“Having a daughter at 17 puts you at a severe disadvantage when it comes to all
of the opportunities that you have and your options. The roadblocks are in place every step of the way, and Angels’ Place is part of the solution in my personal story. They provided really high-quality childcare for my daughter. I never had to worry about my daughter when I left her or what she was doing or how she was learning. Angels’ Place gave her an advantage and a head start in life while I was kind of playing catch up. They always encouraged me to do more as well, not just my daughter. They were always pushing me to do a little bit more and to get outside of my comfort zone.
I, as well as all the clients of Angels’ Place, really benefited from a holistic approach. They have a weekly parent meeting that really engaged us on lots of different topics about parenthood.
I graduated from Duquesne University with a bachelor’s degree in molecular biology, and with support from Angels’ Place, continued for three more years to complete Master’s in Physician Assistant Science. I’ve been at my current job for a decade now as a physician assistant in medical oncology. I’ve moved into leadership. I now have a team of 50 physician assistants and nurse practitioners that I supervise and train.” -Meg
“Angels’ Place provided me with the help and support that I needed to balance being a good parent and a good student. As a young mother, I was able to ask questions, and get advice. Being around other single parents helped me realize, I wasn’t the only one in my shoes. Angels’ Place wasn’t just a daycare center. It was a place where I watched my daughter learn and grow as a child. The teachers were paying attention to Alieyyah’s development and shared that information with me.
Because of Angels’ Place I am a first-generation college graduate with a Business Communications degree from Carlow University. My education has helped me to have a successful career in Sales & Customer Service at places like Verizon, rue21, and Giant Eagle.
Today, I am the Director of Customer Care for West Virginia University and my daughter is working for her Master of Science in Public Policy and Management at Carnegie Mellon University.
Our lives would be so different if there were no Angels’ Place. I will always be grateful.- Jameeta
While I was attending Carnegie Mellon University I found out I had a big surprise on the way. A professor at school told me about the services of Angels’ Place. Sawyer started at Angels’ Place when she was 10 months old, and I was able to enroll in school full-time again.
I learned a lot at Angels’ Place. I most enjoyed the parenting meetings- when the parents got together to talk about a particular topic. This is how I learned about the Reggio Emilia approach in early childhood development which heavily influenced my parenting approach – acknowledging that I’m learning just as much as she is all the time; the importance of being part of a community – being held accountable within a community; and the importance of the environment we surround ourselves with. Angels’ Place helped me develop my green thumb and grow my connection with my environment where I later started a neighborhood garden called Gardweeno.
Today, I am the Arts in Context Manager at the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh. I would never have found my home in Pittsburgh without Angels’ Place and the generous support of the board, donors, and volunteers.- Zena
“Years ago, Angels’ Place supported my goal of earning an education by caring for my children, Brackyn & Bladeyn while I attended classes. I will never be fully capable of expressing the impact this has had on my life.
I’ve come a long way since I attended Angels’ Place at the North Side campus. I am now living in Houston, Texas and am married with two more beautiful children; a daughter, Crosby and a son, Colby.
I am now a chief operating officer of a successful robotics company and own several companies within the same industry. I owe many thanks to those who helped me along the way.
Thank you for all you have done and continue to do. You are changing the world one family at a time- you surely changed the world for us.”- Randi
Danielle’s Story“In 2013, I was a 19 year-old single mother to a one-year old little boy named Elliot, a student, and a waitress. Needless to say, I was confused, scared, and honestly – broke. My mother helped me out a lot but she had to work and I needed to go to school, meaning I needed to find childcare that wasn’t going to cost me an arm and a leg. By the grace of God, I ran into an old friend one day that I hadn’t seen in a while and she told me about Angels’ Place. She had told me that if I was in school there was a childcare center that was free of charge; I would just have to attend weekly parent meetings and volunteer three hours of my time to do things around the center. Naturally I was skeptical, but I had to find out for myself.
Upon walking in the door, I felt an immediate calmness. I loved everything about the building, their values, and the attention given to the children. I knew, for a fact, that Angels’ Place is where I wanted my son to be while I furthered my education. Angels’ Place was never just a daycare to me, the amazing staff became a part of my family; I have never met a group of people so invested in helping other parents, or for that matter – people in general, better themselves. No matter the issue, the staff at Angels’ Place was, and is, ready to step up and help you become exactly who you want to become.
Angels’ Place has thought of every single moment in the lives of these mothers that may be difficult, and has made them that much easier. From their interactive curriculum, to their family style lunches, Elliot has learned so much – both educationally and emotionally. By the time he graduated from Angels’ Place he could count to 100 and has the compassion that I aspire to have. Throughout the five years that I have as a mother, Angels’ Place has helped me in more ways than I can count, and I know that if it wasn’t for this organization I would absolutely not be where I am today.” – Danielle
Natasha’s Story“After applying for and being accepted into the Biotechnology program at CCAC, I faced a problem — I had no child care. I almost wanted to give up. If it wasn’t for my career counselor I would have never found Angels’ Place.
I am so happy and proud to be able to send my daughter to Angels’ Place. She is learning and growing every day thanks to the friendly and attentive teachers and staff.
I especially like the fact that the environment feels like a family, so welcoming and warm. There’s even a volunteer grandma! Along with great childcare, I also get support for myself as well. There is always someone who can relate to what I’m going through and who may have some helpful advice for me.
Knowing that my daughter is happy and thriving, I feel confident that I will be able to complete my education and be able to find a job so I can continue to give her all the support she needs.”- Natasha
“I can’t speak highly enough about our experience at Angels’ Place. I was able to attend class with complete peace of mind knowing that my daughter was safe and loved. The quality of care and early education at Angels’ Place are absolutely best in class. The support that Angels’ Place offered me as a young mother made a world of difference in our lives.
My career is still every bit as exciting as it was five years ago! Today, I am a Senior Application Development Technician with a specialization in polyurethane adhesives. I am fortunate enough to be a part of a company supporting and encouraging STEM education at all levels. I have enjoyed visiting several Preschool and Elementary schools within my community and sharing my love of science! My career is challenging, rewarding, and has allowed me to feel like a strong role model for my children!
My family today is thriving! After I graduated from Bidwell, I got married and became a mom of two. My daughter is now 7 years old; she is confident, smart, athletic, but most importantly the most compassionate little person I have ever met. My son is 3 and the rest of us are just trying to keep up with him! He keeps us on our toes and totally relishes in being the “baby” of the family. We are active in our church and local community and enjoy spending as much time as we can with our extended family!”- Chelsey