In The News

Five dogs, at a total cost of $110,000, have been funded locally. Three were funded by philanthropists who have established Pittsburgh Foundation funds: the family of retired Steelers star Troy Polamalu; Robinson businessman Scott Noxon; and retired Peters businessman Joseph Fairbanks, a Navy veteran who works with organizations that help veterans. The Pittsburgh Foundation donated $44,000 for the other two.  

“Pittsburgh has such a rich history, and August Wilson shared his personal story and Pittsburgh’s with the world,” says Janera Solomon, executive director of the Kelly Strayhorn Theater, who led the charge to salvage the center. She encourages people “to come together to contribute to our cultural legacy with music, dance, storytelling and art... Our cultural community is an important part of the city’s growth, and a center that brings people together matters.”  

When leaders from approximately 48 Pennsylvania-based foundations gathered in State College in April for the Council on Foundations’ Pennsylvania Philanthropy Conference, the negative effects of the state’s infamous nine-month budget impasse on human service delivery were painfully fresh. A new survey of Foundation leaders explores if and how philanthropy could use new or existing public policy channels to benefit nonprofits.  

Community Foundation of Westmoreland County officials saw how two prior foundation grants were used with money from the all-volunteer New Kensington/Arnold Social in the Park group to replace pavilions at New Kensington's Memorial Park as well as a revamped tot lot playground at Arnold's Roosevelt Park.   

It costs $22,000 to train a dog. Several Pittsburgh groups and businesses, like the Pittsburgh Foundation and PNC Bank have joined in the effort. There is already full funding for another three dogs that will be paired with local veterans in the fall.

“It's a big deal,” said Kate Dewey, president of The Forbes Funds, the nonprofit consulting arm of The Pittsburgh Foundation. “The intent is to be able to not only create some more transparency but accountability.”

I escaped a civil war in Lebanon, and I don’t want to see one start here.  

The Advancing Black Arts in Pittsburgh grants program, a partnership between The Pittsburgh Foundation and The Heinz Endowments, has awarded $204,480 in grants to support artist projects and organizations presenting and producing in the fields of dance, film, music and other disciplines.

“Tracey has outstanding credentials as a lawyer and deep connections to the regional community. What I appreciate most about her is her level-headedness,” said Maxwell King, president and CEO of The Pittsburgh Foundation.  

The late Larry Werner, who played a crucial role advising many corporations in crisis situations and who, at Equibank and Ketchum Public Relations, shepherded the careers of dozens of PR practitioners, is being remembered through a new Light the Way 5K run/walk, scheduled for July 29 on Pittsburgh’s North Shore. The evening event will raise funds to help cancer patients make ends meet. Werner established plans for a charity, Larry’s Legacy Fund at the Pittsburgh Foundation, shortly before his 2014 passing from cancer.