Partnership Between GlobalPittsburgh and Holy Family Institute Expands Homestay Opportunities For International Students, Promotes Local Education Assets

A newly-signed cooperation agreement between GlobalPittsburgh and the Holy Family International College Preparatory Program (HFI-CPP) will expand homestay opportunities for international high school students and enhance efforts by both organizations to promote the region around the world as an education hub and attract more international students to the region, according to leaders of the two non-profit organizations.

“We are happy to enter into this partnership that will connect the GlobalPittsburgh network of host families and globally-minded individuals with the good work that Holy Family has been doing to expand Pittsburgh’s visibility around the world,” said Michael Malloy, Chairman of the GlobalPittsburgh Board of Directors. “It is in keeping with one of our core beliefs: that education is one of the Pittsburgh region’s major exports and top economic drivers, and we welcome the opportunity to promote our shared interests of helping and growing the community.”

Sister Linda Yankoski, Chief Executive Officer of Holy Family Institute, said “This partnership is vital to our vision of providing a global campus with a structured environment where intellectual, social and emotional learning are equally valued. We are grateful for this exciting cooperative effort to bridge education and cultural awareness within our community.”

Through the new Memorandum of Understanding, GlobalPittsburgh will promote homestay opportunities among its network of members and host families, and also promote the Holy Family International College Preparatory Program through its Study Pittsburgh initiative as a valuable opportunity for international students interested in attending high school, and eventually college, in the United States.

Anyone interested in hosting international students for a semester or a school year, with monthly compensation, should contact Nadya Kessler of GlobalPittsburgh at 412-392-4513 or nkessler@globalpittsburgh.org.

GlobalPittsburgh also will provide enrichment programs to the students and their host families through its CONNECT membership program, which provides a year-round schedule of activities and events to engage newcomers and globally-minded residents.

GlobalPittsburgh, formerly known as the Pittsburgh Council for International Visitors, promotes the Pittsburgh region and its many educational assets around the world through its Study Pittsburgh initiative, which was formed in 2010. In addition, the organization has for the past 53 years hosted international delegations through the U.S. Department of State and other programming organizations, and connected a network of people and organizations in the region sharing a common vision of advancing the Pittsburgh region as a truly global community.

The mission of the Holy Family International College Preparatory Program is to provide international students with a comprehensive educational program which will lead to their development as young adults with proficiency in verbal and written comprehension of the English language; excellent academic credentials; and strong moral values.

Students enrolled in the HFI-CPP currently attend one of five private high schools in the Pittsburgh region: North Catholic High School, Bishop Canevin High School, Seton-La Salle High School Quigley Catholic High School and Vincentian Academy. The 2013-2014 academic year will add St. Joseph High School in Natrona Heights. Many of the students live in residential facilities on the Holy Family campus while others stay with local families, who receive compensation for hosting the students.

In economic terms, international students make a significant positive impact in the region, contributing an estimated $270 million in tuition and living expenses to the regional economy, according to the Institute for International Education. More than 9,800 international students are enrolled in the Greater Pittsburgh region, IIE reported.

For information about GlobalPittsburgh and the Study Pittsburgh initiative, contact Thomas Buell, Jr., Director of Marketing & Study Pittsburgh, at 412-392-4513, by email at tbuell@globalpittsburgh.org, or go to www.globalpittsburgh.org.

For more information about the Holy Family International College Preparatory Program, contact Lynn Guerra, Home Stay Coordinator, HFI-CPP, at 412-766-9020 x304, or by email at guerra.lynn@hfi-pgh.org.