In The News

The Pittsburgh Promise is one of many programs aimed at improving educational outcomes, closing the achievement gap and removing cost barriers for young people to succeed. The Promise has seen firsthand the need to bolster learning and ambition in children as early as possible. In fact, kindergarten-readiness is a prerequisite to Promise-readiness in our urban schools.  

For it’s third year, 1Hood recently hosted 1Hood Day, a two-day festival that celebrates the hip hop culture in all its manifestations. 1Hood Day was built on the idea of uniting family, the community and music. Based in knowledge of self, on this day, the organization honored all the pillars of hip hop, including MCing, DJing, B-boying, and graffiti. Funding for the The Pittsburgh hip hop collective was provided by the Advancing Black Arts in Pittsburgh Program, a partnership of The Pittsburgh Foundation and The Heinz Endowments. New Pittsburgh Courier

The fund, administered in part by the United Way of Westmoreland County, was initially used to help pay medical expenses for students injured in the attack, and helped fund crisis counseling. Following the attack — in which then-16-year-old Alex Hribal is charged with injuring 20 students and a school guard — more than $130,000 in donations poured in for the fund. More than $34,000 remaining in the account was used by the Community Foundation of Westmoreland County to establish the scholarship fund.

The 16-hour, one-day online giving event appeared to operate smoothly in the Alle-Kiski Valley on Wednesday.

More than 820 nonprofit organizations participated in Wednesday's rescheduled Day of Giving coordinated by The Pittsburgh Foundation, four months after the original event flopped amid nationwide technical failures. The reboot of Western Pennsylvania's largest single giving event spurred sector-wide enthusiasm, social media blitzes and financial boosts for nonprofits across Allegheny, Butler and Westmoreland counties. “We had no glitches, no system problems, very few calls from confused or frustrated donors,” The Pittsburgh Foundation CEO Max King said late-afternoon.

Hawn, 70, shared the story of her personal bout with depression to convey her message that all types of people struggle with mental health issues and can benefit by learning skills to cope with life's complex problems. The A-list celebrity headlined the “Be Inspired” fundraiser benefitting the emergency shelter and support services of Bethlehem Haven, a women's homeless shelter in Uptown. The fundraiser also honored two individuals whom board members say have been the most important people to Bethlehem Haven's progress: Dr. Edward J.

UpPrize—the social innovation challenge created by The Forbes Funds—is back after making its stellar debut last year.

Thirty years have turned what seemed like a good idea into the steadiest jazz program in the area. Back in 1987, a newbie named Marty Ashby put together his first few jazz programs at the Manchester Craftsmen's Guild on the North Side. Early visits by stars such as Ahmad Jamal led to a series that, year after year, has brought in Branford Marsalis, Nancy Wilson, Dizzy Gillespie and Billy Taylor. As it celebrates its 30th season, the guild is staying true to its heritage with concerts that open Sept. 23 and 24 by Grammy-nominated singer, composer and pianist Michael Feinstein.

Marcel Walker has completed two issues so far. This year, he received an Advancing Black Arts in Pittsburgh grant to make the third, which is scheduled to come out in January.

Foundation officials are hoping a do-over from 8 a.m. to midnight on Wednesday won’t result in any technical difficulties. Listen to the audio version here.