They Laughed But Ended Up Hugging, Hug-A-Thon Pittsburgh Proclamation

Hug-A-Thon Pittsburgh Overview

First Annual Hug-A-Thon Pittsburgh^TM

“Pittsburgh Hugs the World” September 6, 2012

Summary:

PositvelyPittsburghLiveMagazine.com^TM, a nationally recognized on-line media outlet, is organizing the First Annual Hug-A-Thon Pittsburgh^TM on September 6, 2012.  This innovative and exciting event will bring local, regional, and national exposure and recognition to the city of Pittsburgh, and to these four nonprofit organizations:  Cancer Caring Center, Sickle Cell Society, Inc., and Passion for Life Foundation and Operation Troop Appreciation.  There will be a series of activities during the year culminating in a major event on September 6, 2012.  It is the great wish of Dreamweaver Marketing Associates to make an event that brings national attention and prominence to these local charities, their missions and attention to Pittsburgh as city of friendship and co-operation. 

Benefits of Hug-A-Thon Pittsburgh^TM

·         City wide Pittsburgh exposure

·         Additional national coverage

·         Credibility with government and city officials

·         Name and branding recognition

·         Enhancement of possibilities for donations and volunteers

·         Organizers of event:

o   Mary Pam Kilgore is seasoned event planner whose major event in Pittsburgh has grown from 500 to 4,000 attendees in nine years.  In her twenty-year career as an event planner, she has helped to raise thousands of dollars for nonprofit organizations.

o   JoAnn Forrester is a thirty-year business consultant who has raised over 40 million dollars for small businesses.  As the co-founder of Celebrate & Share and the Women of Achievement event, and the Pennsylvania Hall of Achievement JoAnn has excelled in helping organizations that benefit women and children.

o   Joanne Quinn-Smith, received the Small Business Administration Journalist of

The Year Award for highlighting small businesses and nonprofits on her four

Internet radio shows and Pittsburgh’s first internet radio and TV network.

She is a sought after media source and in 2010 PositivelyPittsburghLive Magazine.com™ was one of four national finalists for best media website through the National American Business Stevie Awards.

o   All three principals are board members with various local organizations including the National Association of Women Business Owners.

o   CVs for all are available upon request.

o   Both JoAnn Forrester and Mary Pam Kilgore are hosts of Pittsburgh syndicated internet radio shows.

·         Marketing and Public relations campaign provided to the charities through the Hug-A-Thon Pittsburgh^TM is valued at $100,000.00 plus

·         Dreamweaver Marketing Associates, owned by Joanne Quinn-Smith, is a recognized expert in the niche of Web 2.0 Branding

·         PositivelyPittsburghLiveMagazine.com^TM is providing for one year a dedicated internet TV channel for the charities.  This will give the charities access to a platform of over one million accumulated listeners and 220,000 monthly hits to the websites, 62,000 unique visitors per month.  Value of this yearly dedicated channel subscription alone is over $7,000.00.

Description of Hug-A-Thon Pittsburgh^TM Events:

Lead Up Events:

A number of activities have been established with the support of Pittsburgh City Council including

• February 14^th Proclamation declaring September 6^th as Hug-A-Thon Pittsburgh^TM Day.  There will also be a group hug with City Council Members.
• Hug Ambassador Events are open auditions to be huggers at the Hug-A-Thon Pittsburgh^TM Events of September 6^th. 
• Hug Ambassador Auditions will be held in the City Council Districts.  Next year we look to do preview events in all City Council districts.
• Hug Ambassador Auditions will scheduled during the months of June, July and August
• Hug Ambassador Categories will include, but aren’t limited to:
• Best Granny Hugger
• Best EMS Hugger
• Best Sports Hugger
• Best Entertainment and media Huggers
• The Hug Ambassador Event Winners will be determined by contributions made on Hug-A-Thon Pittsburgh Facebook page and donations raised at the preview events.  All winners will secure Act 33 and Act 34 clearances prior to the September 6^th event.

