< Previous%Locally SourcedLocally Sourced Pittsburgh International Airport has joined several airports around the world to offer optional COVID-19 testing for arriving and departing passengers. The testing, which is being conducted in partnership with TACKL Health, began just before Christmas in the airside terminal’s Concourse A, across from Gate A2. The testing site is located in a safe space with socially distanced seating, privacy curtains and directional floor decals. The testing option inside the terminal is an expansion of PIT’s Safe Travels program, which features a number of health and safety measures implemented this year in response to the pandemic. TACKL Health is offering polymerase chain reaction and rapid antigen testing. The testing is administered by trained and licensed healthcare professionals in accordance with U.S. Health Information Portability and Accountability Act requirements. Rapid antigen test results are available within 15 minutes. PCR results take between 24 to 48 hours to get, on average. Testing is being held daily from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Passengers can schedule an appointment in advance and walk-in visitors will be accepted. Tests cost $95 for the rapid antigen, $125 for the PCR or $175 for both. No referral is needed and health insurance is not accepted. PIT offering COVID testing to travelers The Moon Township Garden Club is once again offering the Jean Thompson Vernocy Memorial Scholarship to graduating seniors and eligible college/university students. Awards of up to $2,500 are available. The following guidelines must be met in order to apply. Applicants must: • be a resident of Moon Township or Crescent Township; • be accepted at an accredited college or university; • have earned a cumulative GPA of 3.25 or higher; • be planning to major in biology, horticulture, wildlife science, environmental concerns, botany, landscape design, rural and urban planning, sustainable engineering, or a related field to those listed. Students attending Moon Area High School can obtain the scholarship guidelines and application forms through the high school guidance office. All other eligible applicants can receive materials by emailing Joanne Canan at jdcanan@verizon.net. All applications must be received by March 1, 2021. Moon Township Garden Club offering scholarship CONTENT SUBMITTED NOW HIRING! Oces located in Robinson Twp. & Monaca 412.494.2000 ExpressPros.com Full-time and part-time job opportunities in a variety of positions: Administrative, Professional, Industrial, Skilled Labor, Skilled Trades, and Skilled Professional. Call to schedule your interview! No Fees! Local rock band Chip & The Charge Ups released a fitting new song and video at the end of 2020. “Under the Exit Sign” is an emotion- tugging tune blending hard rock and gospel. The track features Char Fields, whose big voice was lent to the band’s 2019 anthem, “Black and Gold Christmas.” “Under the Exit Sign” addresses 2020’s biggest struggles: COVID-19 and the associated lockdowns; George Floyd’s death and the resulting protests; and the U.S. presidential election. At the core of the song, however, is an inspiring message of unity, everlasting friendship and overcoming hardships. “For most people, 2020 was a year that kicked them square in the gut - multiple times and in multiple ways,” says Chip Dominick of Moon Township. Dominick is the band’s vocalist and guitarist. “Through music, we want to look at how the year made us stronger as individuals, better as a society and closer as family and friends. Though ‘Under the Exit Sign’ unapologetically touches on tough topics, it ends with an upbeat vibe that looks forward with hope to what’s next after we exit 2020.” The song also features Dominick’s daughter, 18-year old bassist Maleena Dominick, playing viola. Maleena graduated this past spring from Moon Area and released her own solo album last year. The video can be viewed on YouTube by searching for “Under the Exit Sign.” Local rock band bids good riddance to 2020 10 • Allegheny West Magazine • January/February 2021 The year 2020 was to be a year of substantial job and new business growth in our western Pittsburgh communities. The Southern Beltway connector reaching completion, Amazon bringing thousands of new jobs to the area, Robert Morris University spreading its wings, and Pittsburgh International Airport embarking on a new face-lift were all high points as we moved into 2020. While none of these situations have disappeared, they have been disrupted to some extent by COVID-19. I say disrupted because the airport community and businesses will somehow rebound, just as they always do. As we move forward into the New Year, we must navigate a new road map that has never been traveled before: social distancing, customer interaction from behind a barrier, the missing smile of a satisfied customer hidden by a mask, and the most noticeable of all physical contact: the lack of a handshake. One can only imagine the countless number of