Sometimes in life you don’t get what you want. You get more than you could have bargained for.
That was exactly the case for Mt. Lebanon High School freshman Allegra Synowiec when she and members of her volunteer charity organization, the Pittsburgh Linxx, spent a surprise day in Harrisburg at Gov. Josh Shapiro’s mansion as guests of honor.
Synowiec, 15, and her peers in the Linxx are part of the local chapter of the National Charity League (NCL), a national philanthropic organization that pairs mothers and daughters in active efforts to promote human welfare. Synowiec was one of 14 girls from the Linxx chapter invited to Shapiro’s residence on Dec. 15 because of their high volunteer hour totals with the NCL.
“We got to speak personally to the governor and to his wife,” Synowiec said. “And then it was really moving to hear his speech. It was so nice because we got to hear that he started out thinking he was going to be a doctor, and then a basketball player, but then he shifted over to his current field. It was a lesson that we can figure things out as we learn about ourselves, in a way.”
The Linxx chapter is made up of mother-and-daughter teams who contribute hundreds of hours to dozens of local nonprofits, including the Mario Lemieux Foundation, Meals on Wheels, the Alzheimer’s Association and the American Red Cross, supporting causes ranging from food insecurity and homelessness to senior care and children’s health.
Allegra, who volunteers with her mother, Andrea Synowiec, has been part of the Linxx since seventh grade. She was part of the inaugural class of the Linxx and plans to remain a member through the end of her high school years.
Serving as a volunteer has opened Allegra’s eyes to local problems such as homelessness, food insecurity and caring for those with disabilities. She cited working with disabled trick-or-treaters as a particularly rewarding experience.
The Linxx’s recognition by the governor and first lady came as a surprise because it replaced the suspended Presidential Volunteer Service Award (PVSA) program, a national recognition program that honors U.S. citizens who complete significant volunteer work through qualifying organizations. The PVSA program was paused due to federal funding cuts, so volunteers who achieved the required service hours would not be recognized with a medal or certificate this year.
That is when Shapiro and first lady Lori Shapiro stepped in.
“Our local group reached out to let the governor know that these girls were going to be recognized by the president and were now not going to have any support or recognition,” Andrea said. “Then the governor just went above and beyond. He invited every girl who would have qualified for a Presidential Volunteer Service Award to personally come to his mansion and meet with all of them. He also handed them each individually medals with their names and the number of hours they had volunteered inscribed. He then gave them a personalized letter, and they got to talk with the governor, the first lady and Secretary of Health Dr. Deborah Bogan. So, they had this cool opportunity to meet all these high-level people and to be thanked for the work they’re doing in Pennsylvania.”
Working alongside each other while volunteering has provided the Synowiec women with another benefit: It has strengthened their bond.
“I feel like my relationship with my mom has grown a lot closer doing this,” Allegra said. “And since we drive to and from each volunteering event, we talk a lot on the way and then we’re volunteering together. Every time we just get closer.”
To learn more about the Pittsburgh Linxx, visit www.nationalcharityleague.org/chapter/pittsburghlinxx
