For Frances and Dr. Alexander Minno, setting up a fund at The Pittsburgh Foundation was a way of extending the efforts they’d already begun.

“We’ve been charitably inclined in many areas, especially to the University of Pittsburgh, and we decided we’d broaden the scope of our charitable interests,” said Dr. Minno, a retired rheumatologist. “We can broaden our giving through The Pittsburgh Foundation.  Every year we can give to the various charitable interests we have.”

“It seems like a very organized way of doing things,” said Frances, a Harvard Law School graduate who is a retired assistant vice president in Mellon Bank’s legal department.  “Donors are able to attend meetings with important members of the community and learn about areas we otherwise wouldn’t be in touch with.”

Through the Minno Family Fund at The Pittsburgh Foundation, the Shadyside couple has helped with the preservation of St. Paul’s Cathedral in Oakland as part of the 100th anniversary of the consecration of the edifice in 1906. 

The historical significance of St. Paul’s is great.  It is the third cathedral Pittsburgh's diocese. The first, on Fifth Ave. and Grant St. Downtown, was destroyed by fire in 1851.  It was rebuilt but was badly damaged due to reconstruction of city streets.  Oakland was then chosen for a grand, Gothic cathedral made of chiseled limestone.

The multi-faceted, complete restoration of what is known as “The Mother Church of the Diocese of Pittsburgh” has included strengthening the towers and exterior walls, improving the lighting, heating and cooling systems, cleaning the stained glass and the church interior and more.  Restoration of the St. Paul pipe organ is part of the next phase of the project.

“We’re members of the parish.  Our daughter was married there.  And we have many friends who live in the parish,” Frances said.  “We wanted to help.

We’ve had an excellent experience with The Pittsburgh Foundation. Our donor services officer lets us know how much we have to give out each year.”