Hug-A-Thon Pittsburgh^TM Outdoor Event, September 6, 2012

• The outdoor event will be held in five locations in downtown Pittsburgh.  These Hug locations are the City County Building, Market Square, Katz Plaza, underneath Macy’s Clock, and one location to be determined.
• After checking with the Pittsburgh Police Traffic Division it was determined, the best hours for the outdoor event will be 2:30 PM to 5:00 PM. 
• There will be signage and entertainment to draw attention to the Huggers. 
• The hugs will be free.  Donations will be accepted.
• The necessary permits to have the outdoor Hug-A-Thon event will obtained by Dreamweaver Marketing Associates.

Hug-A-Thon Pittsburgh^TM Gala Event September 6, 2012

• The evening event will be a gala event held at a downtown venue.  The event will be from 6:00 PM to 8:30 PM
• Celebrity Hug Stations will be set up around the room.  Celebrities will include local sports figures, media personalities, and entertainers. 
• There will be sponsor tables and other vendor tables representing various local and national businesses. 
• There will be sponsor signage throughout the room.
• There will be musical entertainment during the day and at the gala event in the evening.
• There will be a silent auction and ticket auction
• There will be food.
• The expected attendance is 300. 

Hug-A-Thon Pittsburgh^TM Promotion

• Viral Facebook Campaign with Videos of Huggers
• Send a Hug Campaign to Your Favorite First Responder
• Text message donations
• Dedicated Channel on PositivelyPittsburghLiveMagazine.com^TM
• Hug-A-Thon Pittsburgh^TM

Super Facebook FanPage with Reveal Pages for sponsors, contests and prizes

• Viral Social Media Campaign
• Branded Press Releases for all organizations provided by Dreamweaver Marketing Associates to be distributed
• Online calendar and event promotion
• Online and traditional interviews by principal media sponsors
• Full media plan available upon request

Hug-A-Thon Pittsburgh^TM Sponsorship

• There are various levels of sponsorship for the Pittsburgh-Hug-Thon ranging from $50.00 to $50,000.00.
• PositivelyPittsburghLiveMagazine.com is a Title Sponsor and Founder of the Hug-A-Thon Pittsburgh™. 

Hug-A-Thon Pittsburgh^TM Supporters

• Pittsburgh City Council members.
• Media Sponsors
• Soul Pitt
• Eventsburgh
• PG-13 Magazine
• Black Tie Pittsburgh
• Women’s Independent Press
• Positive Pittsburghers™
• PositivelyPittsburghLive™ Internet Radio
• TechnoGrannyShow™ Internet Radio
• EmpressofBiz™ Internet Radio
• PlannersPointers™ Internet Radio
• Pittsburgh Sports Line

Hug-A-Thon Pittsburgh^TM Sponsors

            Building Bridges for Business

            SI Business Associates

            Kilgore Business Services, LLC

Hug-A-Thon Pittsburgh^TM Team

• Joanne Quinn-Smith, PositivelyPittsburghLiveMagazine.com, Publisher and Editor, Founder Hug-A-Thon Pittsburgh^TM
• JoAnn R. Forrester, SI Business Associates, Strategic Director Hug-A-Thon Pittsburgh^TM
• Mary Pam Kilgore, Kilgore Business Services, LLC, Event Planner Hug-A-Thon Pittsburgh^TM
• Allen Levine, Pittsburgh Sports Line Host, Community Relations and Development Director Hug-A-Thon Pittsburgh^TM
• Linda Handley, Social Media Director, Hug-A-Thon Pittsburgh^TM
• Mary Beth Kratsas, MBK Photography, Official Photographer Hug-A-Thon Pittsburgh^TM
• Dean Quinn, Development Director, PositivelyPittsburghLiveMagazine.com

About Dreamweaver Marketing Associates: 

