Homeless Children's Education Fund

The HCEF funds enrichment programs which serve children directly during out of school time. I work as a partnership provider in various shelters and community settings, and helped pilot Art Expression: From the heART, in order to help both children and staff connect through art-making and discussion. Using the Art Expression model, we are able to reach so many more youth because of HCEF funding. They have been a wonderful partner for many years, and we continue to support them, as they do us.

As Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees and as a volunteer for more than 8 years, I can't say enough about HCEF. The organization supports kids experiencing homelessness through shelters and other partners that serve them. Our goal is to ensure they have access to all they need to continue to learn and grow during difficult times. In addition we work to educate all about this hidden group and their issues. With 1700 homeless kids at any one time in our area (that only includes the ones who are in school - there are likely at least double that amount) we all need to ensure they have help to break the cycle of homelessness.

I am a faculty member at a local university who has partnered with HCEF for service-learning classes. I am very impressed by the expertise, professionalism, and heart of the staff I have worked with at HCEF. GREAT NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION.

I've recently become associated with HCEF and I'm quite impressed with all the charitable work this organization does. The staff are all dedicated, and caring people focused on making a difference in young people's lives. Get involved...what could be better than helping to make a positive impact on a young person.

I have been a volunteer with HCEF for a little over a year now and find the experience and organization to be awesome. The employees and volunteers have such enthusiasm for what they do. I believe that education and experience is so priceless and HCEF really goes through great lengths to provide fun and diverse educational activities for the children. Their commitment to providing these experiences and their advocacy to for the children is amazing. It's truly a refreshing and rewarding program for all involved.

HCEF is simply amazing and impressive, this organizations is full of caring, smart, and engaged employees and volunteers. I have been on many boards in the past, so I can say I am just truly impressed and excited to be a part of this company.

I am brand new volunteer with HCEF but I can't say enough about how impressed I've been with everyone I've encountered and how rewarding the work has been so far. They are such wonderful advocates for homeless children and as a learning center volunteer, I get to see the direct impact on the kids. This truly is an organization that's making a difference.

I have had the honor of working with Joe Lagana and this wonderful organization for 10 years to develop learning centers in facilities that serve mothers and their children experiencing homelessness. Watching the children grow and thrive as a result of the programs of the Homeless Children's Education Fund, could not be more rewarding. HCEF is a blessing!

I have been involved with HCEF for 7 years. First as volunteer, then as an advisor, and now as a board member. The work the organization does preserves the lives of the children it touches by providing what I believe is the difference between a difficult life and a prosperous one--an education. Through its efforts, the organization takes children in crisis and allows them to find support, confidence in themselves and hope overall through academics. I could not be more proud of this organization, its staff, leadership and donors!

I have had the opportunity to volunteer on a number of HCEF projects throughout the years. The organization stays tightly focused on their goals, which enables them to meet and exceed their goals. And to provide a desperately needed to service for a faceless, voiceless population. Dr. Lagana and his staff are tireless in their mission.

I have been involved with HCEF since its inception and have seen it grow and increase the numbers of homeless children it has been able to serve. The many programs and services provided, including the learning centers, that have been started in the shelters have had positive benefits in helping the educational need of homeless children. The staff is dedicated, talented and well respected.

I am very excited to be a part of the HCEF Board. This organization is one of the best run not-for-profits I have ever been associated with. HCEF understands its mission and performs its role admirably. Whether providing volunteer tutoring in the shelters, advocating for the eductional right of homeless children, or helping break down the barriers to coordinated services, HCEF is a proven leader.

I am a new Board member of the Homeless Children's Education Fund (HCEF) and couldn't be more proud to be associated with such a wonderful organization. HCEF's dedicated and passionate staff and leadership work tirelessly to serve this extremely vulnerable population of homeless children. Through HCEF's programs and advocacy work they are raising the visibility of this issue, providing critical educational support and resources, and striving every day to ensure these children start life in a positive way.

I interned with HCEF for one summer and it was an incredible experience. This organization does so much for a population in Allegheny County that the average person probably doesn't even realize exists. Through a variety of events, educational initiatives and every day dedication to the cause HCEF provides a life saving service to homeless children in the county. They are an awesome organization and I am lucky to have spent a summer contributing to their work!

I have been involved with the HCEF for more than ten years. During that time the initial vision of the founders to provide program driven initiatives dedicated to helping the homeless children of Allegheny has remained at the core of the of the organization. In addition to providing expanded programs and other services to the children, the HCEF also serves as the voice in the community to promote continued awareness of the issues surrounding homelessness and education.

HCEF is an outstanding organization providing critical educational programs and services to children experiencing homelessness in Allegheny County. In addition to providing direct programs to kids, HCEF also serves as their voice at the local, state and federal levels to ensure that they are not left behind. It is a trusted advocate and community leader engaging homeless shelters, school districts, service providers, families, and city and county government agencies. HCEF has an extremely talented staff and dedicated board of directors.

I have been involved with HCEF for the past 8 years. Over that period I have worked with all of the folks at the agency and have been impressed with their dedication to the mission of the organization and the people they are helping. In these eight years I have seen the program grow and prosper and since Bill Wolfe has become the Executive Director the program has become even more well known in the community. I am impressed with the fact that in September every child that is in the system receives a book bag stocked with the things they will need as they start school. With this protracted recession there have been more families than ever who find themselves in a homeless situation. HCEF ensures that children in the myriad shelters in Southwestern Pennsylvania have the opportunity to continue their schooling while in this situation. I personlly have encountered the children in this program and with the support of HCEF these kids are going to school without interruption and that is a good thing not only for each of them but for our community as well. I commend Dr. Joe Lagana, for his leadership in starting this wonderful program and the impact it has had on the homeless children in our community. who

I have watched HCEF develop from the vision of the founder, Dr. Joe Lagana, to the efficiently functioning, program-innovative organization that it is today. HCEF exemplifies the successful melding of delivering needed programs that are ground-breaking and partnering with other social service organizations to gain synergy. Then a layer of adept public awareness and fund development allows it to grow. HCEF is deservedly a national model for delivering educational services to homeless children so as to keep them engaged in their school and career pathway .

I used to be an intern at HCEF. I really enjoyed working with the staff and feel my time was well spent. They fulfill their mission and I learned a lot from my experience.

This group does a great job for the region. They provide vital services and really engage with volunteers to get them involved.

This group does a great job of keeping at-risk children in touch with their friends, teachers and education goals. The Pittsburgh area would be a poorer place without their great work and dedication to helping any child in need. They also have done a great job at give a voice to these children.

I was recently introduced to HCEF during one of their events at Monroeville Mall. I was very impressed with the organization and dedication of the staff. It was very inspiring and extremely worthwhile.

The Homeless Children's Education Fund (HCEF) is an organization that supports the education of homeless children in Allegheny County through advocacy, community engagement, and direct program support. HCEF's staff are dedicated, innovative, and passionate about pursuing their vision. They've connected community members and service providers through their Homeless Education Network, an initiative that is invaluable in this field, coordinated living art installation/advocacy events that are sure to make a memorable impact on the communities they serve, and are constantly finding ways to plug community members into support roles for the vulnerable population of homeless students. As a volunteer, I am constantly inspired by the dedication of staff members to the people that are daily affected by what they do. HCEF is an organization with heart.