This is the first in a series of "Right Here" columns about 20-something Pittsburghers who work at nonprofit organizations.

People in their 20s love the idea that they can make a difference. Perhaps this is why so many 20-somethings are enamored with Barack Obama, and perhaps this is why 20-somethings feel compelled to work for nonprofit organizations.

"I didn't set out to work in a nonprofit, it just kind of happened that way," said Leah Gally, a 24-year-old Shadyside resident and Pittsburgh native. "I've really been able to make it my own."

Ms. Gally is the public relations and events coordinator for Tickets for Kids, a nonprofit that gets tickets to arts, sporting, educational and cultural events and distributes them to low-income children. She says helping people out, especially kids, is satisfying.

"That's obviously the most rewarding part. It's nice to be able to make an impact."

And she says that feeling is obvious throughout the nonprofit community.

"I'm always amazed at the extent to which people are willing to go for the children they serve," she said.

Though this is her first job out of college, the Penn State graduate says she thinks Pittsburgh's "dedicated group of nonprofits ... would be hard to match elsewhere."

"Pittsburgh has great philanthropic roots," she said. "We have such a rich history of generous people and foundations. It's molded Pittsburgh into a city that can reach out and help unfortunate people."

Victoria Sieffert got into nonprofit work because she had no interest in becoming a starving artist.

She graduated from Duquesne University in 2006 with a degree in vocal performance, and she knew she had an interest in the arts. In her role as administrative coordinator for the Opera Theater of Pittsburgh, she gets to use her talents while still paying the bills.

"I pretty much do whatever needs to get done," Ms. Sieffert, 24, said. "That's a big thing with nonprofit stuff. ... There's really not a set job description."

While she does everything from maintaining the Web site to payroll to answering phones, she also gets to dip into the creative aspect of it.

She's performed in Opera Theater productions in the past, and she said she'll be singing in an upcoming show, "Djamileh."

"I'm a creative person, so this job is a good fit."

And, like Ms. Gally, she said that the nonprofit scene in Pittsburgh is something unique.

"It's wonderful that there are so many people out there [in Pittsburgh] who want to give back," Ms. Sieffert said.

Kelly O'Brien, a public relations associate for Jewish Family & Children's Service of Pittsburgh, is giving back to more than one Pittsburgh nonprofit.

Though she does "mostly media and communications" for JFCS Pittsburgh, a locally run agency that has operated out of Squirrel Hill for more than 70 years, she also works on weekends for Kayak Pittsburgh, a nonprofit that rents kayaks and canoes for use on the city's three rivers.

Ms. O'Brien, 29, is a native who attended Pittsburgh Allderdice High School. After attending Penn State and working in the corporate world in Florida, she returned to the Steel City in February. She said she knew she wanted to come home, but would only do it if she got a job with a nonprofit.

She said she likes her job at JFCS Pittsburgh because success is measured in the number of people and families helped.

Plus, she said, it's nice to be surrounded by her family again.

"It's great to discover the city as an adult," she said.