We pride ourselves on high quality services fueled by efficiency, dedication, and passion. It is our goal to instill this same approach toward the students who will benefit from your generosity. We have all seen various degrees of success in our career trajectories since graduation. This success, achieved with the help of friends, family, and colleagues, drives us to give back to our communities in kind.
To us, giving back means more than simply writing a check. All five of us are experienced career professionals in the Pittsburgh area. Using this experience, we can offer real guidance and qualified perspective, helping students navigate their way through college and into a successful STEM career. Below is a list of the fields and industries in which we presently work:
- Financial Services
- Technology Provider
- Manufacturing/Gas Detection
- Software Services
In addition to our current career paths, the members of Friends Charities have education and/or work experience in various STEM fields and areas of interest. These include:
- Sciences: Formal Science, Social Science, Information Sciences, Computer Sciences
- Technology: Internet of Things, Networking, Artificial Intelligence, Deep learning, Development
- Engineering: Systems Engineering, Software Engineering, Security Engineering
- Mathematics: Cryptography, Neural Networks, Discrete Mathematics
Each of us is dedicated to making the most of this opportunity. We believe that the best way to make an impact is through passionate, yet efficient use of our resources. This is why we are committed to ensuring that all funds raised go toward scholarship recipients and keeping our charity running. Every donation that Friends Charities receives is used to benefit students and broaden our impact.
As we are all full-time employees, none of us draws salary or compensation from Friends Charities. Each donation is split 80% towards the scholarship fund and 20% towards operating costs. These costs can include registering fundraising event spaces, purchasing mailing supplies, and maintaining online subscriptions. The 80/20 split also puts us in compliance with Charity Watchdog’s ‘A’ grade rating.