2009 U.S. Small Business Administration National Journalist of the Year

Joanne Quinn-Smith, Creative Energy Officer, aka the TechnoGranny™

Dreamweaver Marketing Associates,

Publisher:  PositivelyPittsburghLiveMagazine.com^TM

1449 Swantek St.; Pittsburgh, Pa. 15204

412-628-5048

E-Mail: joanne@positivelypittsburghlivemagazine.com

Joanne Quinn-Smith, owner and CEO, Creative Energy Officer, of Dreamweaver Marketing Associates, a successful Pittsburgh-based marketing company and trendsetter for online journalism.  Joanne is an internationally known as the “Get Your Google On” Gal.  Better known as Techno Granny to her thousands of online listeners worldwide, Joanne has created a revolutionary online NEW MEDIA platform in Internet broadcasting, blogging and other social media participation that represents the new second generation of the World Wide Web interactions, known in technology circles as Web 2.0.  Joanne is the online publisher of PositivelyPittsburghLiveMagazine.com™, an online community magazine to disseminate the Positive News for Positive Pittsburghers.  PPL Mag^TM is also an internet Pittsburgh radio and TV network with syndicated channels and online radio and TV capabilities.  Joanne’s radio shows have reached over one million accumulated internet and live listeners.

Miscellaneous:

• Joanne Quinn-Smith and Dreamweaver Marketing Associates own all copyrights, trademarks and service marks and branded material associated with Hug-A-Thon Pittsburgh^TM and is responsible for all public relations, promotions, and marketing.  Dreamweaver Marketing Associates is the parent company of PositivelyPittsburghLive^TM Radio Talkcast and PositivelyPittsburghLiveMagazine.com

Positively Pittsburgh Live! News and Debut Roving Pittsburgher Report Blog

Positively Pittsburgh Live!
News and Roving Pittsburgher Report

6-25-12

Listen to the show here. 

WQED and SLB Announce Funding for iQ Kids Radio
The Junior League of Pittsburgh, Inc. has selected iQ Kids Radio as its next three-year signature project

 iQ Kids Radio www.iQkidsradio.org is an innovative new model of engagement for children and families that meets the need for an all-education, trusted radio channel that caregivers can rely on. Developed as a collaboration between WQED and SLB Radio Productions (SLB) and set for launch in early 2013, iQ Kids Radio will be a noncommercial streaming radio that provides a safe, entertaining, and fun way to learn, listen, laugh and much more. Read the entire release here. 

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Local Reporter Receives Keystone State Press AwardSince a junior in high school, Diane I. Daniels knew she wanted to be a journalist. Her first article was published in 1973 and she has been writing ever since. Her years of writing and reporting were recently recognized during the 2012 Keystone Press Awards Conference. 

Diane Daniels

She was one of hundreds of reporters, editors, photographers and page designers honored by the Pennsylvania Newspaper Association (PNA) Foundation during the awards banquet in Gettysburg. Based in Harrisburg, the PNA is a trade group serving newspapers in Pennsylvania seeking to "advance the interests of Pennsylvania newspapers" and protect the free and independent press. Recognized for New Year Means New Attitude, an article that appeared in a January 2012 edition of the New Pittsburgh Courier, she was acknowledged in the Business or Consumer category. The article discussed President Barak Obama’s Jobs Act, the White House’s Startup America Initiative and included a 2012 forecast from local entrepreneurs, politicians and community leaders. According to PNA officials, Daniels’ entry was just one of close to 5,000 entries - from 145 PNA newspapers. “It feels good to be recognized,” said Daniels. “To be awarded on the state level is exciting.” Read the entire release here. 

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WOODVILLE PLANTATION HOSTS WHISKEY REBELLION WEEKEND

Step back in time at Woodville Plantation, when this living history museum presents a special weekend to commemorate the anniversary of the Whiskey Rebellion of 1794. Saturday, July 14 from 1-8 pm and Sunday, July 15 from noon- 5 pm. The cost is $5.00 per person, children under 6 are free. Read the entire release here. 

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Cherokee Culture Festival at Fort Necessity 
The National Park Service will host a Cherokee Cultural Heritage Festival at Fort Necessity National Battlefield on Saturday and Sunday, July 7 and 8. The Museum of the Cherokee Indian will offer cultural presentations and demonstrations, including traditional dance performances by the Warriors of AniKituwha, a Cherokee dance group.  

Fort Necessity

Ten tribal members of the Eastern Band of the Cherokee Indian have recreated Cherokee dances described in 1762, including the War Dance and the Eagle Tail dance.  Sponsored by The Museum of the Cherokee, The Warriors of AniKituwha are official cultural ambassadors for the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians.  The dance performances are each day at 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. Read the entire release here. 