business deals that were solidified by a single handshake and a simple nod of appreciation. The Pittsburgh Airport Area Chamber of Commerce is committed, as it has been since the early 1900s, to navigating a new road map and serving our citizens and the business community. We want what is best for our existing and new businesses and consumers: sustainable re-growth. The PAACC will continue with our various events, and though for now they will be virtual, we hope to soon be back to meeting face to face. Our successful future depends on our partnership with you, the business owner, the worker, and the consumer. We are here to serve you in whatever capacity is necessary to help navigate that new road map. We promise to have an open dialogue and be receptive to suggestions and ideas. Until then, we wish you and your family a safe and joyous holiday season. Together, we will succeed and prosper. Chris Heck President/CEO Pittsburgh Airport Area Chamber of Commerce Sustainable Re-Growth through Optimism for 2021 January/February 2021 • www.awmagazine.com • 11CAround Your Town Around Your Town Even in normal years, senior citizens tend to struggle with socialization due to a number of factors. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the restrictions and social distancing measures they’ve had to abide by have exacerbated the issue to crisis levels. To combat the issue in this area, the Allegheny County Area Agency on Aging has amped up its Senior Companion Program and altered its format to adjust to the pandemic. The Senior Companion Program is a federally funded initiative that was started in 1974 to provide income-eligible county residents aged 55 and older who are homebound or isolated with visits from volunteers. Though not mandated, companions typically visit seniors once or twice a week for a few hours each time. According to program manager John Miller, in-home visits were suspended last March for the safety of both program recipients and companions. However, volunteers were asked to continue making calls to check on their designated seniors, and even received new awareness training for serious side effects of depression and isolation. “One thing we were hearing is that the seniors still benefited from being connected to their companions by phone,” said Miller, adding “a friendly voice goes a long way in helping with loneliness.” Miller mentioned that the companions are also positively affected by knowing that someone is counting on them. Miller reported that, as the pandemic dragged into the summer with no end in sight, the county decided to advertise the service in the hopes of reaching more seniors. After revising the name to the “Friendly Caller” program, the Department of Human Services began social media campaigns and neighborhood website messaging to spread the word. Between September and the time of this writing, roughly 60 new seniors have enrolled in the program, said Miller. The program now has approximately 260 participants. That expanded client base has increased the need for more than the 97 companions and friendly callers currently on the books. Miller reported that companions receive training, a small stipend and meal and travel expenses. Each companion is matched with a senior in an attempt to create the most rewarding relationship. For more information about the Senior Companion/Friendly Caller program, call the SeniorLine at (412) 350-4061 or email Miller at john.miller@alleghenycounty.us. County’s Senior Companion Program revises and expands during COVID-19 STORY BY JILL BORDO 12 • Allegheny West Magazine • January/February 2021CAround Your Town Around Your Town Usually when children have a birthday coming up, they get preoccupied looking forward to all of the gifts they hope they’re going to get. In the Tolliver- Lehman family, however, birthdays have also become an occasion for giving back. This past spring, as Moon Area High School sophomore Teddy Tolliver was looking forward to his 15th birthday, he assembled essential bags for Riverdale Church. Teddy raised $3,000, which he used to purchase hygiene products for the essential bags. The bags were then donated to those experiencing difficulties due to COVID-19. A story about Teddy’s efforts appeared in the July Moon edition of Allegheny West Magazine. More recently, in December, Teddy’s sister, Melina Tolliver-Lehman, took on a project of her own in the lead-up to her 11th birthday. Melina created wooden, hand-painted Christmas ornaments that she sold on social media. She donated the funds to the West Hills Food Pantry, which has seen a surge in demand this past year during the COVID-19 pandemic. The pantry’s director, Sandy Hershberger, says she was shocked by the amount Melina raised. “I figured she had a couple dollars,” says Hershberger, “but she had $761 from selling ornaments. She said she wanted to bring me one but she ran out. It was just so sweet that she wanted to do that. I told her, ‘That’s really going to help a lot of people.’” In the weeks after donating