History of CONTACT Altoona
A group of concerned Christians, recognizing the need for Helpline telephone service in Blair County caused CONTACT Altoona to begin in 1981 as a project of the City Union of United Methodist Churches. City Union contributed $3,000.00 seed money to provide funding for recruitment, training and publicity. The first training classes began March 1, 1982. By September 1, 1982, eighty-five telephone workers had been trained and commissioned. Since its inception, CONTACT Altoona has continuously provided Helpline services in the community through dedicated and well-trained volunteers. With the foundation of Helpline services, CONTACT Altoona’s programs and services have expanded to include Reassurance Calls, Information and Referral, PA 2-1-1 services, all in addition to the Two telephone lines have been in operation since that time.CONTACT Altoona Timeline
40 Years Serving Blair County
- City Union of the United Methodist Churches of Altoona donate seed money for CONTACT Altoona
- Jean Zeisloft appointed Volunteer Executive Director
- First Training Class commissioned 84 phone volunteers
- Answered first call on September 1st
- First Editors of the newsletter called “Toon In” were Marcia Rose Fuoss and Molly Miller
- Jean Zeisloft continued as Volunteer Executive Director
- 18 new volunteers in Spring Classes
- Tom Klevan, Sr. became President of the Board of Directors
- Annual Picnic and “Phone Friend” began
- United Way made first donation of $1,000
- Volunteers handled 6,690 Helpline calls and 748 TTY Calls
- Jean Zeisloft retired
- 30 new volunteer phone workers began
- Ernie Wissinger hosted summer picnic at his home
- 43 New phone workers began
- Tom Walther hired as first paid Executive Director
- Farewell Dinner for Zeislofts
- 4,305 calls answered
- James Gatehouse new Board of Directors President
- First Art Auction held at Eldolyn Terrace
- Peggy Spengler new Executive Director
- Tom Klevan, Jr. new President of Board of Directors
- United Way support increased to $6,200
- Phyllis Hauenstein new Executive Director
- Larry Hite new President of the Board of Directors
- Collaboration with Home Nursing, Blair County Mental Health and Blair County Human Services
- Art Auction
- Summer Picnic at Legion Park
- Reassurance Program begins
- First $1,000 grant from Huntingdon Presbytery
- Peg Landis chosen for first Spirit of CONTACT Altoona Award
- Mental Health Reassurance calls begin in connection with the Altoona Hospital
- Lisa Rose new Board of Directors President
- Spence Hauenstein recipient of Spirit of CONTACT USA Award
- Helpline and Reassurance calls total 15,152
- 7th Annual Art Auction profits $11,000
- Dona Wilt recognized by Met-Life with a donation of $2,500 to CONTACT Altoona
- Alice Quay chosen as YWCA Woman of the Year
- Provided bereavement help for those who had lost a loved one in collaboration with Home Nursing Agency and Altoona Hospital, assisted by Altoona Area Clergy and Keystone Funeral Directors Association
- Tod Martin new Board of Directors President
- Alice Goodfellow YWCA Tribute to Woman, Honoree
- CONTACT Altoona received full accreditation
- Jo Miller new Board of Directors President
- Jan Leopold hired as Executive Director
- Carolyn Snow new Board of Directors President
- Paula Craw completes first year as Executive Director
- CONTACT Altoona celebrated 20th Anniversary
- Terriann Grove hired as Full-Time Executive Director
- Mental Health increases funding by $25,000 for CST
- Heidi Rexford new Board of Directors President
- Spring Tea and Holiday Tea Fundraisers
- Funding began from HSDF for Aging Reassurance
- Terriann Grove awarded the Four Way Test Award by the Rotary Club
- Bonnie Miller new Board of Directors President
- 33 new telephone workers
- Verizon granted $10,000
- Combined with NAMI for Outback Fundraiser Dinner
- Boscovs Gala Preview Fundraiser
- Bonnie Miller and daughter, Heather Hiott update Info & Referral Manual
- Received $500 donation from Bristol Myers Squibb due to manual above
- CONTACT Altoona celebrated 25th anniversary
- Calls in FY 2006-2007 reach 16,696.
- CONTACT Altoona received full accreditation from CONTACT USA
- Dana Shade new Board of Directors President
- An Evening with Mike Reid Fundraiser
- Cookbook Fundraiser began
- Spaghetti Dinner Fundraiser
- First Summer Shift Showdown
- Operation Our Town Grant
- Spaghetti Dinner Fundraiser
- Grants received for partnership with 2-1-1
- Spaghetti Dinner Fundraiser
- Mike Reid in Concert Fundraiser
- 19th Annual United Way Day of Caring had 3 employees from Peoples Natural Gas and 1 employee from Ward Trucking do landscaping and “spring-clean” our Administrative Offices
- 2nd Summer Shift Showdown
- Received $2,000 Competitive Grant from Central Pennsylvania Community Foundation (CPCF)
- Received $500 Grant from LBC Alumni We Care
- Grand Slam Sports Raffle Fundraiser
- Gary Reid new Board of Directors President
- Grand Slam Sports Raffle Fundraiser
- Sunrise Rotary Spaghetti Dinner Fundraiser
- Altoona Symphony Fundraiser
- Mike Reid in Concert Fundraiser for CONTACT Altoona’s 34th year
- Candy Bar Fundraiser
- Received Grant of $500 from Blair County Health and Welfare Council
- Penn State FB Fundraiser
- 12 Days of CONTACT Christmas Fundraiser
- Received full accreditation from ICH
- Heidi Rexford new Board of Directors President
- Monthly Game Nights Fundraiser started but halted due to COVID-19
- Received $5,000 Grant from Pennsylvania Skills Charitable Organization
- Received $500 Grant from Rotary Club of Altoona
- Duncansville Community Days Fundraiser
- PowerHouse Subs Fundraiser
- 12 Days of CONTACT Christmas Fundraiser
- CONTACT Altoona Celebrates 40th Anniversary