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SBA Advocate Ngozi Bell Featured Guest for July #SmallBizPgh Twitterchat
SBA Region III Advocate, Ngozi Bell (@advocacySBA) will answer questions via Twitter on July 10, 2012 between 7 pm and 8 pm EST in Pittsburgh's small business Twitterchat presented by Building Bridges for Business (@bridges4biz). Read the entire release here. 

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WQED MEMBERS RAISE FUNDS

On Thursday, June 14 at 3 p.m. Classical WQED-FM 89.3 members helped WQED successfully complete its three-day drive early by raising more than $25,000 for its annual radio operations. In addition, each membership dollar pledged was matched by a pound of food (up to 8,500 pounds per day) Tuesday, June 12 through Thursday, June 14 by a different sponsor daily. Read the entire release here.

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Mary Poppins

PNC Broadway Across America-Pittsburgh announces Disney and Cameron Mackintosh present MARY POPPINS
The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust and producers Thomas Schumacher of Disney Theatrical Productions and Cameron Mackintosh announced today that tickets for the limited return engagement of MARY POPPINS will go on sale to the public on Friday, June 29, 2012 at 9:00 a.m. EST.  

Performances of MARY POPPINS begin at the Benedum Center on Tuesday, October 16, for a limited return engagement, through Sunday, October 21, 2012. For more information, click here.

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"Jessica Lee's Entrepreneurial Thursdays"

Jessica Lee

Musical Networking Happy Hour, EVERY THURSDAY!!! Cover Charge: Only $5.00

Vocalist Jessica Lee & Friends, Little E's Jazz & Blues Club,

949 Liberty Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15222, 2nd Floor above Mahoney's Restaurant

5:30 pm - 8:00 pm

Pre-show networking session at 5:30 pm. Informal matchmaking for job seekers, employers & new entrepreneurs! Live music starts at 6:00 pm.

June 28, 2012: "Fun-preneurs"

Featuring interviews with:

• Co-host Joanne Quinn-Smith, aka TechnoGranny (http://www.pplmag.com)
• Alexandra Krischke, General Manager - Three Rivers Paintball (http://www.TRPaintball.com)
• Lance Snow, Show Host & Founder - Get Out Together (www.GetOutTogether.TV & www.GetOutTogether.com)
• Michelle Messina, SONNY & JO'S PUB & PIZZA (2957 BANKSVILLE ROAD Pittsburgh, PA 15216)
• Manon La Monica, Celebrity Limousine (http://www.celebritylimopittsburgh.com)

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Garden of Your Mind Video, Mr Rogers
Watch video here. 

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Roving Pittsburgher Report Debut

This is a page on PPL Mag where average people can review and talk about Pittsburgh good news and events. Tonight we welcome JoAnn Forrester, Strategic Operating Officer of PPL and host of the syndicated radio show Empress of Biz; and Penny Folino, from Penny’s Plates TV Show, on WBOY TV in Clarksburg, WV.

JoAnn’s Visits:

I attended the Pittsburgh Symphony Pops, Gerschwin show; you can see the full review on The Roving Pittsburgher Report at  Still Humming From Gerschwin at PSO Pops I just want to gush about this. The PSO is marvelous, and when they do the pops, it’s spectacular. There was a five minute standing ovation at intermission, and one of the neat things about this program is that they had home movies from the Gerschwin family playing in the background. The tap dancer, Ryan, reminded me so much of Fred Astaire. He was amazing, a treat to watch.

Chorus Line - I went with my good friend, Louise, and this show was part of the CLO at the Benedum. It’s two hours with no break, but really is delightful. I had never seen it, and I especially liked the songs What I Did for Love and I Can Do That. There were many different stories intertwined, and a nice love story to boot. I was immersed into it, and the time flew by. The dancing was spectacular.  

Sonny and Jo’s Pub and Pizza – Banksville Road. Their motto is family, friends, and food. You can pick up and take home, or sit at the dining area and bar. It’s a very nice décor and the food is always fresh. The wings are to die for, with several different styles. Garlic Parmesan and Sweet Carolina are two of my favorites! After you’re there one time, you feel like family. It’s a friendly place, run by great people.