that sum, Melina raised another $270, bringing her grand total donated to $1,031. To create the ornaments, Melina worked with her dad, Ben Lehman, who helped by slicing pieces of birch and pine for her to use. Melina then painted designs on each of the ornaments. Teddy and their mom, Lisa Tolliver-Lehman, helped out as well, though Lisa says her daughter designed the ornaments herself and did the bulk of the creative work. The ornaments feature winter scenes, snowflakes, gnomes and snowmen. The family began selling the ornaments at the start of December, a week prior to Melina’s birthday. Lisa, who teaches at Moon Area School District, says her daughter is a budding artist who has been taking private art lessons from Laura Rusciolelli for the past four years. With Melina’s lessons put on hold since March due to COVID-19, the project was thus a welcome outlet and a chance to practice her skills. Lisa says she’s long tried to instill in her children the importance of giving back to their community. “I’m trying to teach my kids about community and looking out for others because everyone looked out for us when we were going through a tough time,” she says. “This whole community lifted us up so we want to do the same.” She says she also wanted to teach them that something good could still come out of a year like 2020. “If we can get through this year we can get through anything,” she says. “What we can do is make the situation as best as it can be.” Local family raises over $1,000 for food pantry Melina Tolliver-Lehman holds one of the ornaments that she made and sold to raise funds for the West Hills Food Pantry this past December. STORY BY DOUG HUGHEY PHOTO SUBMITTED January/February 2021 • www.awmagazine.com • 13y > Learning Curves Learning Curves One of the first calls a family usually makes after a loved one passes is to their attorney, at which point we begin to explain the process of settling the estate. And the response is unanimous - it costs how much?!? Among the ever-increasing funeral expenses is the cost to settle the estate, which ranges from 1% to 7%, between the court costs and attorney fees. Then, you need to factor in a reasonable executor fee, which can be another 5% of the estate’s value. On top of that, depending on the beneficiary’s relationship to the decedent, Pennsylvania’s inheritance tax can be as high as 15%: Whoa … it costs a lot to die BY MICHELE P. CONTI Spouse Children/Grandchildren Siblings Everyone Else 0% 4.5% 12% 15% We also must take into consideration other possible tax consequences, such as income tax and federal estate tax, plus any debts the decedent owed upon their passing or expenses incurred because of their passing. In addition to the above-listed expenses, if the decedent received governmental benefits from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (i.e. Medicaid) they must be reimbursed for benefits paid. Pennsylvania has a priority of creditors list which the executor must be aware of so that the correct creditors get paid in the correct order. Settling an estate is time consuming and can be very complicated. The executor is a fiduciary under the law who must act in the best interest of the estate and who owes the utmost care while acting. Without a professional walking him/her through the process, there is not only the stress of missing a key step but, more importantly, paying more than what is legally required. Also, if the fiduciary breaches his/her duty, they may face personal financial liability. Add to that the complexities and sometimes strained dynamics of a blended family, second marriage and discord amongst siblings. Ornery beneficiaries don’t help matters, either. We often receive inquiries asking when they’ll receive their share. But probate can be lengthy, averaging over a year. And, if there are creditors, we must factor in an additional court process concerning the audit of the estate. If a beneficiary contests, the estate faces the time and cost associated with defending the claim, too. As estate and tax professionals, we assist our clients with all the necessary administrative steps and tax returns, helping them reduce their stress and the applicable tax due with our expertise. What costs are permitted deductions? Which creditors get paid before others? Does an executor pay tax on their commission? All of these are factors in reducing the tax owed by the estate. And if we are proactive, the estate may receive an additional five percent discount if the return is filed within a timely manner. The passing of a loved one is hard enough without having to worry about the settlement of their estate. We would rather family members rejoice in the memory of their loved one than struggle with locating documents, fumbling through files or dealing with family turmoil. The proper plan can allow those family members time to grieve and reduce the likelihood that family relationships will be fractured due to procrastination. Contact us today to help you develop your estate plan or administer your loved one’s estate. Michele P. Conti is an estate planning and elder law attorney. Conti attended Allegheny College in Meadville, Oxford University and Duquesne University School of Law. She received her LL.M. in taxation from Villanova University. 