I didn’t get to post a whole lot in September, but there were some fun happenings that occurred!

First, the Robinson Lions Club donated $1,000 to leader dogs for the blind. We held a raffle at the 2016 Robinson Autumn Festival and we had guide dogs on site. Money raised from this raffle went towards service animals for the blind and visually impaired. You can learn more about this event on the Robinson Township Lions Club Facebook page. I am proud to be the Secretary for this great organization.

Then, I got to meet author Ann M. Martin. This was very special to me, because I was a diehard fan of The Babysitters Club book series growing up, and it was nice to get to tell Ann that she helped to inspire my love for reading and writing! Ever since those days of Troll Books order forms, Scholastic Books book fairs, S.S.R. after recess, sneaking away to a corner of the Gifted (GATE) room to read, setting up a “library” at home for my dolls and stuffed animals, trading books with my girlfriends at school, and visits with my Bups to the Bookmobile, I’ve wanted to be an author. The Babysitters Club was a huge part of that… and now, here I am with three published books of my own. Thank you, Ms. Martin! PS: for anyone who enjoys reading, writing, literacy programs, lectures, etc., please do check out the Pittsburgh Arts & Lectures Series. We are SO lucky to have this program here in Pittsburgh! You can see photos from when I met Ann here, and here.

I also was a part of the WEGO Health Activist Awards, nominated in two categories (fingers crossed that I’ll bring home a win!) and, I got to attend the Discover Pittsburgh Event at the Pittsburgh AirMall (check out the photos, here,) plus, I went to the ATHENA Awards of Greater Pittsburgh with the lovely Suzanne Meyer, who nominated me for an Athena Young Professionals Award. Please click the following link to enjoy photos from the event.

It was also my 33rd birthday on 9/29 … definitely was a September to Remember!