Biz Women’s Independent Press, 6^th Anniversary Party at The Rivers Club - This was a really nice event with great hors d’oeuvres and several speakers. Close to 100 women were there and there was no charge to attend. Donations were accepted for The Pittsburgh Food Pantry, which is really in need of help. There was lots of networking and just good laughter and company.

Penny’s Visits:

Boxing Event at Greentree Sportsflex – I went to this last minute and sat with local fighter, Michael Moore. It was quite interesting and really exciting, as this was my first time at a match. I was just a little afraid because our table was right up front, and I thought they’d drip sweat on me. It didn’t happen though! Next time, I’ll sit a little farther back. Great nachos!

Wingheart’s - Market Square, on the corner near Primanti’s.  The food was served in Bento Boxes, which was pretty unique. I had an extremely large salad with fresh greens and fresh crispy fries, and ground chicken. They also have enormous burgers with fresh ground beef, made to order. It’s easy to just pack up your box and take it home if you can’t finish.

Pittsburgh Power Game – This was my first time at a game. They are held indoors at The Consol Energy Center and it’s only half the size of a regular football field. It took me a while to get it, a little different than Steelers football, but really fun. The half time entertainment with Rally Monkeys was so cute! And the dancing team of cheerleaders was also very good.

Don Hodor’s House for SouthPointe Chamber Party - We had a great time and there was awesome food prepared by Chef Jason Capp from Bella Serra. He was grilling out in the 94 degree heat, ever the professional, still wearing his Chef coat. He made the most elegant picnic food, including fresh hamburgers and homemade chips, homemade relish and homemade pickles. Frank Cunimondo also played at the event. He is an amazing piano player and never took a break, what phenomenal energy!

Peter’s Place – They have large banquet facilities, which I have used for my own family’s events. Mike Peters, the owner, owned the original Tiffany’s on Route 51. I love their Chicken Tiffany, which is a crispy breaded chicken cutlet stuffed with cream cheese, cheddar cheese and sautéed mushrooms covered with chicken gravy. I actually do that with a twist, creating a lasagna filling for my Penny’s Plates show. They also have great crabmeat Hozelle and seafood bisque, original recipes from Tiffany’s. The prices are quite reasonable, as well.  

Sauce – Bridgeville. This is a wonderful place to go with the kids for some great wings. They do any flavor, but we always get Honey BBQ, Mixed Garlic, and Screamin’ Hot. They do a lot of cast iron skillet foods, like burgers with no buns. And for dessert you can get homemade cookies and ice cream in the skillet, unbelievable!

Penny is revitalizing the Pittsburgh Business Barter Office of ITEX,  International Trade Exchange, the largest business barter organization in the world.  The Pittsburgh Office Re-Launch is scheduled for mid July.

You can email Penny at pennyfolino1@aol.com or penny.folino@itex.net

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This was reported as a reproduction of PositvelyPittsburghLive news done by Joanne Quinn-Smith. (c) Joanne Quinn-Smith and PositivelyPittsburghLive(TM) 2012 All rights reserved.

Listen to the show here.

Tara Darazio is a Positively Pittsburgh Live reporter, an independent copywriter, blogger, article writer, and social media strategist. If you are in need of writing assistance, or need help with your social media efforts connect with Tara on LinkedIn here.

Hug-A-Thon Pittsburgh Support Letter from City Council

Hug-A-Thon Pittsburgh, Hugs Are Free, Budget is Not, Sponsor Search

Dear  Positive Pittsburgher:

PositivelyPittsburghLiveMagazine.com, an award winning local media outlet, and Pittsburgh’s first internet radio and TV network would like to invite you to be part of a City Wide Event proclaimed by City Council (Feburay14, 2012) “Hug-A-Thon Pittsburgh™.  “Oh no,” you are saying, “not one more event!”  Well this is not just one more event.  This is a City Wide Event being held in Downtown Pittsburgh on September 6, 2012 that will brighten up the lives of residents and raise awareness and funds for four local charities including:

·         Cancer Caring Center

·         Sickle Cell Society

·         Pittsburgh Passion’s “Passion for Life” Foundation

·         Cystic Fibrous Foundation, Western Pennsylvania Chapter

“I love hugging.  I wish I was an octopus, so I could hug eight people at a time.”  ~Drew Barrymore

You don’t have to be an octopus, just help us get the City of Pittsburgh hugging.  Hugging makes people happy and happy people buy.  The hugs are free but the budget for a City Wide Event is not, so we need your help.