14 • Allegheny West Magazine • January/February 2021lLegislative Update Legislative Update BY STATE REP. VALERIE GAYDOS State Rep. Valerie Gaydos State Rep. Valerie Gaydos represents Pennsylvania’s 44th District. Her office is located at 1009 Beaver Grade Road in Moon Township. Subscribe to her emails at www.repgaydos.com and follow her on Facebook: www.Facebook.com/RepGaydos. COVID-19 update As the coronavirus pandemic continues, I will always be concerned about the health of our citizens, our businesses and the jobs they provide to the residents of our Commonwealth. That is why it was particularly distressing when additional mitigation orders were announced by Gov. Tom Wolf this past December. These restrictions went into effect on Dec. 12 and were lifted Jan. 4. These new orders limited indoor dining at bars and the number of people at indoor events. It also closed entertainment venues and the limited the capacity of barbershops, retailers and salons. In-person, school-related extracurricular activities, including sports, were suspended. College and professional sports, however, were able to continue. These orders have significantly impacted the livelihoods of many citizens, including those working in the service industries who are struggling to stay afloat. In our efforts to recognize people who are struggling to make ends meet, my colleagues and I from the House Economic Growth Caucus applauded the efforts of House leadership for voicing support for House Bill 1737. The legislation called for limiting civil liability for schools, health care entities and businesses of all sizes, including agritourism events, which are in compliance with the governor’s Department of Health COVID-19 guidelines. This bill passed both the House and Senate with majority support but was vetoed by the governor Nov. 30. I am grateful to see many of my colleagues, as well as many small business owners, schools, service providers and others, support this pro-economic growth initiative. I recognize COVID-19 is novel, but I also know business entities are doing the best they can and are going above and beyond to keep their customers, citizens, employees and family members safe. Allowing frivolous lawsuits in this trying environment would be devastating. I am encouraged to see House Republican leaders not only support the reintroduction of this legislation in the next session, but that they also remain dedicated to supporting economic growth post-COVID-19 within our economy. The Economic Growth Caucus is a group of state House members dedicated to making Pennsylvania more competitive and economically vibrant. It is comprised of 15 House members with entrepreneurial and business backgrounds who ran for elective office to be problem solvers. Grants for area school districts I am pleased to announce that the Quaker Valley School District has been awarded $84,322 through the Safe Schools Targeted Grant program. The district will receive a $19,800 program grant, a $24,522 equipment grant and a $40,000 school police officer grant. These grants fund a variety of different projects, including hiring school security officers, purchasing security-related technology, completing safety and security assessments, implementing violence prevention curricula, offering counseling services for students, and creating other programs to protect students. In addition, the Parkway West Career and Technology Center will receive a $49,700 grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Education to purchase new equipment that is aligned to training students in high-demand occupations. The purpose of the Career and Technical Education Equipment grant is to purchase equipment aligned with the needs of local employers for use in PDE-approved Career and Technical Education programs and to provide hands-on training to students in those programs. Help protect children from abuse I am reminding everyone it is critical that we help protect children from abuse and neglect during the current COVID-19 public health emergency by being more vigilant. According to statistics from the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services, child abuse reports plummeted by 40-50% when schools closed last spring, and reports were down 10-12% this summer compared to last year, likely due to cancellation of sports, camps and other activities for children. With many schools continuing online only or under a hybrid model of online and in-person instruction, people are encouraged to look out for signs of potential abuse or neglect such as numerous and/or unexplained injuries or bruises; chronic, pronounced anxiety and expressed feelings of inadequacy; flinching or an avoidance to being touched; poor impulse control; demonstrating abusive behavior or talk; cruelty