Former Carmichaels native singing to raise money for Cystic Fibrosis Foundation

A Carmichaels native is keeping in sync with raising awareness of cystic fibrosis by singing at a benefit show she organized to help raise money for the disease.
Gina Rendina will perform from 9 p.m. to midnight Saturday at Eddie’s Tavern on Francis Street in Uniontown.
“I love to sing, that’s who I am,” said Rendina, who currently resides in Pittsburgh.
Katelyn Heinbaugh of Connellsville, who is diagnosed with cystic fibrosis, will be speaking at the event on how the disease has changed her life.
“I’ve met mothers of children and I’ve met children (with CF) so it makes you want to raise more money,” said Rendina. “It makes you think of your life and how lucky you are.
“The other thing about CF that is intriguing to me is that they are finding a cure and there are very few causes that can say that, she added.”
Rendina, 35, was named as one of Pittsburgh’s 50 Finest in March by the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and WHIRL Magazine, which she will be featured in the August issue.
The foundation’s yearly “finest” includes 50 of the city’s most accomplished men and women selected on the basis of their activity in the community and success in their careers.
Each of the honorees is committed to raising as much money as possible for foundation as they turn to friends, family, co-workers, and the Pittsburgh community to help them exceed their minimum goal of $3,000 each and vie for the top spot.
Rendina said she was nominated by Dana Rakes, a previous “finest” nominee and Doc Mendelson, a Pittsburgh business owner, who are both active in the foundation.
Rendina, who works at Bank of New York Mellon, performs at weddings, private events and various outdoor festivals in Pittsburgh throughout the year, including at the Rivers Casino.
According to Rendina, her passion to sing evolved from the time she could talk coming from a family with music talent on both sides.
“I grew up when Madonna, Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston were big influences,” said Rendina.
Rendina is a daughter of Joseph Rendina of Masontown and Loralee (Lolli) Sabatini Rendina of Pittsburgh and a granddaughter of Kay Rendina also of Masontown.
According to Rendina, her dad played the drums while an uncle and his cousin each played in a band in Uniontown and at the Pennsylvania State University where they attended college.
Initially raised on a farm, Rendina said her parents moved to Uniontown when she was 12 years-old while she attended St. John’s Roman Catholic School where she was a member of the madrigal choir.
It was there that Rendina said her choir teacher inspired her love of singing when he gave her a VHS tape of Barbara Streisand’s 1968 musical film, “Funny Girl.”
During high school, Rendina said she attended Laurel Highlands School District and Geibel Catholic High School before graduating in 1997 from the Mercersburg Academy.
Rendina then spent the next one-and-a-half years at New York University as a classical voice major with hopes of making it to Broadway, but found it too competitive.
“It was not the style I was into because it was Opera and I was more into pop and rock and always wanted to be in a band,” Rendina said.
Rendina moved back to Pennsylvania seven years ago and attended Penn State where she sang in a country band and performed at several summer festivals until she graduated in 2001 with a political science degree.
From there, Rendina continued to sing with the Pittsburgh band “Airborne,” for several years, which includes Jeff Jimerson best known as the national anthem for the Pittsburgh Penguins.
At the same time, Rendina also sang in the wedding band “Sputzy.”
Several years ago Rendina said she also auditioned for “The X-Factor” and “The Voice” TV reality shows.
Eager to go solo, however, Rendina broke away from the bands about two years ago and started an acoustic duo with Jim Talarico who plays guitar.
“We do all covers- pop, rock, rhythm and blues,” said Rendina.
Rendina said she and Talarico average around 30 performances a year at various locations in Pittsburgh, but she also makes it a point to return to her roots in the Uniontown area twice a year.
Rendina has also set her sights on singing the national anthem at a Pittsburgh Pirates baseball game.
There is a $10 suggested donation to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation at the door for Saturday’s event.
Checks, made out to the foundation, may also be sent to the Pittsburgh office at 810 River Ave., Suite 100, Pittsburgh, PA 15212.
Information on Rendina can be found online at www.ginarendina.com or www.facebook.com/ginarendinamusic.