North Allegheny Teacher Receives People Helping People Award

Allison Park, PA - A festive atmosphere filled the air as the sun went down over the vineyard last Tuesday during North Hills Community Outreach’s annual Corks for the Community event at Narcisi Winery. For the evening’s main event, NHCO gave their People Helping People award to North Allegheny physical education teacher Dean Boronyak.

Each year, “the People Helping People Award is given to someone who NHCO feels has done a fantastic job carrying out our mission in the community,” said NHCO Director of Development, Erica Cochran. “There is no doubt that Dean and the entire Physical Education and Health Department within North Allegheny school district have done that. They are not only annually raising funds to help their neighbors, but they are educating all their students on the services that NHCO provides and reducing the stigma of using social services from a young age. That is priceless."

In addition to consistently teaching students kindness, sportsmanship, and the value of giving back to the community, Boronyak also spearheaded North Allegheny's Jump for the Hills fundraiser. Students across seven of the district’s elementary schools jumped rope to raise $46,599 for North Hills Community Outreach.

“The People Helping People award is one of the highest honors annually from NHCO. It showcases just how large of an impact that Dean, his colleagues within North Allegheny, and his amazing students in the district made for our organization,” said NHCO Executive Director, Tom Baker. “The students, with Dean's leadership and passion, achieved at an incredible level with their Jump for the Hills this year. We greatly appreciate all of their efforts!”

Boronyak has been a leader in implementing a powerful partnership between North Allegheny’s Health and Physical Education department and NHCO. “When our department chose to work with NHCO, I knew this would be a great partnership where we both could make an impact on our community,” said Boronyak. “I know our team and myself teach to make a positive impact in the lives of our students and others that come into our lives. NHCO’s message of people helping people is the message we want to instill in all our students. What a better world we would live in if we all truly loved and helped others, especially those in need. I am humbled and blessed to receive this award on behalf of our entire department and the North Allegheny community.”

This year’s award was presented to Boronyak by Baierl Acura General Manager and 2020 award recipient Bill Brown.

“2020 was a year of grief and loss, but it was also a year that communities around the country stepped up and helped those in need,” said Brown. “The generosity and selflessness of the staff and volunteers at NHCO inspired a community in uncertain times. The recognition for a job well done belongs to the people at NHCO. We are just honored that we could be a part of the tremendous work they do every day. We thank Dean and the North Allegheny School District for carrying the torch into 2021. In the end, we are just all People Helping People.”

North Hills Community Outreach addresses the needs of people in crisis, hardship, and poverty in Northern Allegheny County. Through various services and programs, NHCO fosters self-sufficiency while treating all individuals with dignity, understanding, and caring. Learn more at NHCO.org.