Elise M. McClung, pictured with her daughter, Anasjae, 10, at Grillin’ for a Cause, a fundraising cookout Elise organized for the Black and White Ball, which benefits families with emergency and ongoing needs. 46 100PercentPittsburgh STILLSTANDING E L I S E M . M c C L U N G I S M A N Y T H I N G S : amother,college student,schoolbusdriver,entrepreneur,volunteerand advocate.She’salsoasurvivor.Senttoagrouphomeat 14andemancipatedfromhermotherat16,shebecamea motherherselfat20,escapedanabusiverelationshipat23 andlostherfiancéat27.Shelivesinacomfortablehomein TurtleCreek,about12milessoutheastofPittsburgh,where she’sworkingtofinishherpsychologydegreeandraiseher 10-year-olddaughter,Anasjae.Inherlimitedsparetime,she runsatravelcompany,planseventsandvolunteersforseveral nonprofits.She’sburstingwithbusinessideasandwaysto helpothers,andrecentlylaunchedaself-styledoutreach organizationcalled“Still Standing” that offers several support services, including donatedclothingdeliveryand transportationtoToysforTots. McClungisasinglewomanraisingachild — ademographic category with about 30,000 members in Allegheny County. Familiesinthisgroupareamongthemostlikelytolivein poverty, according to an Urban Institute report funded byThe Pittsburgh Foundation. Seventy-seven percent of households experiencing poverty in Allegheny County are headed by single women. Elise and her daughter receive medicalcareandsocialservicesthroughChildren’sHospital ofPittsburghFamilyCareConnectionEastinTurtleCreekand childcarefromtheAlleghenyFamilyNetwork.Aspartofits 100PercentPittsburghinitiative,ThePittsburghFoundation iscommittedtolisteningtowomenlikeElise,understanding theirstrengths,challengesandday-to-dayexperiences,and targetingsupporttononprofitsthathelpwomenandfamilies meettheirbasicneeds.HereisElise’sstory. ‌