This past year, the Chaffin Luhana Foundation was able to give back locally and nationally in many ways. From honoring a student with a scholarship for her outstanding contribution to distracted driving awareness, to giving away over 600 turkeys and trimmings to those in need throughout the Pittsburgh area, the Foundation pushed forward with its mission of Doing Good by Doing Right.
Anti-Distracted Driving Scholarship
In March 2017, the Chaffin Luhana Foundation hosted a scholarship essay contest to raise awareness for the dangers of distracted driving.
After reviewing over 300 essay submissions, the Foundation awarded Karen Sandoval from Aurora, Colorado a $2,000 scholarship to honor her outstanding dedication to the issue of distracted driving. Karen’s essay submission highlighted her experience working with JJ’s Light Foundation, which provides financial support and counseling resources to youth who have lost a parent to distracted driving. In her essay, Karen wrote about a week-long distracted driving awareness campaign that she helped organize with JJ’s Light Foundation at her high school.
Hurricane Relief Efforts
2017 was the worst year for damage and fatalities due to hurricanes since 2005. Florida, Texas, and Puerto Rico were hit the hardest, resulting in hundreds of billions of dollars in damages and hundreds of lives lost.
To help support ongoing disaster relief efforts, a group of middle school friends from Rye, New York, hosted a local bake sale to raise donations for One America Appeal, a relief effort launched by all five living former American presidents.
The group of friends raised $750 and the Chaffin Luhana Foundation matched their donation to support hurricane relief.
Gave Away 600+ Turkeys and Trimmings Throughout Greater Pittsburgh
To help serve those in need in the Greater Pittsburgh community and to continue honoring our commitment of “Doing Good by Doing Right,” The Chaffin Luhana Foundation, gave away over 600 free turkeys with holiday trimmings to needy families and individuals.
Our Foundation worked with the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank, the Allegheny County Department of Human Services, the United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania, and the Veterans Leadership Program of Western Pennsylvania to invite those in need to receive a free holiday turkey plus holiday trimmings.
We also donated surplus turkeys and trimmings to The Crafton Ingram Pantry, The Grandview Church of God, The St. Philip Church, and The St. James Parish.
250 Sandwiches for New York City’s Homeless
Each year, more than 116,000 New Yorkers depend on the city’s shelter system. During the winter and holiday season, homeless shelters are stretched to the max and need as much support as possible.
In December 2017, the Chaffin Luhana New York team contributed to the organization’s efforts by coming together in our NY offices to make 250 peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for the homeless. The sandwiches were later donated by One Sandwich at a Time to a New York food shelter. The Foundation also made a financial donation of $250.
Donations to 25 Charities Nominated by Chaffin Luhana Team Members
To continue our ongoing mission of “Doing Good by Doing Right”, during the 2017 holiday season, the Foundation invited Chaffin Luhana team members to nominate a charitable organization of their choosing to receive a $250 donation. The Foundation has done this each of the past 4 years.
Within one week, 25 donations were made to the nonprofit organizations below in honor of our team members, totaling over $6,000!
- Alzheimer’s Association: Greater Pennsylvania Chapter
- Ashlie’s Embrace
- Bowery Residents Committee
- Chester-Newell FISH
- Child Find of America
- Cribs for Kids
- Crisis Center North
- DARE New Hampshire
- Dress for Success
- Forever Home Beagle Rescue
- HealingSPACE at YWCA Bergen County
- Humane Animal Rescue
- Kitten Lady Inc
- National Ovarian Cancer Coalition
- Operation Smile
- Pittsburgh Aviation Animal Rescue Team
- PowerMyLearning – New York City Region
- Robin Hood
- Ronald McDonald House Charities of Pittsburgh
- Russell Nesbitt Services, Inc.
- Satchels of Caring Foundation
- South Hills Pet Rescue
- Suzie’s Pride Big Cat Sanctuary
- The Miracle League of the South Hills
- Unidos c/o Hispanic Federation
We’d like to give a special thanks to our dedicated team, the students, the organizations, and everyone else who made all of this possible. With your help, we were able to support thousands of families and individuals across the country and show that we stand by our mission of Doing Good by Doing Right. Every day. In everything we do.