Community Commitment

Barner Family Project

When Ron Barner, Financial Advisor at our Downtown Greensburg office, was recently honored and recognized by First Commonwealth as the Golden Tower Award winner in April 2008 for his many contributions to his community, he forgot to mention what a fine role model he and his wife Kim have been for their two children.

Kelsey Barner, 15, and Taylor Barner, 17, just published a 155-page book of cancer survivor stories entitled, “In Their Own Words.”

The Barner Family of Murrysville: Kelsey (top), Taylor (left), Kim and Ron (right)

The project was inspired after the siblings were selected to attend an American Cancer Society Youth Summit. The idea was to create the book as a fund-raiser for each of their Relay for Life teams... but it turned out to be a lot more.

They began to ask cancer survivors and caregivers alike to share their inspirational stories. Soon, the media heard about the project and the teens were featured on local TV and newspapers throughout the Pittsburgh area. And the Barner family project attracted national media attention, too!  The story was recently highlighted as interview segment that aired on the Glenn Beck Show on CNN (http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/bestoftv/2008/07/23/gb.real.america.cnn).

The book has been a project of love for the entire family – all long-time cancer fund-raising participants of the Relay for Life in Murrysville. Although the book is copyrighted by Kelsey Barner and initiated with her own personal money ($1,500), she claims to have had equal help from her brother and parents in bringing the project to completion.

At First Commonwealth, we encourage our employees to give back and to make a difference in the communities in which we live and work. And the Barner family has done exactly that. 

Today we proudly salute the entire Barner family – Kelsey, Taylor, Kim and Ron – for their initiative, hard work and awe inspiring efforts to help others in need.

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