A horse story

Back in the early '90s our small town, Huron, Ohio, hosted a festival in which the Heinz Hitch was scheduled to appear. At the last minute, funding to support the hitch fell through. Pleas came out for local support for feed, straw and grain to help cover the expense.

John Dryer had lived up to his commitment to show up, even at a loss to him. My wife and I donated hay and straw to cover the feed cost for John and his horses to come to our little town festival. We had the great pleasure to both meet with John and his crew and help with the horses for his four-day visit, and go through the parade with the hitch.

Since that time, we have met several times at other locations in Ohio where John was going to have his hitch. We became good "road friends" of the Heinz Hitch and John Dryer.

We did not get to see John last summer, and I was looking for his show schedule for this year when I see that Heinz dropped them ("Heinz Hitch Takes Hit," May 9). What a terrible loss to the fans of the hitch and John. Just another American icon lost in the modern days of making money rather than tradition.

ROD and MARY BRATTON
Huron, Ohio

Philanthropists in the making

Corporate leaders who may have read Bob Denove's article of advice in the May 15 edition, "Gen Y Recruits Ask What Your Company Has Done for the Community Lately," take heart: It's easier than you think to gain "street creds" with a younger work force if you team up with engaged philanthropists. Your company can win big points with Gen Yers if you enable this highly skilled, but not-yet-wealthy demographic to join Pittsburgh Social Venture Partners.

We are the so-called "philanthropreneurs," a term made popular in a recent New York Times article by Stephanie Strom. We are people who use our business skills right alongside our financial contributions to make the world a better place.

Our younger partners receive a great deal of benefit from volunteering with PSVP. They have the opportunity to network with business and community leaders they would not otherwise have met. Even more importantly, they are able to put their newly acquired professional skills to good use for a local nonprofit and make a measurable difference in the lives of Pittsburgh's youth.

PSVP is not a "stuffing envelopes" kind of volunteer experience. Our partners are rewarded with challenging opportunities to assist on projects such as building a Web site, organizational planning, providing legal expertise and creating a marketing or communications plan. The opportunities are substantial for the generation that, as Mr. Denove puts it, "bores easily."

If you are in charge of a company that wants to recruit, retain and develop a talented, committed, community-minded work force, think about exploring a corporate partnership with Pittsburgh Social Venture Partners. It will be good for your company and good for Pittsburgh. Your "next generation worker" is our next generation philanthropist. Won't you join us? (See www.psvp.org, or e-mail info@psvp.org.)

ANDREA F. FITTING
Board Chairman, Pittsburgh Social Venture Partners
Mt. Lebanon