CREW members and friends meet the third Wednesday of every month to select,
cut and sew coordinating pieces of fabric, cording, trim and buttons,
donated by fabric manufacturers. They create unique shoulder-bag satchels,
which are referred to as "Satchel of Caring." Thereafter, members, friends
and contributing organizations come to our network for a
cause to sew the Satchels
for women undergoing chemotherapy and to network. Some members and friends
take the components with them and sew the Satchels at home. When the Satchel
is completely sewn, we fill it with the following items: soft turban,
pattern for sewing a turban; handmade scarf and instructions for tying a
scarf; support literature and prescription drug assistance brochure; hand and body cream; inspirational booklet and bookmark;
relaxation CD from
award-winning harpist, Peter Sterling (more than 1,500 have been distributed
to date); and a journal, donated by our CREW members and friends.
In 2003, CREW members assembled 200 Satchels for women participating in
the Look Good Feel Better Program. In 2004 the CREW Pittsburgh New You
Program distributed 240 Satchels to women undergoing chemotherapy; 220 were
distributed through the American Cancer Society and the other 20 to any
friend who requested one. We also made 30 larger Satchels for distribution
to the instructors through the American Cancer Look Good Feel Better
Program.
In late 2004, we formed CREW Pittsburgh Foundation, a 501(c) 3 charity, to
expand our efforts to assist women with cancer. One goal of the Foundation
is to improve the quality and distribution of our 2005 New You Satchels of
Caring. For example, a graphic designer has improved the quality of our
inspirational poems and bookmarks; a scarf consultant is suggesting ways to
improve our handmade scarf and instructions for scarf tying; we are working
on including a gift certificate for a beauty consult; and we are expanding
our distribution to more women in chemotherapy through Gilda’s Club of
Western Pennsylvania and the Cancer Caring Centers. CREW welcomes new
members, friends, suggestions and donations to our Satchels of Caring.
In 2007, we hope to exceed our goal of 600 Satchels that we made and
distributed last year, and expand the program to reach women even sooner
after diagnosis through additional distribution points.
CREW’s commitment to women with cancer extends beyond our New You
Program. CREW’s mission is also to encourage member participation in
community events, which could make a difference for women with cancer. Each
year our members participate in American Cancer Society Daffodil Days. CREW
Walk teams participate in the Susan Komen Race for the Cure to support
breast cancer research and the Walk for the Whisper to support ovarian
cancer research.
Our goal is to double CREW members participation in these events to further
support women with cancer and to make a difference.
Journal Donations Needed
Our foundation is in need of journals for the Satchels of Caring. Donations
can be shipped to or dropped off to Linda A. Fryz at Independence Management
Co., Inc. Center City Tower, 650 Smithfield Street, Suite 555,
Pittsburgh, PA 15222. Journals will also be
accepted at every event.
CREW Pittsburgh Wins Community Action Award
CREW Pittsburgh has been selected by CREW Network chapter delegates across
the country as the 2005 Recipient of the CREW Network Community Impact
Award. The Award, which recognizes the most significant contributions of a
chapter to the local community, will be presented to us at the National
Convention on September 30, 2005 in Seattle, Washington.
We were selected for this national award for
the significant impact of our New You Program on the community, and
specifically, women undergoing chemotherapy for any type of cancer in the
Greater Pittsburgh area. With the help of CREW Pittsburgh members, as well
as middle schools, high schools, colleges and Gloria Horn Sewing Studios,
more than 700 Satchels will be distributed by the end of 2005. This year
alone, we anticipate reaching 250-300 women undergoing chemotherapy. CREW
Pittsburgh has received letters and emails from women who have received the
Satchels, and their comments inspire CREW Pittsburgh to reach more women
every year. Incredibly, 54 percent
of CREW Pittsburgh's total membership has contributed to the New You Program
through financial contributions, material donations, or by volunteering
time.
