Kalyn Hardy, a patient care technician on 4 Cathcart at PAH, knows that sometimes all you need to get on the right path is a gentle push and some enthusiastic support. While volunteering at the Community Arts Center in Delaware County, Hardy met Debby Yoder, the center’s executive director. Yoder became her mentor, cultivating her passion for service and inspiring her to further her education. They maintained their friendship for over a decade until Yoder passed away in 2018. To honor her mentor’s memory and help other young women build bright futures, Hardy created the Nurturing our Lady Achievers (NOLA) Foundation.
NOLA aims to empower underserved young women to achieve their goals, serve their communities, and build their leadership skills. Through the proceeds from t-shirt sales, Hardy developed a scholarship fund (named for Yoder) to help defray the costs of educational and professional development. Since 2019, she has helped two young women go to college and assisted another in paying for her LSW exam. As the non-profit grows, she is eager to help more women start businesses, attend trade schools, and pursue opportunities that previously seemed out of reach.
NOLA is also focused on helping individuals make healthy choices. Hardy recently used a Penn Medicine CAREs grant to host a wellness drive. After discovering that rates of sexually transmitted diseases were on the rise in Chester, she partnered with her local urgent care center to distribute free testing kits.
Between COVID-19 closures, barriers to resources, and feelings of discomfort, Hardy recognized that many of her neighbors may not feel like it’s necessary or worth it to get tested for STDs. The convenient, at-home testing kits encouraged participants to take control of their health. She also provided snacks, condoms, and information about sexual health and general wellness. Community members who stopped by were also invited to participate in a raffle for a $100 gift card.
“One woman came in to get a kit and information on safe sex for her son, and she said she was really grateful to have access to free resources,” Hardy said. “Giving back is so important. It creates change. It makes us more united in such a divided time. If we all play a small role, together we can do great things.”
To support NOLA, contact Hardy at (484) 479-7382. Learn how to fund your own outreach with a Penn Medicine CAREs grant by visiting PennMedicine.org/Community.