A tall, historic red brick church with a steep roof and Gothic windows, surrounded by a small lawn and sidewalk, with a parking lot and trees in the background. Virgil's House McKeesport Former priest house, priory 3/4 house recovery

WE DID IT!!

Virgil’s House has a Beginning… ✨

We are thrilled to share that Virgil’s House is officially ours — and the transformation has already begun! This beautiful old church, with its soaring windows and historic bones, is getting a brand-new life as a women’s sober living home filled with hope, healing, and second chances.

Renovations are underway, and every day brings another “wow” moment — fresh paint, restored woodwork, rooms filled with light, and a vision coming together piece by piece. But the most exciting part isn’t the building itself… it’s what (and who) will fill it.

Soon, we’ll be welcoming our friends, neighbors, and sisters in recovery into a space built with love, dignity, and purpose. Virgil’s House is becoming a haven where women can rebuild their lives, rediscover their strength, and find community support every step of the way.

This isn’t just a renovation — it’s a rebirth. And we can’t wait for everyone to see what’s coming next.
Hope lives here… and the best is yet to come.

Illustration of a large, old, Gothic-style house with multiple tall, arched windows and pointed roofs. The house is surrounded by trees and a stone wall. The text reads "Hope lives here" at the top and "Virgil's House" at the bottom.
Two Amazon packages on a small wooden table next to a wall and blue carpeted floor. All donated from the community, amazon wish list items were also donated in lieu of flowers.
Beautiful donations from the community from the Amazon wish list. Items included winter jackets, mittens, gloves, blankets, sheets, cooking items, pillows.... we even got a dishwasher!!
Amazon sends gift receipts- so we know who to thank!

This is the Home Love Built-

Virgil’s House would like to thank everyone! We will try to keep this up to date, but we are so blessed!

Gray jacket and a large pink bag on a table, with clear plastic recycling bags nearby. Beautifully donated!
A crumpled gift receipt with a message thanking for a gift, signed by Evelyn Davis Dennis Davis, with a blurred background showing an orange bag and boxes.
Amazon package with a gift note and QR code attached.
Cardboard boxes leaning against a garage wall with miscellaneous items including a bicycle and outdoor storage containers.
Large cardboard box with shipping labels and packing tape, placed on a wooden floor. This dishwasher was donated!

Welcome to The Powell Family Foundation

Rooted in love, driven by purpose — The Powell Foundation was born from the enduring spirit of Christine Helen Powell (“Tina”), a woman whose life embodied compassion, creativity, and unwavering service to others. For over five decades, Tina stood as the heart of our family — nurturing not just our home, but our values: empathy, dignity, and equity for all.

Tina’s journey began when she and her husband Bob met as teenagers — a love story that would evolve into a lifelong partnership defined by laughter, devotion, and purpose. Together, they raised a family grounded in the belief that no one is invisible, and no one is unworthy of dignity. Their kitchen table conversations taught us that compassion isn’t just a value — it’s an action.

Inspired by her memory and fueled by her example, The Powell Foundation exists to serve those experiencing homelessness, economic hardship, and social disadvantage in the greater Pittsburgh area. We are committed to equity, outreach, and radical care — because that’s how we were raised, and that’s the legacy we choose to carry forward.

Whether through direct service, resource distribution, or community empowerment, we believe in meeting people where they are and honoring their humanity every step of the way. This is more than charity — this is kinship.

Because when someone believes you matter, everything begins to change.

Logo for the Powell Family Foundation featuring two hands holding a house with a pink heart and purple tulip inside, with text below saying "The Powell Family Foundation."

Renovations are Underway!

Renovations are Underway!

Pittsburgh Dream Center mission helping at Virgil's House posing outdoors near a huge 30ft dumpster that they had filled in about an hour with refuse, construction waste to help with the building & rennovations

Renovations are Underway!

