PHamily Program

Strengthening Support for Penn Hills Students

Jay Mitlo, a 1989 graduate of Penn Hills, has deep roots in the community. With 26 years of coaching experience, and as a parent of Penn Hills alumni, he continues to demonstrate his strong support for the district.

During his years as a coach and a parent cheering for his son on the sidelines and applauding his daughter on stage, Jay noticed a common thread among students: the need to be seen, acknowledged, and supported. 

Whether it's the kicker on the football team or a stage crew member in the musical, every student wants to feel appreciated. Jay recognized that not all students had a strong support system in place. Some students had parents facing challenges that made it hard to attend events, while other students had to work instead of participating in activities. 

Witnessing this inspired Jay to start the PHamily Program in the fall of 2023. The program extends the opportunity to parents of Penn Hills alumni to "adopt" one of the school's 22 organizations. Once an alumni parent or group of alumni parents "adopt" a program, they are called upon when a student in the program needs help. Jay describes the PHamily Program as one that "connects people who want to help and can help, with kids who need help."

Though the program has only been in place for one year, the impact has been significant. Alumni parents stepping in to support students has strengthened the sense of community. The program raised over $3,000 in its first year, funding essentials such as shoes for athletes. Unlike traditional booster clubs, which focus on funding for the programs, the PHamily Program prioritizes meeting the individual needs of students. 

As of this school year, the PHamily Program has over 260 members and has a lead parent assigned to 19 out of the 22 programs Penn Hills offers. Jay is optimistic about the future of the program and looks forward to turning the focus on the emotional needs of the students in the coming year. 

He encourages all alumni parents and community members to get involved by joining the PHamily Facebook group or reaching out to him directly at hoozyer@verizon.net. 

As the PHamily Program continues to grow, it stands as a testament to the power of community and the impact a few dedicated individuals can have on students' lives. In Jay's words, "Loving when you don't have to is very loud," and the PHamily Program is making sure that love is felt by every student at Penn Hills.