, but it is designed to make giving back just a bit easier. We are continually amazed by t

This year, the Pittsburgh Foundation will host its 7th annual Day of Giving. On May 3, from 8 a.m. until midnight, any donations made through this website will be eligible for matching donations. In Westmoreland County, a $50,000 matching pool has been provided by the Community Foundation of Westmoreland County and its donors. All contributions will be matched on a prorated basis, with the match pool capped at $1,000 per donor per organization. This year, a generous donor h

At Blackburn Center, we provide a number of free and confidential services to victims of domestic violence and sexual assault. Over the next few months, we will be highlighting the different ways in which we help. Today’s topic: our emergency shelter. ——————————————————————————————————————————————————— Our emergency shelter provides housing to victims of intimate partner violence (IPV) in Westmoreland County for up to thirty days. We work hard to ensure that our facility i

As the Fourth of July approaches, many of us reminiscence about what it means to be an American. There is a lot to love about our country, and many things that make America great. But despite this, we struggle to overcome certain problems. One of the primary challenges facing our country is our culture of violence. This violence takes many forms, from the racist acts of terrorism in Charleston to school shootings to politically motivated attacks. These acts of violence are

My name is Laura Fontana and I am a senior at SHU and the spring Greensburg Community Development Corporation intern. I want to share my adventure in downtown Greensburg before I graduate and leave for grad school. It started on a Friday night supporting a friend who was given the opportunity to play the organ at the First Presbyterian Church on South Main Street. Seton Hill students performed organ music that filled this majestic space with sounds that was very pleasing. I

The numbers are in....2015 was our biggest walk yet! We had 1,100 walkers at our 5th annual Walk a Mile In Her Shoes! Absolutely incredible! We are so grateful for such amazing community support -- thank you all! If you'd like to see pictures of our walk -- including team pictures, check out our Facebook page for all of the pictures taken by Skysight Photography. Feel free to tag yourself and others in the pictures -- and please share these great shots of our event! Here is

Our annual Walk a Mile In Her Shoes event is one of Blackburn Center’s signature opportunities to showcase the role that men can – and do – play in supporting our vision of communities free from domestic and sexual violence. While our walkers include women and children as well as men, the focus of the walk is on engaging men in Blackburn Center’s mission to end gender violence. Men from the community participate in a public reading of our pledge, Ten Things Men Can Do To End

Welcome, 2015! At Blackburn Center, we are excited to begin a new year, with all of the promise of new beginnings. Our resolution for the new year is simple: to continue in our mission to advocate for the rights of all individuals to live free from domestic and sexual violence in their homes and communities, by eliminating the root causes of this violence and providing for the well-being and safety of survivors/victims. We also plan to expand our outreach efforts through o

If you turn on the radio or TV this week, you’re bound to hear that “it’s the most wonderful time of the year!” For many in our community, this is a time of celebration and gratitude. With parties and cookies, candles and trees, the holiday season is full of cheer, and a perfect time to give back to your community – especially to support those who may not have the opportunity for celebration and cheer. Blackburn Center provides emergency shelter services for victims of dome

To many in our community, October is a month for visiting pumpkin patches and apple orchards, viewing the gorgeous changing leaves, and preparing for Halloween. But for those of us whose lives have been affected by domestic violence, October has a different meaning: a time to raise awareness for domestic violence. This month, we observe Domestic Violence Awareness Month and we ask you to participate to help us reach our goals of raising awareness and ultimately ending the