"The city has done a lot for us," Theodora said.

"We've benefitted in a lot of ways, too," Troy added. "We're very grateful."

So are Steelers fans, which takes us to next month's event.

General admission tickets are either $10 (up to age 22 and 65-plus) or $20 (ages 23-64), while there are $300 Black & Gold tickets available that include a dinner and reception in the PNC Champion's Club, plus premium seating, a silent auction, swag bags and more.

Rooted in the Orthodox Church and inspired by the Civil Rights Movement, the Neighborhood Resilience Project aims to improve trauma-affected communities that deal with gun violence, poverty, racism, addiction and neglect.

In addition to food drives and backpack programs, the Neighborhood Resilience Project distributed more than 2,500 vaccines during the pandemic and features a free community health clinic.

"What's really important is the resilience," Troy said. "Carried out, it looks like independence."

As Theodora explained, the relationship traces back to around 2007, when she started working with Rev. Paul Abernathy, an Orthodox Christian priest in the area who was also a combat veteran of the Iraq war and had ample experience with PTSD.

With the organization gaining considerable steam, around 18 months ago the Polamalus and Rev. Abernathy began talking about holding an event to raise money. The only problem is that they didn't want to exclude anyone. So, they chose football.

"We knew in Pittsburgh we would get the support we needed to be able to accomplish something very special," Theodora said.

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