Man standing on a ladder sanding a blue wall in a room, painting the 15ft ceilings in a resident room under rennovation
Person removing old wall paint with a tool, exposing a painted wall surface beneath, in a room with a window and scattered debris.
A cluttered bedroom with a single bed, an empty wooden bookshelf, and various scattered items on the floor.
Cozy room corner with a wooden door, orange accent wall, white armchair with dark throw pillow, wooden desk with mirror, and a window with blinds.
A bedroom with a light blue wall, a bed with a floral bedspread and pillows, a wooden nightstand, and carpeted floor.
Empty wooden shelf unit with multiple shelves, next to a taller, closed wooden cabinet, in a room with a damaged wall.
Two beds in a bedroom, one with pink striped bedding and one with floral bedding, a window between them, and a wooden radiator cover below the window.

A huge thank-you to the Dream Center Pittsburgh for showing up with unbelievable strength and heart — filling a 20-yard dumpster in under an hour during our cleanup at Virgil’s House! Your energy, teamwork, and generosity set the tone for everything that’s to come.

We are also incredibly grateful for the support, kindness, and hands-on help from our friends, neighbors, and collaborators. From lifting and hauling to cheering us on, every bit of encouragement has helped fuel the beginning of this renovation journey.

Because of all of you, Virgil’s House is already becoming a place where hope lives and community grows. Thank you for being part of this beautiful beginning.

Get Involved!

At Virgil’s House, we believe that hope grows when a community comes together. Every act of generosity—whether through financial support, donated goods, or the gift of your time—helps us provide care, dignity, and opportunity for those we serve.

There are many ways to be part of this mission. Monetary donations help sustain and expand our programs, in-kind donations provide essential supplies and resources, and volunteers bring compassion, skills, and human connection to the heart of our work.

Please explore the tabs below to learn more about donating, giving in-kind, or volunteering at Virgil’s House.

Click a link to get started—because together, we make sure hope truly lives here.

Thank you to everyone who joined us for Tina’s memorial.


It was a beautiful day filled with laughter, love, and stories that captured her spirit so perfectly. My family and I are deeply grateful for every hug, every memory shared, and every bit of kindness you’ve shown during this time. We also want to thank you for your ongoing support of the work she cared so deeply about — helping those who had less, giving without hesitation, and reminding people that they mattered. Knowing her legacy continues through the compassion of others brings us tremendous comfort.

Thank you for honoring her life, her heart, and her purpose.

Three people standing outside near a brick wall, smiling and holding drinks, dressed in business casual attire
Floral border of five purple tulips with green leaves on a light background. Text in the center reads: "Join Us in Honoring Tina Powell".

Come gather with us as we celebrate the extraordinary life of Tina Powell — beloved Wife, Mother, Nana/”Nana Bananas”, “Little Woman,” and the passionate visionary behind The Powell Family Foundation.

On Sunday. September 21st from 2--5pm at Southpointe- with food & refreshments. Tina’s legacy is rooted in compassion, dignity, and service to others. Her spirit lives on in every act of kindness we carry forward.

Join friends, family, and community members as we reflect on her joy-filled life, her deep love for others, and the mission she leaves behind — one dedicated to uplifting those experiencing homelessness and hardship with heart, equity, and hope.

There will be light refreshments, shared stories, and the unveiling of initiatives inspired by Tina’s charitable legacy — a legacy that will continue to bloom in the lives she touched.

✨ Because love like hers doesn’t end — Just like her flowers it grows.

A smiling middle-aged man in a dark suit, white shirt, and striped tie standing next to a smiling middle-aged woman in a black sleeveless dress, holding a drink. They are at an event with a backdrop that says 'National Life' and 'Annual Ball'.

Reach Out!

Want to collab? Want to help? Have an idea? This is the place!

I am going to say ahead of time that IF you are emailing me to redesign this website and/or this is not related to our mission… shame on you (do not bother wasting your time or ours)- this is for those that are willing to “Step up,” to uplift our community-not unwanted solicitation!