Just by nature of the warm, fuzzy feeling you get from hugs, Hug-A-Thon Pittsburgh™ is about building and maintaining relationships, creating business buzz and manifesting an image as a high profile business citizen.  Questions to ask yourself:

·         Does my company need a hug?

·         Would an event like this help me to reach “huggable” people who would like to do business with me?

·         Would I get a gold star on my business forehead for being associated with Hug-A-Thon Pittsburgh™?

The answer is Yes!

This is NOT just another event where kids get their faces painted and someone asks for money.  Attendees can get a hug!  Don’t get excited, there may be face painting and of course, music and strolling entertainers.  BUT……..This is a City Wide Event for more support, more friendliness, more human interaction, more joy, more hugs!

Become a part of this City Wide Event for more hugs.  Think what Media Buzz we will create!  City Council hugging is huge news as one reporter told me.  You’ll see that in the next insert.

Today everyone life needs a lift.  Think how good it’s going to feel to hug a fan, hug a constituent, hug a customer, hug a stranger and put some light in someone’s life.  Hugs are even good for your health.  Hugs have been shown to improve your health by:

·         Reducing heart rates

·         Improving overall moods

·         Lowering blood pressure

·         And a host of other beneficial effects.

Hug-A-ThonPittsburgh™ will infect the city with Hugging!  Will you be a part of our City Wide Event?  Fan and sponsor levels range from $50,000.00 to $50.00.  In addition to the downtown population, there are 180,000 commuters who travel into Pittsburgh every day.  Even at $50,000.00 that’s less than $2.77 to reach each person.  

Don’t panic, we know not everyone has $50K in their budget.  However, there are enough levels that the Hug-A-Thon Pittsburgh™ staff is sure that you will find something that works for you.  Whatever level you choose will help us to put on a grand event that will do Pittsburgh proud. 

Now if you are thinking, “I’d like to be a help to this City Wide Event but the money is not in my budget.”  Here is of our option:  One way for you to participate spending little or no money.  Raise your sponsor funds through a fund-raising event or promotions involving your employees or customers.  For example:  Several Company/Employee Promotions might raise $5,000.00 to $10,000.00.  This way any company could have an event or promotion with their employees, employees’ family members, customers and friends to raise money!  You will get excellent exposure in the media and on our Facebook Fan Page.  This would be a custom designed program.  Call Al Levine, Our Community Relations and Development Director; he has some great fundraising ideas.

Please take the time to read the additional information attached and find out what works for you. 

Call me or Al today.  Let’s arrange a meeting where we can personally explain the many great opportunities available for your business.  Let’s brainstorm with you about the best way for your business to participate in this City Wide Event.  There’s no obligation of course, and certainly no pressure.  Together we will figure out the perfect situation for your business. 

We look forward to giving you and your new prospects a Hug!

Very truly yours,

Joanne Quinn Smith

Founder of Hug-A-Thon Pittsburgh

• P.S.  Strengthen Your Business - Being the only one among your competitors to sponsor the Hug-A-Thon Pittsburgh™ event presents your company as a unique, strong, caring  organization.  Perhaps your organization needs a hug!
• P.S.S. Enhance Your Image - Being known as one of the forward thinking "thought leaders" in your industry to sponsor the inaugural Hug-A-Thon Pittsburgh™ is a good image to have in any market.

Enlarge Your Market - Participation in an event where you have ACCESS to attendees is a bonus.  One of the largest perks at higher levels of sponsorship is the availability of running a contest on our Hug-A-Thon Pittsburgh Facebook Page and collect contestants contact information so that you can market to them.

You can even be part of our Preview Hug Promotions for Hug-A-Thon Pittsburgh.  Need a Hug before the main event on September 6^th?  We can create a custom event and host it at your place of business.  Call me or Al about this custom designed program.

