We are Boys Hope Girls Hope of Pittsburgh

Boys Hope Girls Hope of 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.

Boys Hope Girls Hope 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.

Boys Hope Girls Hope of Pittsburgh is a proud member of the Boys Hope Girls Hope 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

MISSION

To nurture and guide motivated young people in need to become well-educated, career-ready men and women for others.

DNA

Boys Hope Girls Hope utilizes the following
approach to achieve our mission.

We are:

Academically Focused
Service Oriented
Family-like
Long-Term and Comprehensive
Faith-Inspired
Voluntary in Nature

LOCAL IMPACT

Founded as Girls Hope in 1992, Boys Hope Girls Hope of Pittsburgh helps scholars tap into their God-given strengths to rise up from disadvantaged backgrounds and strive for more. Boys Hope Girls Hope 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 Boys Hope Girls Hope provides.

See how Boys Hope Girls Hope 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.

2019

Through housing, educating, and nurturing our scholars, we have seen 19 women graduate college and launch successful careers.

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.

LEADERSHIP

The Boys Hope Girls Hope of 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

Ali Brush

Executive Director

Lenell Hale

Lenell Hale

Director of Programs

Jen Heid

Jen Heid

Director of Operations

Deb Cecotti

Deb Cecotti

Community Resource 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

 

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

George Linge
Chief Managing Counsel
PNC Bank

Alicia Locker
Academic Engagement Specialist
Office of Biometric & Identity Management
Department of Homeland Security

Sr. Rosanne Oberleitner
Sisters of Saint Joseph

 

Kristin Ostby
President & CEO
Boys Hope Girls Hope

Lisa Shanley
Realtor
Howard Hanna Real Estate Services

Louisa Urgo Shin
Physician Assistant
UPMC

Angela Vicario
Vice President
KeyBank

Yalanda Wells
Commercial Banker
Bank of America

Matt Zack
Vice President, Corporate Development
Ansys, Inc.

EMERITUS BOARD MEMBERS

Jeanne Caliguiri
Retired
Leukemia Society of Western PA

Charles I. Ferrara
Retired
Northwestern Mutual Financial Network

David Higie

H. Kennedy Linge
Retired
Reed Smith, LLP

James R. Kane
Retired Chairman, President & CEO

Christopher Newton
Retired
Bayer Corporation

Joseph Platt
General Partner
Thorn Partners, LLP

Robert Riordan

Mark M. Sherwin
Retired
CENTRIA

Rosemary Welsh
Proprietor
Rosebud’s

 

YOUNG LEADERSHIP BOARD

Amanda Abernathy
Arrive Health

Kylie Battles
Ansys, Inc.

Andrea Curtis, President
Merrill Lynch

Viktoria Heiser
Ansys, Inc.

Caitlin Kelley
UPMC Enterprises

Alicia Locker, Fundraising Chair
Department of Homeland Security

Sarah Miller
Allegheny Health Network

Haley Pesci
Ansys, Inc.

Corey Sam
Keller Williams Realty

Yalanda Wells, Activities Chair
Bank of America