The latest news from PHriends!

October 2021

Newsletter

Where Passion Meets Action

An energetic group of young professionals, PHriends are dedicated to making a difference in the Cleveland community. Our goal is to raise awareness (and funds!) for Providence House. Develop your leadership skills and networking abilities alongside other community-minded individuals in your own backyard.

We're greater together!

pARTy with PHriends

Thank you for celebrating the 9^th annual pARTy with PHriends presented by SITE Centers and Northern Trust! This is the largest fundraising event of the year for the Providence House Associate Board and the funds we raise are critical to helping the mission of Providence House. With your help, Providence House was able to raise almost $13k to support children and families. This would not have been possible without everyone’s individual support and our sponsors:

Northern Trust
SITE Centers
Community West Foundation
TWIST Creative
DiGeronimo Companies
Linear Creative
Cleveland Browns
HW & Co.
Compelling Communications
PawsCLE
Shape Cleveland
Tito’s Handmade Vodka

We had such a fun evening at the Velvet Dog and are grateful for the donation of their space. The evening was spent enjoying music, dancing, and enjoying food from our generous donors (Aladdin’s Eatery, Aladdin’s Bakery, Dewey’s Pizza, and Leo’s Italian Social). Event-goers had the opportunity to purchase raffle tickets to win one of our themed baskets or a wheelbarrow filled with booze!

Special thanks to our young artists who created the artwork that we featured. If you’re interested in purchasing art that will certainly bring a smile to your face when you see it, you can still do so here.

Full photo gallery available here.

We hope you can all join us next year for our 10th annual pARTy with PHriends event on Friday, September 30th! If you’re interested in being a part of the planning and becoming a Providence House Associate Board member, be sure to apply here before the November 1st deadline!

PHriends Associate Board Committee Spotlight – Events

The Events Committee of the PHriends Associate Board works to bring together both existing PHriends members and Young Professionals in the local Cleveland community by hosting various events throughout the year. These events are aimed at attracting Young Professionals in support of the Providence House by facilitating social engagement with a focus on advocacy and fundraising efforts.

One of the biggest events the Events Committee hosts each year is the pARTY with PHriends event! The event includes exhibitions of the children’s art, raffles, food sampling, and music. Proceeds from this event benefit the Providence House and is a great opportunity for networking in the Cleveland area as a working professional!

Any energetic young professionals who want to get involved and champion Providence House are encouraged to sign up as members. Dues are $50 for the year and include a ticket to the PHriends annual pARTy ($30 value). You can sign up right now by paying your dues online (click here). Additionally, if you are interested in learning more about the PHriends Events Committee, please reach out to Hannah Roberts, at [email protected].

Since we never want dues to be a barrier to participation, please reach out to Kayla Webb, External Relations Manager, at [email protected] to discuss payment support options if needed.

PHriends Member Spotlight – Kaitlyn Lionti

Kaitlyn has been a member of the Providence House Associate Board (“PHAB”) since January 2020.

She grew up in North Royalton, went to Kent State, and lived in upstate New York for several years after college working as a TV news reporter. Now she lives in the Brookside neighborhood of Cleveland (near the zoo), and just graduated with her MBA in May.

Quick Facts:

Hometown - North Royalton, Ohio

School - BS in Broadcast News from Kent State University and MBA from Case Western Reserve University

Current Neighborhood - Brookside (near the zoo!)

Any additional fun facts? I was a TV news reporter in Upstate New York for 9 years after graduating from Kent.

There are so many great nonprofits in Cleveland. How did you choose Providence House?

The work that Providence House does to not only protect at-risk children but also support families through times of crisis really stood out to me. Life brings so many unexpected challenges our way, and having a support system to help me through difficult times is something I had always taken for granted. I love that Providence House works to keep families together by empowering parents while taking excellent care of their children in times of need!

What do you do for work?

I work for the Center for International Affairs at Case Western Reserve University and my role is focused on marketing and programming efforts related to supporting our international students, highlighting study abroad opportunities, and educating our campus community about the importance of global citizenship.

What are you doing when you aren’t working or volunteering?

I just bought my first house so currently, I’m doing a lot of painting, but I am very into organization, so I’m very much looking forward to that part of the process! I am a huge Cleveland sports fan (especially when it comes to the Browns), and I also really love dogs, so I am a frequent dog sitter which is just so much fun, and I’m hoping to get a pup of my own soon!

Favorite thing about / memory from PHAB so far?

PHAB has been such a wonderful experience, there are so many to choose from! I think my favorite was volunteering at the Providence House Drive-Through Birthday Party this spring. It was great to be able to help out in person since the weather was nice and we could be outside, and I was so excited to see members of the community coming to drop off donations to celebrate and support Providence House!

What would you tell someone who is thinking about volunteering, but is hesitant because of time commitment or they are unsure what to expect?

I was very nervous about this as well because I joined PHAB during the second semester of my MBA program while working full-time. You can definitely do it! The time commitment is very manageable, our meetings and events are scheduled way in advance so you always know what’s coming up ahead of time. There are also lots of opportunities to volunteer so you can find what works best for your schedule!

How You Can Help

Apply to join the Providence House Associate Board (PHAB) – We are accepting applications until November 1st. Joining PHAB is a way for you to give back to the community and meet other young professionals in the area who are also passionate about the mission of Providence House. Learn more here.
Find New PHriends - Enrollment is always open for new PHriends Group members! Reach out to your friends & family about joining. In this time of social distancing, what better way to network with other young professionals and help a great organization than joining like-minded peers in your community? Learn more here.
Join Us for Our 26th Annual Deck the House Benefit Auction - The 26th Annual Deck the House Benefit Auction provides the perfect chance to socialize while learning more about Providence House and bidding on great products, events, and experiences. Learn more here.