As a sponsor, you’ll be showing your concern for the community, in connection with helping the Cancer Caring Center, Sickle Cell Society, Pittsburgh Passion’s Passion for Life Foundation and the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Western Pennsylvania Chapter.

For additional information contact:

Joanne Quinn-Smith

Publisher and Editor

PositivelyPittsburghLiveMagazine.com

Founder, Hug-A-ThonPittsburgh™

412-444-5197

Al Levine

Community Relations and

Development Director

412-973-9611

Positively Pittsburgh Live News 6-18-12

West End Single Mom, Daycare Owner Sponsors Fundraiser for Nonprofit She Credits with “Saving” Her Kids

“I know that without the free and low cost programs that OSOY provides, my children would not have been able to experience a lot of what they did and could have made some very bad decisions. Their programming is unique and very much needed in every community. It provides hope for kids and help for parents especially the single mom with limited resources.”

Nicole King, a single mother of four daughters, and savvy, resourceful local business woman now lives and works in the West End area of Pittsburgh. She was introduced to what is now OSOY (Operation Save Our Youth) through a friend, whose daughter participated in their Faith Based Mime Ministry, called Children of Praise. Read the entire release here. 

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"Jessica Lee's Entrepreneurial Thursdays"

Musical Networking Happy Hour, EVERY THURSDAY!!! Cover Charge: Only $5.00

Vocalist Jessica Lee & Friends, Little E's Jazz & Blues Club,

949 Liberty Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15222, 2nd Floor above Mahoney's Restaurant

5:30 pm - 8:00 pm

Jessica Lee

Pre-show networking session at 5:30 pm. Informal matchmaking for job seekers, employers & new entrepreneurs! Live music starts at 6:00 pm.

June 21, 2012: "Rebooting Your Brand"

Featuring interviews with:

Co-host Manfred Woodall, Interactive Marketing - Principal, Creative - Group-16 (www. group-16.com) 

Todd Berner, CEO and co-founder of StepOne Systems (http://www.steponesystems.com/) 

Kim Rullo, Owner - Partner, Conceptual Artist and Graphic Designer at Isaac Rullo Conceptual Artistry Graphic and Web Designer at Freelance Graphic Designer

Justin Chambers, Account Executive - Fox53 (www.wpgh53.com)

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WYEP Summer Music Festival

Free and Almost Free in Pittsburgh

Friday, June 22, 2012 at 4:00 PM

Schenley Plaza, 4100 Forbes Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15213

Each year, thousands of people show up for this free music festival which has become a hallmark of summer in Pittsburgh. Kids activities and I Made It Market! start at 4pm, with music set to start at 6pm. Details here. 

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Linda Handley

Coffee With…
Building Bridges for Business debuted its new Coffee With...^SM video series – another resource aimed at empowering and educating small business owners in Pittsburgh – on the organization’s YouTube channel. The videos feature successful small business owners and political and community leaders discussing their thoughts on issues that are crowd sourced via the organizations Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn accounts and website.

“Coffee With... gives successful small business owners and political leaders a chance to share their thoughts in an informal setting,” said Linda Handley, founder, Building Bridges for Business. “It also gives the small business community of Pittsburgh a chance to ask questions and address issues that affect them with these individuals via social media and a chance to hear what leaders think about key issues.” Read the entire release here. 

Click here to watch Andre Weisbrod of Staar Financial on the series. 

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So You Think You Can Sing?”

July 15, 2012, 3:00 pm to 8:00 pm

200 Federal Street, Pittsburgh, PA

This is a singing competition to raise funds for the Guatemala Healing Hands Foundation. The event will consist of 30 divas (male & female singers) singing their hearts out for the grand prize of $1,500!! There will also be live, silent & Chinese auction items, 50/50, free drinks & appetizers and much more! The cost is $40 at the door or you can prepay by contacting me for tickets at 412-805-6453. Please visit www.battledivas.com for more info. 

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From Free and Almost Free in Pittsburgh: Sunday morning Bach, Beethoven, and Brunch Classical Music Series
June 17^th through August 12^th - 10:30 am to noon
Mellon Park, Fifth and Shady Avenues, Point Breeze / Squirrel Hill

Photo courtesy of City of Pittsburgh
website

This longtime favorite series entertains music lovers on the lawn at Mellon Park. Satisfy your appetite for classical music by treating yourself to a special Sunday morning composed of Bach, Beethoven and Brunch. Join us for this delightful buffet of classical melodies.

