Amachi Pittsburgh

09/14/2026

✨ Employee of the Month: Shayla Watson! ✨

We’re excited to reintroduce our Employee of the Month spotlight and celebrate the incredible people who help make Amachi Pittsburgh what it is. 💙

Meet Shayla Watson, Program Associate! From teaching ACJ classes and managing events to graphic design, purchasing, and connecting with community partners, Shayla brings creativity, flexibility, and plenty of personality to her work every day.

🎨 A few fun facts about Shayla:

🏆 She won Best in Show at a fine art fair in Fort Wayne, Indiana!

🌮 Her current food obsession? “Garbage Tacos” — loaded with cheese, taco sauce, sour cream, avocado, lime juice, lettuce, red onion, and jalapeño.

🫁 Her two favorite things? Respiration (she enjoys breathing!) and art, especially abstract expressionism.

💡 Her favorite part about working at Amachi is the variety in her day-to-day — there’s always something new to create, plan, teach, or explore.
Shayla, thank you for bringing your creativity, versatility, and unique perspective to Amachi Pittsburgh. We’re grateful to have you on the team! 💙

09/11/2026

We’re excited to introduce our final Honoring Champion for Children for 2026 Amachi Hachi Pachi: Play It Forward — Let Kids Be Kids! 💙✨

🌟 Meet Will Carender of Carpenter Construction!

Will carries forward the legacy of Carpenter Construction, building on the foundation created through the remarkable partnership between him and his father, Bob. Today, Will continues that legacy with a forward-thinking approach, a commitment to quality, and a dedication to serving his community.

But Will’s impact goes beyond the construction industry. 💙

As an Amachi Pittsburgh Board Member and Amachi Mentor, Will puts his commitment to young people into action — investing his time, leadership, and support in the next generation.

His connection to Amachi makes this honor especially meaningful. Will isn’t just a champion for children — he’s in the work with us. 👏🏾

🎉 2026 Amachi Hachi Pachi
💙 Play It Forward: Let Kids Be Kids
📅 September 29, 2026
We’ve introduced our champions. Now it’s time to celebrate them!

✨ Make sure you RSVP and join us for a night honoring the people who continue to show up, give back, and PLAY IT FORWARD for our children.

🏆 Four champions. One powerful mission. Let’s celebrate!

AmachiPittsburgh

09/10/2026

🏆 THE CHAMPIONS KEEP COMING! 🏆

We’re continuing our Honoring Champions for Children series as we get closer to 2026 Amachi Hachi Pachi: Play It Forward — Let Kids Be Kids! 💙✨

🌟 Meet Lisa Wilson, Co-Founder & Executive Director of The Kyle B. Wilson Scholarship Fund!
For nearly two decades, Lisa has turned love, purpose, and community into action — helping students across the Greater Pittsburgh Region pursue their educational dreams and making the path to higher education a little more accessible.

Through her leadership, Lisa continues to invest in young people, uplift families, and create opportunities for the next generation. Her dedication to youth development and community empowerment makes her an incredible Honoring Champion for Children. 👏🏾💙

And beyond the work, Lisa is a proud mother of three daughters and grandmother of eight — so cheering on the next generation is truly close to her heart. 🥰

🎉 2026 Amachi Hachi Pachi
💙 Play It Forward: Let Kids Be Kids
📅 September 29, 2026
Make sure you RSVP and join us as we celebrate Lisa and all of our incredible Champions for Children!

🏆 More champions. More impact. More reasons to PLAY IT FORWARD!

09/08/2026

09/04/2026

🏆 THE CHAMPIONS KEEP COMING! 🏆
We’re continuing our Honoring Champions for Children series as we count down to 2026 Amachi Hachi Pachi: Play It Forward — Let Kids Be Kids! 💙

✨ Meet Carmen Anderson, Vice President of Equity & Community Partnerships at The Heinz Endowments!

Carmen is a powerful advocate for equity, inclusion, and stronger communities, leading efforts that challenge social injustice and create meaningful partnerships throughout our region. Her work helps organizations and communities move toward a future where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.
That commitment to equity, community, and creating opportunity makes Carmen an incredible champion for children and families. 👏🏾

🎉 2026 Amachi Hachi Pachi

💙 Play It Forward: Let Kids Be Kids

📅 September 29, 2026
Don’t miss your chance to celebrate Carmen and all of our incredible Honoring Champions for Children! Make sure you RSVP today and join us for a night centered on community, celebration, and purpose.

🏆 More champions. More impact. More reasons to PLAY IT FORWARD!
AmachiPittsburgh

09/02/2026

🏆 MEET OUR FIRST HONORING CHAMPION FOR CHILDREN! 🏆

The countdown to Hachi Pachi 2026 is officially heating up! 🔥

We’re proud to recognize Derrick Wilson, CEO & Founder of The Wilson Group, as our first Honoring Champion for Children. Derrick’s commitment to leadership, community, partnership, and creating opportunities for others embodies what it means to Play It Forward. 💙

On September 29th , we’re celebrating the champions who believe kids deserve the chance to simply be kids and Derrick is helping us lead the way.

🎉 2026 Amachi Hachi Pachi
💙 Play It Forward: Let Kids Be Kids
📅 September 29, 2026

Have you RSVP’d yet? 👀 Make sure your spot is secured and join us for a night of celebration, connection, and purpose!

🏆 Let’s celebrate Derrick. Let’s celebrate our children. Let’s PLAY IT FORWARD!

AmachiPittsburgh

08/25/2026

PLAY IT FORWARD. LET KIDS BE KIDS. 🧡💙

Mark your calendars for September 29, 2026, as Amachi Pittsburgh brings together 300+ business leaders and community champions for Hachi Pachi 2026: Play It Forward — Let Kids Be Kids at the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh.

For children navigating the impact of a parent’s incarceration, childhood can come with adult-sized burdens. Play, safety, imagination, joy and simply being a kid should never be luxuries.

This year, we’re inviting our community to reconnect with that feeling of childhood—and to invest in creating more opportunities for young people to experience it.
Because when we play it forward, we help protect what every child deserves: joy, belonging and the freedom to simply be a kid.

🎟️ Tickets and sponsorship opportunities are now available.

💙 Sponsorships start at $1,500 and offer businesses an opportunity to put their values into action while supporting the 35,000+ young people in Allegheny County navigating a parent’s incarceration.

September 29, 2026.
Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh. ( Children's Museum of Pittsburgh )
Hachi Pachi 2026.
Let’s play it forward. ✨
Learn more at amachipgh.org
Pittsburgh

08/20/2026

🎉 SAVE THE DATE 🎉

The 2026 Amachi Hachi Pachi is happening Tuesday, September 29 at the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh! This year’s theme, Play It Forward: Let Kids Be Kids, is all about remembering what childhood should feel like, while making sure every kid gets to have one.

Tickets and sponsorships are open NOW.

Head to amachipgh.org today!

or register here : https://amachipittsburghinc.salsalabs.org/amachihachipachi2026/index.html

08/20/2026

Your support helps Amachi Pittsburgh continue to nurture, protect, and empower children and families impacted by parental incarceration.
From youth programming and mentoring to family support and community outreach, your monthly gift helps us show up consistently for the families who need us most.
Become a monthly giver today. Your generosity creates lasting impact—one family, one child, one community at a time.

💚Give. Support. Empower.
🔗 Donate through the link in our bio.