When Mike Pelaia is not helping Altum and its customers achieve their missions, his passion is the Pittsburgh Steelers. And he figured out how to turn that passion into a way to give back.
Mike covers the Steelers as a writer for Steel Nation Association as well as other online and print publications. When Mike’s son was born in 2009, he had some medical issues that required hospitalization. Baby Benjamin was admitted and treated at Children’s Hospital Pittsburgh.
“We were eternally grateful for how we felt and how they took care of him. So, we wanted to give back,” Mike said. “We could give dollars but wanted to create a cause that would deliver more opportunity for the hospital.” With that inspiration, Mike decided to build a website – focused on the Steelers – but designed to raise money for Children’s Hospital. Initially, it was a paid membership site, where Steeler fans would sign up and the proceeds would be sent to Children’s Hospital once a year right around the holidays. As things progressed, Mike realized that he could do even more. He continued to have annual memberships, but he also attracted advertisers to increase donations to the hospital.
When Mike was contemplating his next career move, he wanted an opportunity that had purpose. “Creating the Steel Nation Association is something I take a lot of pride in. I wanted to do more of this at a professional level. It’s a big reason why I ended up here,” Mike added. “At Altum, I feel like we’re all part of something that’s a little bigger than all of us. That feeling has motivated me throughout the years.”