to animals or others; and fear of a parent or caregiver, among others. If you suspect a child is being abused or neglected, please report it to the 24-hour ChildLine hotline at 1-800-932-0313. Learn more about the signs of potential abuse at www.keepkidssafe.pa.gov. Parents and families who are struggling to cope during this time of crisis are encouraged to call Pennsylvania’s new Support and Referral Helpline, which is operated 24/7 by skilled caseworkers who can provide emotional support during this difficult period. The number to call is 1-855-284-2494. For TTY, dial 724-631- 5600. Another helpful resource is the 2-1-1 hotline operated by the United Way, which can connect people and families to local resources that can help during the public health crisis. January/February 2021 • www.awmagazine.com • 15Your SchoolsYour Schools N Archangel Gabriel Catholic School STORIES AND PHOTOS SUBMITTED BY ARCHANGEL GABRIEL CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Reading gifts for third-graders Third-graders are learning more words than they expected to this year with their new student dictionaries! State Rep. Anita Kulik was happy to represent members of the Parkway West Rotary Club in presenting the dictionaries. “Every year we bring dictionaries to all of the third-graders at the school - and while we could not do a presentation this year, it was still a joy for me to get to make a quick visit,” said Kulik. AGS is grateful for this reference book, as it also features the Periodic Table, the Declaration of Independence, U.S. presidents, information on the states, planets, braille, and more. The cover of the book features a mask over the Earth with the words “6 feet” and the back shows the coronavirus cells. It is interesting to see the pandemic already memorialized in a printed book. St. Nicholas Day On Dec. 7, Archangel Gabriel Catholic School celebrated St. Nicholas Day, or the Feast of St. Nicholas. St. Nicholas is known for selling all of his possessions and giving his money to the poor. Traditionally, families left their shoes by the fires at night so that they could dry. Legend states that he made gold appear in their shoes. Current traditions in the school allow for children to line their shoes up in the hallway so that St. Nicholas could leave a treat. This year, as with most things, observance of the day was a little different. St. Nicholas visited each classroom and brought along a bag of treats for each student. The school also had a surprise visit from Bruster’s. Thanks to Father Joe Codori, each child was able to enjoy some ice cream! State Rep. Anita Kulik (pictured at right, above) delivers dictionaries (pictured at right) to AGS students on behalf of the Parkway West Rotary Club. Students get a visit from St. Nicholas. Making Snow Part of the sixth grade curriculum includes Earth science and meteorology. In an intense lesson about the weather and learning about winter, students formed their own snowballs. While the weather in Pittsburgh does not always allow for authentic snowballs to be possible, students took advantage of a sunny fall day to create man-made snowballs outside. Once the snowballs were complete, students had a blast throwing them in the parking lot. Middle School Einstein Stage Portrait Thanks to a generous grant, Archangel Gabriel middle school students were able to “attend” a free production of “Einstein: A Stage Portrait.” In this production, Albert Einstein invited the audience - in this case sixth-, seventh- and eighth-graders - to his house to make sure people knew who he really was. He was not the father of the atomic bomb, as has been claimed! This one-actor play reveals the deeply human side of the great genius, including his humor, his passion for work, and his love of music - especially Mozart. Students were able to see and understand the reluctant celebrity who changed forever the way that humanity looks at the universe. Students enjoyed the break from their normal schedule and were able to immerse themselves in a little history and culture. A few more “virtual field trips” are lined up for students this year and AGS can’t wait to attend. Students race to form snowballs during a warm fall day for a lesson on meteorology. Middle school students watch a virtual presentation on Albert Einstein. 