by Desiree S. Coleman

Special from the St. Louis American

You meet the perfect person. You go out on a few dates. Instantly, they are elevated to “boo status” and you think that you’ve finally found “the one.” Things are going great until you do a little digging and some soul-searching.

SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS—From left: Michelle Outcalt; Juel Smith; Kiya Tomlin, Leadership Achievement award winner; Rufus Burnett Jr.; Florence Saint-Jean with Chuck Cooper III. (Photos by Rossano P. Stewart)

The Chuck Cooper Foundation awarded its first scholarships in higher education to honor the legacy of Chuck Cooper, the first African-American drafted into the NBA, who afterward leveraged his graduate work into a career of public service. The five students receiving the scholarships were recognized at a luncheon, Feb. 22, along with Mike and Kiya Tomlin, the recipients of the third annual Career Achievement in Leadership, Diversity and Community Service Award.
As a Duquesne University student athlete, Cooper was drafted by the Boston Celtics in 1950. After a six-year NBA career, he went on to earn a master’s degree in social work from the University of Minnesota in 1961. He began his public service as the Director of Parks and Recreation for the City of Pittsburgh, and then with Pittsburgh National Bank, the predecessor to PNC Bank. He worked as the bank’s Urban Affairs Officer, spearheading affirmative action programs and community development projects.
“Mike and Kiya Tomlin have done outstanding work in our community and are great stewards of Chuck Cooper’s legacy,” said Sy Holzer, Western Pennsylvania regional president, PNC Bank, the presenting sponsor of the Chuck Cooper luncheon. “Chuck was a talented leader and role model in all aspects in his life. PNC supports the Cooper Foundation’s mission as it awards its first scholarships to deserving graduate level students in the region.”
In addition, PNC provided a $5,000 scholarship which the Cooper Foundation awarded to Rufus Burnett, Jr. for study at the McAnulty Graduate School of Liberal Arts at Duquesne University. Additional scholarship winners for study at Duquesne are:
•Juel Smith, $3,000, School of Education Instructional Technology and Leadership
•Florence St. Jean, $1,000, School of Education
•Michelle Outcalt, $1,000, School of Leadership and Professional Advancement
•Candice Aston, $1,000, PhD in Philosophy
“We are extremely proud to award scholarships to these five highly deserving students,” said Chuck Cooper III, president of the Chuck Cooper Foundation and son of the late professional athlete. “This group exemplifies the type of dedication to academic excellence and community service that my father was so passionate about throughout his life. Helping these students to further their academic careers in order to achieve their professional goals is at the heart of the mission of the Cooper Foundation.”
Additional sponsors include Pittsburgh Steelers, UPMC Health Plan and Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney, PC.
PNC’s support for the Chuck Cooper Foundation is the centerpiece of its Black History Month celebration in Pittsburgh. “Diversity is a core value at PNC,” said PNC’s Holzer. “Recognizing national history and heritage month celebrations help to acknowledge the many contributions of the diverse customers and communities where employees work and live.”

About 48 hours ago I watched a “bride to be” do something very smart. She picked up her bridal gown from Something Borrowed Boutique in Bloomfield. This caught my attention because she actually rented the dress.

When her wedding is over she is going to bring the dress back. It was a beautiful gown with a tulle skirt and a beaded bodice.

Something Borrowed Boutique is a gown rental salon located at 4707 Liberty Avenue in Bloomfield. You can rent wedding gowns, dresses for bridesmaids, mother of the bride, special occasion gowns and flower girl dresses.

How many weddings have you been in and didn’t know what to do with the dress after the wedding was over?

Something Borrowed solves so many issues. No need to save that dress and hope that you can wear again and hope the other bridesmaids don’t show up at the same affair. You can have that beautiful wedding gown or special occasion dress at a fraction of what it would cost to buy it.

If you have watched any episode of “Say Yes To the Dress” you have witnessed brides pay between $3,000 to $10,000 for a dress that will be worn for one day. No longer do you have to rent a dress over the internet. Stop by Something Borrowed Boutique and try it on before you rent it.

HOMETOWN HEROES—From left: Sgt. Patrick Manning, Larry Richert, Summer Tissue, Bill Neal, Jamie Holmes and Paul Shields.

NewsRadio 1020 KDKA Morning Host Larry Richert hosted the Larry Richert Honors Hometown Heroes event, March 7, at the Lexus Club at PNC Park.
Legendary Bruno Sammartino, who will be inducted into the Wrestling Hall of Fame in April, served as the keynote speaker, in addition to retired Army Ranger and Captain Sean Parnell, author of “Outlaw Platoon,” serving as the guest speaker.
Larry’s Hometown Heroes honored five ordinary individuals in the community who have done extraordinary things. Honorees were: Jamie Holmes for awarding “dream” opportunities to those living with medical conditions; Sergeant Patrick Manning for restoring a youth baseball field in Penn Hills; William R. Neal Jr. for building programs that aid disadvantaged youth and others in finding employment opportunities; Summer Tissue for her work in sending packages to deployed Soldiers and Marines; and Paul Shields for helping his neighbors escape a fire in their home in Ross Township the day after Thanksgiving. Each hero will receive a $1000 donation to a charity of their choice.
Neal is a long time columnist of the New Pittsburgh Courier and Founder and CEO of Champion Enterprises.
“I was overwhelmed when I was informed that several hundred people were nominated and I was one of five finalist,” Neal said. “I am extremely gratified that the work we have done have been well received. And it’s important to note that Champion Enterprises is the proverbial village that raises a child.  It takes a lot of people to make it work.