A Legacy of Love
A sign promoting a food drive may encourage someone to donate
What it can’t tell you is the story behind the name.
Each summer, the David T. Bannon Memorial Food & Fund Drive appears in Mount Lebanon as an invitation to help neighbors facing food insecurity. For organizer Christine Patti, however, the annual fundraiser is much more than a charitable event. It is a way to honor her son, David, while bringing hope to families throughout Southwestern Pennsylvania.
David died on July 28, 2020, after battling pneumonia during the COVID-19 pandemic. He spent more than two weeks in the intensive care unit at Georgetown University Medical Center before his death.
Rather than allowing July to become defined only by loss, Patti chose to create something that reflects David’s spirit of compassion and service.
Now in its sixth year, the fundraiser benefits the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank. After five years of collecting food in person, this year’s campaign has transitioned to a virtual format, allowing every donated dollar to stretch even further. According to the food bank, every $1 donated can provide up to three meals for children, families and seniors experiencing food insecurity.
Mount Lebanon Housing Market Remains Strong by Nancy McKenna, Howard Hanna
What a strong market we’re seeing. My listings received multiple offers and sold above the asking price. In today’s competitive environment, buyers are becoming increasingly creative with their offers to stand out in bidding wars and secure a home.
Mount Lebanon’s housing market remained strong in June, with both home sales and prices climbing as families looked to settle into the district before the start of the new school year.
According to local market data, 57 homes were actively listed for sale in June. During the month, another 57 homes sold, a 14% increase from May. Home prices also continued to rise. The average sale price reached $516,000 in June, up from $472,000 in May.
June is traditionally one of the busiest months for the local real estate market as buyers work to complete their home purchases in time to move, enjoy the summer and have their children settled before the start of the school year in August.
Wave of Kindness
Most people drive past yard signs without giving them a second thought.
This one deserves a closer look.
It asks people to perform seven acts of kindness and encourage seven others to do the same. Behind that simple message is a Mount Lebanon family transforming profound loss into a lasting legacy of compassion.
The Wave of Kindness campaign honors the memory of Alex Pellegrino, who died on July 7, 2025. Rather than allowing that date to be remembered only with sadness, her family has chosen to celebrate her life by inspiring others to make a difference through simple acts of generosity.
Last year, on the first anniversary of Alex’s death, family members invited friends, neighbors and members of the community to write down acts of kindness and hang them on a tree outside their home. Reading those notes became a powerful reminder of Alex’s impact on so many lives.
This year, the family hopes to extend that spirit far beyond their neighborhood.
Their invitation is simple: Complete seven acts of kindness in Alex’s honor, then encourage seven more people to do the same. Whether it’s helping a neighbor, buying someone a cup of coffee, volunteering or simply offering encouragement, every act has the potential to inspire another.
To connect those participating, the family created WaveofKindness.org, where people can share stories of the kindness they’ve experienced or passed along. Their hope is that what began as a personal tribute will continue growing into a movement that reaches well beyond Mount Lebanon.
“While July 7 holds a special meaning for us, kindness knows no calendar,” the family wrote. “We want to keep this momentum going throughout the entire year and beyond.”
For Paula, Andy, Sam and Charlie, the campaign is more than a memorial. It is a way to ensure Alex’s spirit continues to touch lives through the kindness of others.
The yard sign may be temporary, but the family hopes its message will have a lasting impact — creating a ripple effect of compassion that extends far beyond a single day, one neighborhood or one community.
The impact has been remarkable.
Over the past five years, the fundraiser has raised more than $229,000 and collected more than 21,000 pounds of food and household essentials. Last year’s campaign alone helped provide more than 226,000 meals to local families.
Patti has also expanded David’s legacy beyond the annual fundraiser by creating the Gone Too Soon Virtual Memorial, an online space where parents who have lost children can honor their memories and find support from others who understand their grief. Participation is open to everyone, with no obligation to donate.
For Patti, every contribution represents more than a meal.
It is a reminder that love can endure, even through unimaginable loss, and that one person’s memory can continue changing lives years after they are gone.
The sign may invite people to support a food drive. The story behind it is one of a mother’s unwavering love, a son’s enduring legacy and a community coming together to help those who need it most.
More Than Youth Football
At first glance, it’s just another registration sign.
“Mount Lebanon Youth Football Association — Register Now.”
For many families, it’s simply a reminder that football season is approaching. But behind that sign is a program designed to do much more than teach blocking, tackling and throwing a football.
The Mount Lebanon Youth Football Association serves boys and girls in kindergarten through sixth grade who live in the Mount Lebanon School District. While learning the fundamentals of football is certainly part of the experience, the organization’s broader mission is developing teamwork, discipline, leadership and character in a safe, structured environment.
Each August, hundreds of young athletes begin practices, starting with mandatory heat acclimation sessions before moving into a season of practices, scrimmages, games and playoffs.
Players are grouped by age and experience, beginning with the Termite division for students in kindergarten through second grade, followed by junior varsity for third- and fourth-graders and varsity teams for fifth- and sixth-graders.
Safety remains the program’s top priority. Coaches emphasize proper technique, player development and sportsmanship while helping young athletes build confidence both on and off the field.
Families also play an important role. By registering, parents commit to supporting a culture that values respect, positive sideline behavior and player development over winning.
This year’s registration carries even greater significance as Mount Lebanon’s football program embraces a new vision under high school head coach Bruce Fronk. Fronk has introduced a vertically aligned system that connects youth, middle school and high school football through shared coaching philosophies, terminology and player development.
That means many of the children registering today are taking their first steps
toward becoming future Blue Devils, entering a program designed to prepare them not only for Friday nights under the lights, but for the responsibilities that come with representing their school and community.
The registration sign may be temporary, but the opportunities it represents can last for years. For many Mount Lebanon children, it marks the beginning of friendships, life lessons and a football journey that extends well beyond one season.