16 • Allegheny West Magazine • January/February 2021N Your Schools Your Schools Parent-Teacher Guild The Parent- Teacher Guild went above and beyond this year as they planned a quick replacement to its typical breakfast with Santa and little shopper event, where students get to purchase Christmas gifts for their family and loved ones. Instead of breakfast with Santa, AGS held a virtual story time with Santa. Parent volunteers dropped off a special gift box at each student participant’s household. The package contained a craft, a treat and a game. While joining the virtual meeting, children painted an ornament, listened to Santa tell them stories, played a game with Santa, and enjoyed their treat. At the little shopper event, parent volunteers allowed children to shop safely as they each selected the items they wanted to purchase as gifts. Volunteers wrapped and delivered gifts to classrooms safely without students even touching them! AGS has been determined to make this year a positive experience for students and families. Teachers have been nothing short of amazing during the planning and implementation of each event. AGS students got a virtual visit from Santa in the weeks leading up to Christmas. Monochromatic Art Project Color theory involves both the science and art of using color. It explains how color is perceived and the visual effects of how colors mix, match, or contrast with each other. Students have gone over many different color schemes, but art teacher Miss Tharp decided to focus on monochromatic for self-portraits! Monochromatic is a color scheme based on a single color. It uses different shades and tints of a single hue, made by altering the saturation and brightness of color. After weeks of hard work, students mastered their understanding of color theory, thanks to Miss Tharp. She is proud to display the results, and AGS is grateful to see them hanging on the wall outside the cafeteria! Students created these colorful self-portraits during a lesson on color theory and monochromatic colors. January/February 2021 • www.awmagazine.com • 17Junior wins WPIAL and PIAA cross-country meets Mia Cochran, a junior at Moon Area High School, was the 2020 cross-country WPIAL and PIAA AAA champion. She also won the WPIAL and PIAA cross- country championships in 2019. “It has been exciting to see Mia mature as a runner over the past few years,” said Moon Area cross-coach Timothy Hrivnak. “After finishing seventh in the state as a freshman, and now going back-to-back years as the state champion, Mia will look to drop a huge exclamation point on her high school career next season while trying to become the first consecutive three-peat champion in AAA in state history.” Mia has been running for six years. Coach Hrivnak describes her as a student of the sport. Mia is always learning and developing as an athlete. Not only is she a highly focused runner, she also prioritizes academics. “Mia has an ability to direct her focus on the task at hand and block everything else out to perform at the highest level, whether in academics or athletics,” explained Coach Hrivnak. As a highly competitive athlete, Mia pushed herself to ensure she was able to claim the state champion title in back-to-back seasons. Her dedication and hard work paid off! “It feels amazing that I was able to repeat as the WPIAL and state champion this year,” said Mia. “Words can’t describe how excited I was after my race and I’m still so happy that I was able to run!” Coach Hrivnak added, “It’s just a real blessing to be a part of the journey alongside an elite runner like Mia.” The Moon Area High School Key Club has been busy giving back to the Moon Area community this year. Club members volunteer their time and efforts to help others and spread cheer. Moon Key Club members volunteer with the Moon Public Library, Salvation Army Red Kettle campaign (at WalMart), the local food pantry, the Mooncrest Community Center, the West Hills Nursing Home, World Vision, Moonlights, Play it Forward and more! This year, club members also purchased gifts for all of the residents of the West Hills Nursing Home and provided treats for staff members to thank them for everything they are doing for residents this year. They purchased gifts for students at the Mooncrest After School Program as well. “We have about 100 students in the club this year,” said Jennifer Wilhelm, who is the Key Club Sponsor at MAHS. “They are a very impressive group of students who enjoy making a positive impact on the community. I couldn’t be more proud of them!” Key Club officers are: • Nya Holland - President - Senior • Alayshja Bable - Vice President - Junior • Meagan Robare - Treasurer - Senior • Laiba Mirza - Secretary - Junior • Chiara Golomb - Webmaster - Junior Thanks goes out to all of the Key Club members who have worked hard to serve others. Moon Area is very proud to have these students as a part of the school community! Key club members serve community The Moon Area Education Foundation is continuing their partnership with AmazonSmile in order to increase the ways in which people can support the organization. MAEF, a 501(c)(3) public charity, was founded in April of 2018 to promote, innovate, partner and enhance innovative educational programs, activities and projects that benefit the students of Moon Area School District and the communities it serves. MAEF receives 0.5% of purchases made through AmazonSmile. Shoppers receive the same benefits, prices and services as they do on the traditional Amazon site, but with the benefit of assisting a nonprofit organization! To shop AmazonSmile for MAEF, go to smile.amazon. com/ch/82-5278267 and select the “Start Shopping” button to the right. Save this link as a bookmark on your