We are Hope Ignites Pittsburgh
Hope Ignites Pittsburgh helps motivated high school students rise above disadvantaged backgrounds. Our goal is to graduate young people who are physically, emotionally, and academically prepared for post-secondary education and productive life, breaking barriers so they can become community-minded leaders.
Hope Ignites firmly believes that young people have the power to overcome adversity, realize their potential, and help transform our world. They create these successes when we remove obstacles, support and believe in them, and provide environments and opportunities that build on their strengths.
Hope Ignites Pittsburgh is a proud member of the Hope Ignites Network. Our Network Headquarters, located in St. Louis, Missouri, connects, provides leadership to, and offers signature college-preparatory programming to affiliates across the nation, Mexico, and Guatemala. Each affiliate is independently incorporated, governed by its own board of directors, and responsible for its own fundraising. Affiliation and services agreements link the Network to ensure mission and brand fidelity, quality operations, maximum functional capacity, and consistency in training, programmatic standards, and best practices.
OUR MISSION & DNA
LOCAL IMPACT
Founded as Girls Hope in 1991, Hope Ignites Pittsburgh helps scholars tap into their God-given strengths to rise up from disadvantaged backgrounds and strive for more. Hope Ignites of Pittsburgh serves youth who want to attend college and create successful futures for themselves and their families. Scholars have joined the program to receive support on their journey to college and beyond. They seek the academic resources, extracurricular opportunities, and mentor relationships Hope Ignites provides.
See how Hope Ignites is prioritizing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.
HISTORY
1991
The Sisters of St. Joseph founded Girls Hope, the Network’s first girls’ home, in Baden, Pennsylvania. The doors opened with two Sisters as Residential Counselors serving four girls in the program.
1992
Four additional girls entered the program, enabling us to serve eight young women in total.
2006
Jen Heid joins Girls Hope as the Director of Residential Programming.
2012
Tom Wiese becomes Executive Director.
2020
Rebranded to Boys Hope Girls Hope of Pittsburgh!
Boys were recruited to expand service to include our first residence for boys.
2023
Tom Wiese retires as Executive Director. Ali Brush is selected as the incoming Executive Director. Jen Heid is promoted to Director of Operations. Lenell Hale is hired as the new Program Director.
2024
In partnership with The Neighborhood Academy, we welcomed a cohort of fifteen 6th &7th graders to pilot our Academy Pathway and secured property to begin building an Urban Campus which will have a home for boys and a home for girls.
2025
Through housing, educating, and nurturing our scholars, we have seen 24 college graduates who have launched successful careers.
LEADERSHIP
The Hope Ignites Pittsburgh Board of Directors and team leadership collaborate to ensure mission fidelity, financial stewardship and transparency. Together, these professionals are committed to continuous learning, effective programming and improvement through impact evaluation and innovation.
Ali Brush
Executive Director
Lenell Hale
Director of Programs
Jen Heid
Director of Operations
Deb Cecotti
Community Resource Coordinator
Josie Bankston
Coordinator of Admissions & Alumni Success
Molly Cohen
Academy Pathway Coordinator
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
F. Duffy Hanna, Chair
President
Howard Hanna Financial Services
Megan Duffy, Vice Chair
Shanon Rohr, Secretary
The Ellis School
Lacey Anderson, Treasurer
Managing Director
Deloitte & Touche LLC
Maria Bernier
Vice President & General Counsel Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh
Betsy Brown
Associate Professor
George Mason University
Andrea Curtis
Financial Advisor
Merrill Lynch
Anissa Gilbert
Digital Product Manager, VP
PNC Bank
Amit S. Grover
Executive Director
Morgan Stanley
Sidney Hartzell
Financial Analyst II
Milwaukee Tool
Sr. Christy Hill
Sisters of St. Joseph
Brent Jernigan
The Neighborhood Academy
Matt Johnson
President & CEO
Russell Standard Corporation
Mary Kate Joyce
Marketing Director
Ansys, Inc.
Meredith Ley
Real Estate Agent
Howard Hanna Real Estate Services
Sr. Rosanne Oberleitner
Sisters of St. Joseph
Kristin Ostby
President & CEO
Hope Ignites
Lisa Shanley
Realtor
Howard Hanna Real Estate Services
Louisa Urgo Shin
Physician Assistant
UPMC
Marcy Sparks
Owner
Sparks Physical Therapy &
Performance
Angela Vicario
Vice President
KeyBank
Yalanda Wells
Commercial Banker
Bank of America
EMERITUS BOARD MEMBERS
YOUNG LEADERSHIP BOARD
Ben Alper
Relationship Strategist
PNC Bank
Kylie Battles
Ansys, Inc.
Canaan Blackwell
C&IB Sr. Associate
PNC Bank
Andrea Curtis
Financial Consultant
Vice President – Investments
Wells Fargo Advisors
Tevin Gibson
Financial Advisor
Primerica
Wes Giles
Viktoria Heiser
Ansys, Inc.
Alicia Locker
Department of Homeland
Security
Tyler Neiderriter
Haley Pesci
Ansys, Inc.
Corey Sam
Keller Williams Realty
Cameron Spooner
Senior Internal Auditor
PNC Financial Services
Summer Weinberg
Senior Account Executive
Guardant Health
Yalanda Wells
Global Commercial Banker
Bank of America
HERE IS HOW YOU CAN PROVIDE HOPE
HERE IS HOW YOU CAN PROVIDE HOPE