The Pittsburgh Promise receives largest pledge from an individual
The Pittsburgh Promise Receives Largest Pledge from an Individual –
Campaign Co-Chair and Community Leaders Marty and Ann McGuinn
PITTSBURGH, December 20, 2013 – The Pittsburgh Promise today announced that it has received a landmark individual scholarship fund pledge of $1 million from community leaders Marty and Ann McGuinn. This is the single largest gift made by an individual to The Pittsburgh Promise.
In April, Pittsburgh Promise Board Chairman Franco Harris announced Phase II of the organization’s fund development effort called, “Now Fulfilling The Promise for Years to Come.” At that time, he also announced that Marty McGuinn, retired Chairman and CEO of Mellon Financial Corporation, and David Shapira, Executive Chairman of Giant Eagle, Inc., would serve as co-chairs of the institutional campaign component, which is designed to appeal to regional corporations and foundations, and their leaders.
Commenting about the McGuinns’ special pledge, Promise Executive Director Saleem Ghubril said, “This is a remarkable individual investment by Marty and Ann McGuinn who are also generously giving their time and talent as part of this campaign to improve the life prospects of our children, the quality of culture in our city, and the economic vitality of our region. They are setting a remarkable example of leadership, service, and incredible generosity. And I am deeply grateful.”
With $80 million more to be raised to reach The Promise’s $250 million goal, Marty McGuinn announced his vision of completing Phase II in two years, instead of by the original date of 2018. He stated in April, “With nearly two-thirds of the funds already in place, fulfilling The Promise’s financial goals in this final stage will help to secure it for at least the next 20 years. This challenge will require attracting funding from a range of companies, major gifts from individuals, and more donations from the community-at-large.”
During the past five years, The Promise has invested approximately $42 million in scholarships to support more than 4,600 high school graduates who enrolled in over 100 different post-secondary public and private colleges and universities, career training companies, and vocational and trade programs in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
About The Pittsburgh Promise
The Pittsburgh Promise, a scholarship program for Pittsburgh Public School students, advocates for improving the quality of education and increasing the preparedness and diversity of the region’s workforce. Pittsburgh has the largest Promise program in the United States. For more information about The Pittsburgh Promise, visit www.pittsburghpromise.org
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