Rooted in Grace, Driven by Purpose

For Chris and Teresa, the roots of their generosity run as deep as their southwestern Pennsylvania personal histories, including how they first met.

Their paths converged one Friday night at a legendary downtown spot, Froggy’s. Chris was from Latrobe; Teresa was from Penn Hills. Each was out with their own group of friends, and a conversation sparked a connection. They discovered they had much in common, and a first date soon followed. From that chance meeting, a lifelong partnership was born — one built on mutual respect, shared faith and a quiet determination to make a difference.

Their journey into charitable giving wasn't sparked by a single, dramatic moment. Instead, it was a natural extension of who they are. "We have been blessed with [Chris’s] successful career," Teresa explained. "So we've been able to afford to be generous givers to people that haven't had the fortune that we've had."

Chris agreed. "We're judged by our actions and our deeds. We like being from Pittsburgh, we're proud of our community, and I think we have a responsibility to give back to that."

As their capacity for giving grew, they started where most people do: with causes close to their hearts. Donations went to Catholic causes, their alma maters, veterans' organizations in honor of Chris's military service, and medical research for diseases that had touched their family and friends.

While these personal connections were meaningful, Chris and Teresa began to feel a desire to broaden their impact. They recognized that their personal experiences only showed them a small slice of the community's needs. The sheer number of organizations and the scope of issues like hunger felt daunting. "The more you look, the more overwhelming it can be," Chris said. "You need some help refining and putting a plan together to actually take action. Otherwise, you kind of have paralysis by analysis."

This desire for a more strategic, informed approach led them to The Pittsburgh Foundation. The decision was practical—there were tax benefits to establishing a fund—but it quickly evolved into a vital partnership.  

"We've been able to lean on them as a resource to help guide us," Chris said. "To help us identify where the needs of the community are, to learn about how we can make an impact with our giving."

Teresa found the guidance invaluable. "The support of having the knowledge from The Pittsburgh Foundation has been helpful for us to think about it and be more organized," she said.  

For Chris and Teresa, giving is not a detached, calculated act; it's a fundamental part of their nature. "I don't know why you wouldn't if you could,” Teresa said. “It's just part of our nature... That's just what we do." 

Those meetings focused Chris and Teresa on basic needs, including housing, food access, childcare and health services. "It just made sense that this is what we're doing anyway. Whenever people don't have that need, you are like, 'How can that be?' You just want to help. It's empathy, I guess would be the biggest word for me."

This realization prompted a significant donation last November to fill funding gaps for more than a dozen area organizations providing basic needs assistance. They became more aware of the growing strain on these nonprofits, especially as federal budget cutbacks reduced funding that these organizations received to provide the community with services and benefits. They wanted to ensure that the people on the front lines could not only provide for others but also keep their own lights on. For Chris, it’s about drawing clear lines to support the community. "You can send a sign to the organizations that you're supporting them and to keep up the fight," he said. “As [former Steelers head coach] Mike Tomlin says; ‘Put your hand in the pile.’"

Beyond their own giving, Chris and Teresa are focused on using their fund with the Foundation to create a simple way to instill these values in their two sons, Sam, 25, and Christian, 23.

The Foundation helped them onboard Sam as a successor advisor, giving him the ability to recommend his own grants from the family fund. Sam has already identified needs on his own and initiated grants, while Christian is also becoming more aware of opportunities to give. "When they see some need, I think it's in the front of their minds," Teresa said. "It's a great way to start them on the same path."