The Bartko Foundation empowers single moms in Pittsburgh

Five years ago, Tamika Dawkins and her 2-year-old daughter were living in a small apartment in Pittsburgh. She was a single mom with little money and resources, and she was living with stage-three renal failure. “A friend told me about the Bartko Foundation,” she says. “And since the summer of 2011, my life has been forever changed.”

The Bartko Foundation provides financial support to single, minority mothers like Dawkins, helping them succeed and achieve self-sufficiency. It was founded by the family of Ted and Irene Bartko, who were committed to generosity and supporting others as they watched their own family grow and prosper over their lifetime. In the spirit of Ted and Irene, the Bartko family wanted to give back to women in the community who did not have the same opportunities as they did.

Since its founding, the Bartko Foundation has helped more than 300 women and their children overcome hardship and achieve financial independence—awarding more than 1 million dollars in grants for education, employment, housing and transportation.

The Bartko Foundation works with local agencies, charities and churches to connect with individuals who are already working on self-sufficiency goals. Once a woman is identified by an agency as a potential candidate, she may submit a request to the foundation for possible funding. Successful applicants are those who are taking active steps in their journey toward self-sufficiency.

The need for supporting struggling women in the Pittsburgh region is very real: According to the Pennsylvania Self-Sufficiency Standard, a Pittsburgh family of one adult, infant and preschooler needs $49,504 annually without public or private assistance to be considered self-sufficient. With an average income of $36,726 for all full-time women in Pittsburgh, four out of 10 families headed by single mothers in Pittsburgh live in poverty.

To continue fighting this statistic, the Bartko Foundation seeks support from the community. There are three annual fundraising events each year, including Irene’s Dream Luncheon & Boutique Shopping, which was held this year on April 16^th at the Fairmont Hotel in downtown Pittsburgh.

At the luncheon, guests heard success stories from moms like Tamika Dawkins’, whose own story is ongoing: Since connecting with the Bartko Foundation, she has her own home, has earned her bachelor’s degree from Point Park University and is also working toward her master’s degree. “Bartko does not give handouts,” she says. “They help in a way that lifts women up and empowers them to raise standards in their lives and relationships. They helped me gain confidence to believe in myself and go after my dreams again.”

Featured Image: The Bartko Foundation hosted its annual fundraising event, Irene’s Dream Luncheon & Boutique, on April 16, 2016, at the Fairmont Hotel. Photo courtesy of the Bartko Foundation.