Former Steeler’s foundation conducts 10th annual Holiday Giving Program

Youngsters often take what is given to them for granted.

Will Allen was an exception.

While growing up in Dayton, Ohio, the future Pittsburgh Steeler would go to his elementary school in the summer for breakfast and lunch, and he’d take part in enrichment programs to supplement his basic education.

“And it was all free,” Allen said. “But somebody had to pay for it. Somebody had to care enough. Somebody had to feel it was their purpose to serve the community in that way.”

His early understanding of the importance of giving back inspired him to start the Will Allen Foundation early in his National Football League career, to help provide the types of services and resources that worked toward his benefit.

For the 10th year, the foundation is conducting its Holiday Giving Program, through which Clairton City School District students who otherwise wouldn’t have the opportunity can buy presents for their family members. Also included are youngsters through the Boys and Girls Clubs of Western Pennsylvania Duquesne Club House.

“We’re a little different in that Will wanted to instill the spirit of giving in kids,” Rosemary Mendel, the foundation’s executive director, said. “We give them a $200 gift certificate to Walmart, and we have more than 60 volunteers who come one evening to help them shop.”

Among them is Amy Halter, vice president of operations and human resources for Collier-based Accion Labs Inc. Her company is a longtime, substantially invested supporter of the Will Allen Foundation.

“They’ve partnered with stores that make it really accessible for the kids, so that they can shop for a lot of people, or if they only have one or two people on their list, they can really make a difference and get them something big,” Halter said. “And so often, they’re not frivolous things. They’re things like gloves and hats and a toaster.”

Along with assisting the Clairton students, she looks forward to a further educational experience.

“I think the most amazing thing about it is that they allow us to bring our kids along, too,” she said. “So it really goes beyond ourselves and giving back. It gives us an opportunity to teach our kids about more important things in life.”

For Allen, a Steelers safety from 2010-15, the Holiday Giving Program represents an opportunity to relieve some of the financial burden on families as they weigh spending their money on gifts or essentials.

“If a family is spending 50% or more of their income on rent or mortgage, they really need some help,” he said, and with his program taking care of presents: “Hey, you can spend that money on bills now. You can spend that money on food. You can spend that money on clothing.

“Those are the results we’re looking for in how we want to serve and help the community in that capacity.”

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Clairton has a median household income of $36,830, and 21.1 percent of residents live in poverty. Surrounded on three sides by Jefferson Hills and the Monongahela River on the fourth, the city is relatively isolated geographically.

“Will intentionally, when he started his foundation, wanted to focus on areas that weren’t getting as much attention,” Mendel said.

Much like Allen experienced in Dayton, the foundation brings augmented educational programs to Clairton, addressing subjects including financial literacy, social justice, health and wellness, and robotics and artificial intelligence, through a collaboration with Carnegie Mellon University.

And Allen contributes a large degree of personal involvement, according to Mendel.

“He comes in and meets with students,” she said. “He’s there for all the award ceremonies. If we have a student who seems to be having trouble, Will will give them a call.”

For her, the Holiday Giving Program is a particularly rewarding component of the foundation.

“I remember one little guy last year just brought me to tears. He had this beautiful turquoise-colored pots-and-pans set in his cart. I said, ‘Who is that for?’ And he said, ‘Oh, it’s for my Gram. She lives with us, and she’s the cook. She’s going to really like these,’” Mendel said.

“It just touched your heart.”

For more information, visit willallenfoundation.networkforgood.com and www.facebook.com/WillAllenWAF.