Claus for a Cause
Join us for Claus for a Cause on Sunday, December 7th from 12-4 PM at the Bridgeville VFD Station 117 in Bridgeville, PA.This community event brings us together to support children living with Prader-Willi Syndrome. This family-friendly celebration includes pictures with Santa, a healthy meal and kid-friendly seasonal activities.
We are a dedicated team of families from the greater Pittsburgh area working together to bring this magical event to life. Holidays can be especially challenging for families like ours, as the season poses unique challenges for children with PWS due to their dietary restrictions. That’s why this event focuses on what truly matters—creating joyful memories, fostering connection and celebrating the season through togetherness and inclusion. We’re grateful for the support of our community near and far and hope you’ll join us in making a meaningful impact.
Every dollar raised will go directly to the Prader-Willi Syndrome Association (PWSA | USA) to fund advocacy, family support, and vital research to find a treatment for PWS.
PWS is a rare genetic condition that occurs in 1:15,000-30,000 live births and begins with low muscle tone, feeding difficulties, and delayed development. By childhood, it evolves into a relentless hunger that dominates daily life in addition to behavioral and academic challenges. For those living with PWS, their syndrome is just one part of who they are, but it significantly impacts the individual and their family’s world, now and forever. With your support, we can give those living with PWS a chance at independence and freedom from hunger.
For a list of Frequently Asked Questions Click Here
For questions, please contact us at pghpws@gmail.com.
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Jennifer Bolander has been serving as a Special Education Specialist for PWSA (USA) since October of 2015. She is a graduate of John Carroll University and lives in Ohio with her husband Brad and daughters Kate (17), and Sophia (13) who was born with PWS.
Perry A. Zirkel has written more than 1,500 publications on various aspects of school law, with an emphasis on legal issues in special education. He writes a regular column for NAESP’s Principal magazine and NASP’s Communiqué newsletter, and he did so previously for Phi Delta Kappan and Teaching Exceptional Children.
Evan has worked with the Prader-Willi Syndrome Association (USA) since 2007 primarily as a Crisis Intervention and Family Support Counselor. Evans works with parents and schools to foster strong collaborative relationships and appropriate educational environments for students with PWS.
Dr. Amy McTighe is the PWS Program Manager and Inpatient Teacher at the Center for Prader-Willi Syndrome at the Children’s Institute of Pittsburgh. She graduated from Duquesne University receiving her Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Education with a focus on elementary education, special education, and language arts.
Staci Zimmerman works for Prader-Willi Syndrome Association of Colorado as an Individualized Education Program (IEP) consultant. Staci collaborates with the PWS multi-disciplinary clinic at the Children’s Hospital in Denver supporting families and school districts around the United States with their child’s Individual Educational Plan.
Founded in 2001, SDLC is a non-profit legal services organization dedicated to protecting and advancing the legal rights of people with disabilities throughout the South. It partners with the Southern Poverty Law Center, Protection and Advocacy (P&A) programs, Legal Services Corporations (LSC) and disability organizations on major, systemic disability rights issues involving the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and the federal Medicaid Act. Recently in November 2014, Jim retired.