2008 CREW Pittsburgh Foundation Board of Directors
President
-
Elizabeth Krichten, CBRE|Melody
Vice-President -
Heather Knuth, Integrity Design
Treasurer -
Georgine
Golitko, Indoff
Secretary
- Donna
Naab
Director -
Eileen Iorio,
Eckert Seamans Cherin & Mellott
Director -
Kathy Graham
Director
- Linda Fryz
Past President -
Virginia Weida, Independence Management Co., Inc.
2007 CREW Pittsburgh Foundation Board of Directors
President - Virginia Weida, Virginia Weida Designs LLC
VP Production- Elizabeth Krichten, CBRE | Melody
VP Sponsorship - Linda Fryz, Independence Management Co
Treasurer - Georgine Golitko, Indoff
Past President - Eileen Iorio, Eckert Seamans Cherin & Mellott
Director - Kathy Graham
Director - Heather Knuth, Integrity Design
HISTORICAL CONTRIBUTIONS
2003 CREW MEMBERS MAKE A DIFFERENCE FOR
WOMEN WITH CANCER
-
CREW
developed the New You Program through which its CREW members personally
designed, sewed and delivered over 420 Satchels of Caring to the
American Cancer Society Look Good Feel Better Program for distribution
to women undergoing chemotherapy.
2003 CREW
members raised over $3,600 in 2003 and $10,000 in 2004 for
American Cancer Daffodil Days, celebrating spring, while raising money
for cancer research, prevention, detection, advocacy and patient
services/quality of life.
2003 and
2004 CREW teams participate in the Race for the Cure at Schenley Park,
raising funds for breast cancer research.
2003
- American Cancer Society Daffodil Days
CREW Pittsburgh got involved with ACS Daffodil Days on March 18, 2003
for the 30th
Anniversary of American Cancer Society Daffodil Days, celebrating spring
while saving lives. Daffodil donations are spent for cancer research,
prevention, detection, advocacy and patient services/quality of life.
CREW Pittsburgh's mission was to make a difference to
women with cancer in each calendar quarter of 2003.
2001
& 2002 - Pittsburgh Action Against Rape (PAAR)
PAAR
is a not-for-profit corporation offering confidential services at no
charge to children and adults who are survivors of sexual assault,
including rape, incest and child sexual abuse. PAAR was founded in 1972 and currently serves over 2,600
survivors and their family members each year. PAAR also provides over 800 prevention and education programs
to school children and community groups annually and trains
professionals in the fields of mental health, medicine, education and
law enforcement to improve their services to survivors.
In
addition to group and individual counseling services, PAAR maintains a
24-hour crisis hotline, accompanies victims to medical facilities
during forensic medical examinations, provides legal advocacy,
including accompanying the survivor each step of the way from filing a
police report to testifying in court.
PAAR also offers to survivors and their support people
workshops, a lecture and discussion series and wellness offerings such
as yoga, mediation and relaxation.
The
facts of sexual violence are:
-
One
of every three girls and one of every seven boys will experience
sexual abuse before the age of 18.
-
Victims
of sexual violence experience depression, anxiety and
stress-related illnesses at a much higher rate than the general
population.
-
Victims
of sexual violence are nine times more likely than the general
population to attempt suicide.
PAAR's
vision is to change these facts by empowering people to create a world
safe from sexual violence, abuse and oppression.
2000 – Contribution of $1,000 to
Mom's
House for its North Side location.
1999 –
Contribution of $1,000 to the
YWCA
Y-Teens program to underwrite the cost of a one-day workshop
entitled "Women in Construction", to provide young women the
opportunity to learn about the types of careers available in the
construction field; individual gifts of books to promote self-esteem
in teen and pre-teen girls.
1998 –
Refurbishment of a bedroom at Genesis House, a residence and future
planning center for women who are pregnant and in need of shelter;
individual gifts of infant clothing and supplies.
1997 –
Hospital Chair Bed for the
Shriner’s
Hospital in Erie, Pennsylvania; subsequent individual donation of
children’s books.
1996 –
Nucraft Audio Visual cabinet for Bethlehem Haven, a shelter for
homeless women; individual gifts of iron, beauty supplies, toiletries,
and small personal items.