mobile device or web browser to be sure you are always shopping with a smile! Thank you for considering shopping AmazonSmile with MAEF! Moon Area School District News Key club members collected these gifts for local nursing home staff members and Mooncrest After School Program students. Mia Cochran 18 • Allegheny West Magazine • January/February 2021 Moon Area Drama Club students recently had a fun surprise at their spring musical information session. Rob Michael, English teacher and theatre director, arranged a special opportunity for students who are interested in auditioning for the spring musical, “BRIGHT STAR.” Two professional actors from the original Broadway cast of “BRIGHT STAR” joined students on the virtual meeting to talk about their experiences with the show, which they created from scratch! Hannah Elless and A.J. Shively played opposite each other on the Broadway production as Margo Crawford and Billy Cane. They spoke to students about tackling the complex material, the importance of hard work and, above all else, enjoying their time with the production. The actors also shared some “BRIGHT STAR” Broadway secrets such as “Asheville” almost being cut from the show, having fun with other cast members by putting their baby pictures in the file folders on stage, and the comedic genius of Steve Martin. They even talked about their performance on the Tony Awards on CBS! “One of my goals for the students of the drama club is to branch outside of these walls and connect with other artists who make a living by acting professionally,” explained Michael. “It really doesn’t get more authentic than discussing the spring musical with two people who had a hand in creating it!” A very special thank you to Hannah Elless and A.J. Shively for taking the time to talk to Moon Area students! The Moon Area School District cheerleading squad and football team, along with the quarterback club and cheer boosters, have raised and donated over $50,000 to UPMC Magee-Womens Hospital Center for breast cancer research, awareness and patient care over the last several years. The first fundraiser was a “pink out” event in 2014, which continued during football season every October. “The creation of this fundraiser was done by Maria Yaramus, mother of Moon football players and Moon alumni Nikola and Alekei Yaramus,” explained Kerry Sparks, Moon Area cheerleading coach. “It started out as a group effort [between the football team and the cheerleaders] and the cheerleading squad has taken it over completely the last few years.” On Dec. 7, representatives from UPMC Magee-Womens Hospital recognized Moon Area athletes and the community for their generous support of breast cancer patient care. A bench has been dedicated in their honor and will be located in the UPMC Magee-Womens Hospital courtyard for all patients to enjoy. “On behalf of Magee-Womens Research Institute & Foundation, I want to share our deepest thanks to the Moon Area High School students and faculty for hosting their annual Pink Outs. Your support for breast cancer patients over the years has led to over $50,000 raised, and it has made an incredible impact. Today, we are honoring your community’s commitment to us by dedicating this bench in your honor. Our patients and families will be able to use this bench, located in the courtyard, for decades to come. Thanks again, for all you’ve achieved on behalf of breast cancer patients,” said Janice Devine, Executive Director, Magee-Womens Research Institute & Foundation. “The pink out event has become a very special time of year for our cheerleaders and our entire community,” said Coach Sparks. “We all work very hard together to make this event a success.” The annual pink-out football game is a community event. Before the game, friends and family members who are breast cancer survivors are recognized. The survivors receive a flower and are escorted by a cheerleader or football player as their name is announced over the loudspeaker. After the survivors are recognized, a check is presented to a UPMC Magee-Womens Hospital representative in the amount that was raised that year. Though recent COVID-19 safety precautions have altered this tradition, one thing has remained constant: the support from Moon Area students, staff, families and the community. “My mother, Nancy Farr, is a breast cancer survivor and it is such an honor and gift to be able to escort her every year since I have been the high school cheer coach,” Coach Sparks explained. “We are so grateful and proud to have so much support from our school district, local businesses, booster programs, students, friends, and families that give so much to this amazing fundraiser every year.” Cheerleaders and football players reach $50,000 donation milestone Drama club meets with professional actors The Moon Area cheer and football squads celebrate raising $50,000 for Magee-Womens Hospital. Drama club members video chat with Broadway stars Hannah Elless and A.J. Shively. January/February 2021 • www.awmagazine.com • 19Next >