FA L L / W I N T E R 2 0 1 8 3 ON THE COVER More than a thousand people gathered at the corner of Forbes and Murray avenues in Squirrel Hill on Oct. 27, just hours after the shooting atTree of Life Synagogue for a vigil organized byTaylor Allderdice High School students. See the story on page 6. and gift cards, and members of Team Rubicon, a veteran-based nonprofit specializing in disaster relief, set up a command post. JULY 12: Less than a month after 17-year-old Antwon Rose was shot to death fleeing an East Pittsburgh police officer, after a series of public protests drew hundreds, and after the officer was charged in his death, neighbors in his home community of Rankin came together to celebrate what would have been Rose’s 18th birthday. “We’ve asked people not to protest,” Nathanial Carter, a pastor and community organizer told NEXTpittsburgh. “Just come and celebrate his life. Celebrate being together.” SEPT. 7: Pittsburgh native Malcolm “Mac Miller” McCormick died at age 26 of a drug overdose in his Los Angeles home. Following his death, his family established the Mac Miller Circles Fund at The Pittsburgh Foundation with the goal of providing programming, resources and opportunities to youth from underserved communities and enabling them to explore community building and the arts. In announcing a benefit concert held in Los Angeles in October for the fund, McCormick’s mother, Karen Meyers, thanked his fans and fellow music artists. “He was caring and loving … with a smile that could light up the sky and a soul that was out to make the world a kinder place, and the Circles Fund will continue to do just that.” OCT. 27: In response to the horrific shootings at Tree of Life Synagogue, millions of dollars were raised; celebrities, politicians and religious leaders offered condolences and made personal visits. Outside of the spotlight, though, was the art activism project undertaken by a Facebook group, Jewish Hearts for Pittsburgh. Members crafted more than 2,000 Stars of David — crocheted, leather-sewn, knitted and embroidered — fitted with hearts in the middle and hung by a team of 40 volunteers in locations across the city. NOV. 7: Despite one of the most mean-spirited and polarizing mid-term election seasons in modern history, at least 100 million American voters went to the polls, the highest turnout for a mid-term in more than a century. In Allegheny County, 58 percent of registered voters cast ballots, 18 points higher than for 2014. And youth voting surged past 2014 numbers: three times higher at the University of Pittsburgh and four times higher at Penn State’s main campus. DEC. 3: Each year at the beginning of the holiday period, we at The Pittsburgh Foundation offer a giving opportunity exclusive to donors who have established funds with us. It is presented as “The Wish Book,” a 63-page catalog that uses stories and photographs to feature 75 nonprofits chosen through a competitive process to list a “wish.” These can be fulfilled completely or partially by donors through grants ranging from a few hundred dollars to a maximum of $2,500. Joan Klein, who established with her late husband the Robert F. and Joan Marie Klein Fund in 2010, had focused on animals and faith-based institutions for donations — until she opened her Wish Book. She tells us she read every wish description and was so moved that she granted $55,000 to ensure that any unfilled wishes are fully funded. “When it comes down to it, we have to help as many people as we can in this world,” she told us. In his brief remarks at a cold and rain-soaked rally for peace in Point State Park on Nov. 9, the actor Tom Hanks was referring to people like Joan Klein who demonstrate Pittsburgh character in trying times: “In these past weeks, America, and the world, has been a visitor to your Iron City. Pittsburgh has shown us what does come next [after times of struggle] — what good comes when the people of [the] Allegheny and the Monongahela show that they love their neighbors with no exceptions.” We thank all of you — donors, grantees, board and staff — who give our Foundation its Pittsburgh character each day, and we wish everyone in the region we serve a wonderful and peaceful holiday season. FA L L / W I N T E R 2 0 1 8 3 Edith Shapira board of directors, chair Maxwell King president & CEO