Mary Bode

It's easy to be the kind of parent who says to your kids, "Be kind to others." But for Mary Bode, words alone fall short of the kind of teaching she aims to give her children. With the desire for them to learn to help others, she began volunteering in several organizations.

Through one program in particular, Mary has made it possible for over 60 children from disadvantaged communities of New York City to come enjoy our beautiful Alle-Kiski Valley. When her two children were just beginning school, she saw an opportunity to teach them about investing in the lives of others through the Fresh Air Fund's Friendly Town Program. "I'm a firm believer that you teach your children by doing."

To back up that ideal, the Bodes decided to be a host family for the Fresh Air Fund and opened their home to a six-year-old boy named Tameek from Queens, New York. Tameek, like other children in the Friendly Town Program, got to take a two week vacation from his inner-city home and was amazed by "all the green he saw," and the little joys of living in a suburban community. "Where these children live," Mary explained, "there's not one blade of grass and some have never seen a star because the city doesn't get dark enough." Mary's family was so deeply affected by Tameek's visit that they have continued sharing their lives with him for the past five summers. "Now we consider him part of the family," she notes.

The closest base for the program was in Ligoneer, so Mary took the initiative to establish a Leechburg Friendly Town and became the chairperson. She worked to recruit new host families and oversaw the committee members. Last year Mary became the Southwest PA Fresh Air Fund Representative putting her in charge of three Friendly Towns - Leechburg, Butler, and Ligoneer. She serves as the liaison for the New York City office recruiting new host families from Pittsburgh and the entire Alle-Kiski region. In addition, she must work out all the transportation details and oversee the area's individual chairpersons.

Feeling the cool trickle of a creek flowing over your toes, running barefoot through the grass, climbing trees, or hiking in the woods are the simple pleasures of rural life that many children take for granted. Yet for some, these activities would be nothing but a dream if not for the volunteers of the Fresh Air Fund's Friendly Town Program, like Mary.

Mary and her husband, Kevin, live in Allegheny Township with their children, Chelsea, 14 and Lucas, 11. Mary attended Towson University in Maryland and majored in occupational therapy. While there, she met her husband who was a co-manager with her at the university bookstore.

Until about five years ago, Mary pursued her career as an occupational therapist. At that time, however, changes in insurance coverage eliminated the part of therapy that she enjoyed the most - the personal care given to each patient. She decided to take a break from her career and soon began volunteering at the Alle-Kiski Learning Center in Arnold. At the center she tutors, teaches parenting classes, and instructs in the childcare program.

Mary's commitment to keep her family first has helped her balance all of her responsibilities. She states, "The volunteer work is a family experience. We all believe in it and can do this together." Incorporating her children frequently, she takes Chelsea to the learning center to help in various ways with the childcare. In addition, she expresses gratitude for her husband, who is her "number one supporter" and her parents and aunts who "pitch in to help with the kids."

The Bode family is also very active in their church, Mount St. Peter's Church in New Kensington. In addition to other activities, the family runs a booth at the yearly church festival, and Mary serves at the Holy Name Breakfast. The children attended school there through fifth grade and Mary has helped with cafeteria duty, fundraisers, and anything that was needed. In addition, her family has sponsored a little girl through Christian Children's Foundation for eight years.

These are just some of the ways that Mary Bode teaches her children by her own example the value of helping others and donating their time to the community. We recognize Mary's contribution to her community and the many children she's reached, and honor her as one of the great women of the Alle-Kiski Valley.