Proud to be from Pittsburgh: Children's Liver Association for Support Services

PITTSBURGH — A Pittsburgh-area nonprofit is working to not only help families in western Pennsylvania, but to connect people with resources across the country.

Tamera and Stephan Circle are co-presidents of the Children's Liver Association for Support Services, or CLASS. The association offers a hotline for families dealing with pediatric liver diseases and offers financial support.

CLASS also stocks a pantry for families on one of the transplant floors at UPMC Children's Hospital. In the pantry are donated items like snacks and juice that are given to families for free. That allows families to stay near their children in the hospital.

The Circles became involved in CLASS when their son, Jackson, was diagnosed with biliary atresia. At 8 weeks old, Jackson needed surgery to attach his liver to his small intestine. Now 2 and a half years old, Jackson visits the hospital with his parents to help refill the pantry and give back to the hospital where he spent so much time.

For more information about CLASS, visit their website at

or their Facebook page at

/.

Cox Media Group