Pittsburgh, PA

The Pittsburgh Division has selected Craig Poole to receive the Director's Community Leadership Award.

Currently, Mr. Poole is working with community leaders in both the private and public sectors to assume some of the responsibility for the welfare and fostering of the at-risk youth of the community. Additionally, Mr. Poole is working with these same community leaders to join forces with nonprofit organizations that assist physically and mentally challenged adults. All too often, the sole responsibility is placed upon the nonprofit organizations.

Mr. Poole believes that by linking the community-at-large with the nonprofit organizations, we are not only distributing some of the responsibility, we are also building up the community. We become accountable for each other. And within that accountability lives the greatest potential for positive change.

Mr. Poole’s other honors and awards include being named General Manager of the Year for 2009 by the Pennsylvania Tourism and Lodging Association; being named General Manager of the Year for 2009 by the Pittsburgh Hotel Association; receiving the Community Service Award from the Pittsburgh Hotel Association; accepting a congressional citation for his work with the Bradley Center; and being recognized by the North Side Community Development Fund in 2004 with its Lifetime Achievement Award.

Through the Holiday Inn Pittsburgh Airport, Mr. Poole has built relationships and partnerships with the following organizations:

• Bradley Center—serving abused, neglected, and dependant children within the community;
• Urban Impact—serving youth ages 2-18 on Pittsburgh’s North Side with few to no options;
• McGuire House/McGuire Memorial—provides vocational training for adults with mild to moderate disabilities;
• Citizens Care—a private, nonprofit corporation that provides personal development training for adults with disabilities;
• Shore Project, Inc.(S.H.O.R.E.)—supports at-risk children; and
• Circle C Youth and Family Services—a nonprofit agency serving at-risk children and families.