About Us
For children of all ages, very few feelings match the excitement of opening presents Christmas morning. Often overlooked, however, are the children who won’t receive gifts this Christmas. Victims of unfair circumstances beyond their control, these kids deserve to experience the same level of excitement as their more fortunate peers. Many of these children live within the very own community in which you live and/or do business. Thanks to the Greater Pittsburgh Business Connection and its small business members, thousands of less fortunate local children have received gifts during the holiday season over the past several years as a result of the efforts of Toys For Pittsburgh Tikes.
Toys for Pittsburgh Tikes was created by the Greater Pittsburgh Business Connection, or GPBC, a networking group consisting of more than 65 local businesses who exchange referrals and work together to help improve the local Pittsburgh-area communities in which they do business. The GPBC holds its weekly meetings every Wednesday morning at Jaden’s Catering in Monroeville.
Each year since its inception, GPBC has raised more money and toys than the year prior, and it hopes to keep up that trend for 2019 by expanding its reach and by actively seeking monetary and toy donations throughout the year.
Who Are We?
All children should experience the joy of laughter, the wonder of surprise and the excitement of receiving special gifts, especially at Christmas time, for their birthdays and other special events in their life.
Unfortunately, there are so many children in the Pittsburgh area who won’t receive gifts at Christmas, for so many different reasons. In situations like these, especially when children are affected, it calls to our hearts to reach out and help, and that’s the mission of Toys for Pittsburgh Tikes.
It started with the simple and caring act of kindness with the Greater Pittsburgh Business Connection, a 60-member networking group. They collected toys and donations for children on two consecutive weekends before Christmas for many years. But their commitment to help children became bigger, much bigger and as a result of their compassionate efforts, they established Toys for Pittsburgh Tikes, a 501(c)(3) organization
2024 Board Of Directors:
Trustees:
Greg Feorene – Elite Corporation
Joel Davis – Davis & Davis Associates
Krista Cox – Bridges Hospice
Scott Coy – Coy Capital
Jeff Muenk – Overhead Door Company of Greater Pittsburgh
Directors:
Secretary & Communication director: Kathy Schulthies - Ciarletta's Confections
Treasurer : Joel Davis - Davis, Davis, & Associates
Web Site/Social marketing: Mike & Lizzy Connors - Leacon Digital
Special project representative : David Rancatore & Cathleen Griffith - Talk 'N Signs
Warehouse Director: Kathy Slomer - Kool Klean
Special Event coordinator : Hanna Newlin - Events By Hanna Rae & Melinda McNamara - Experienced Closing Services
Officers:
TFPT Ambassador : Lisa Ives - Ives Eye Care & Nicole Mountain - Pickles & Pancetta
Maintenance: Cliff Henderson & Frank Gibbson - Plumline Nursery
Collection boxes and money box distribution and collection: Mary Beth Tedrick
Found raiser/grant coordinator: Nicole Mountain - Pickles & Pancetta
Toy Distribution to Police stations, charity organizations and community centers & money & toy boxes: Frank Gibbson, Keiter Anderson and their team
Volunteer and staffing coordination: Kim Lilja - Rutledge Cleaning Services
I love seeing the positive effects that this organization has in the community.
Greg Feorene
We've always been about giving back to the local community, and Toys For Pittsburgh Tikes does just that!
Chris Rupp
We are committed to helping this amazing cause.
Kelli Tamewitz