Don't miss the "Best Brunch" competition! The Pittsburgh Center for the Arts hosts a "Best Brunch" competition each week and will award prizes! Citiparks staff members’ judge the brunches based on presentation, effort and food selection - with the "Best Brunch" winner announced during intermission.

Note: Inclement weather may cause concert cancellations. In the event of concert cancellations, a recorded message will play on the concert hot line (412-255-2493) and a message will appear at the top of their website.

Street parking around perimeter of Mellon Park and meter lot behind Pittsburgh Center for the Arts. Bagel Factory vendor on site or bring your own picnic basket (alcohol prohibited).

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Roving Pittsburgher Report

Sauce, Bridgeville

500 Washington Pike Bridgeville, PA 15017
Long Island Iced Tea served all day long by the 16 oz. glass for $5.00. Cast Iron Skillet hamburger, no bun, balsamic glaze, roasted red peppers, crispy onion strings and fresh buffalo mozzarella.  Dessert served in cast iron skillet and was warm chocolate cookies with ice cream, hot fudge and whipped cream.

Maple Restaurant Ambridge

463 Maplewood Avenue  Ambridge, PA 1500

Manhattan clam chowder, chock full of clams (only on Fridays) and absolutely the best broiled haddock ever with real mashed potatoes with the skins in 'em. 

Bridgeville Business District, Washington Rd.
Two wonderful businesses in the area are Tracy’s Treats and Armstrong Express.

Hug-A-Thon Pittsburgh Party
About 80 people and eight sponsor organizations turned out for a great event. There were three designated races for Hug-A-Thon Pittsburgh. We watched the races from the Adios rooms above the track with a wonderful view and ate elegant great tasting appetizers put out by Bruschetta’s in Pittsburgh. The sponsors also had their pictures taken in the Winner’s circle.  Link to our first race:  Race#4   

Please patronize our Hug-A-Thon Night at the Races Sponsors:

·        Giant Eagle, Frankstown Rd.

·        John Pournaras Agency, Ambridge

·        No BS Marketing Meeting

·        Cintac

·        Ask4ScreenPrinting

·        “Dominate”  How Smart Lawyers Crush the Competition—New Book by Tamar Cerafici

·        Contact One

·        Hotpack Huggables

Watch for details for our next fundraising event for Hug-A-Thon Pittsburgh on August 1.  September 6 is Hug-A-Thon Pittsburgh™ in downtown Pittsburgh.  Hugs are free. The budget for a city wide event is not, so we need your help. 

Bruschetta’s at Meadowlands Racetrack and Casino

John and Suzie Pournaras from the John Pournaras Agency in Ambridge, one of the Hug-A-Thon Pittsburgh Night at the Races sponsors, stopped by Brushcetta’s in the Meadowlands RaceTrack and Casino.  Their comments: “Steaks were excellent, great service, warm apple pie with ice cream. John Pournaras says it was outstanding. Even had a concierge who would take your bets for the racetrack and do it table side.

Sonny and Jo’s Pub and Pizza
2957 Banksville Road  Pittsburgh, PA 15216

Sonny and Jo’s have an upcoming channel on PositivelyPittsburghLiveMagazine.com so we just had to go back a second time to investigate the menu.  We are not complaining. This time we had a calzone with chicken and artichoke hearts, red roasted peppers and fresh buffalo mozzarella. Yum!  Also a fresh salad with romaine and spring mix, Greek olives and feta with the best homemade Italian dressing in the city.  And the Sweet Carolina wings are a sweet and tangy combination that we have not seen anywhere.

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This was reported as a reproduction of PositvelyPittsburghLive news done by Joanne Quinn-Smith. (c) Joanne Quinn-Smith and PositivelyPittsburghLive(TM) 2012 All rights reserved.

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Tara Darazio is a Positively Pittsburgh Live reporter, an independent copywriter, blogger, article writer, and social media strategist. If you are in need of writing assistance, or need help with your social media efforts connect with Tara on LinkedIn here.