Pittsburgh Promise Exceeds Fundraising Goal
Posted July 2, 2009 // 2 Comments // add yours
The Pittsburgh Promise exceeds annual $15 million
fundraising goal in its first year
Foundations, businesses, families
and individuals rally to support
scholarship program in
“worst fundraising environment for a generation”
PITTSBURGH, Pa., July 1, 2009 – The Pittsburgh Promise today announced that it has exceeded its annual $15 million fundraising goal in its first year. For the 12-month period ending June 30, 2009, the scholarship program received contributions totaling $15,168,226 and additional donations received this week are still being processed.
Saleem Ghubril, Executive Director of The Pittsburgh Promise, heralded the completion of the Promise’s first fundraising year as “an historic milestone for this vital program.” He added: “It is cause for great celebration. I am honored, thankful and deeply moved that our fundraising effort has inspired our broad community to unite in support of the Promise, especially in such difficult economic times.”
The success of the Promise’s first year was especially significant since it was achieved “during the worst fundraising environment for a generation,” said Grant Oliphant, President and CEO of The Pittsburgh Foundation, which oversees The Pittsburgh Promise.
“This is an outstanding achievement,” he said. “I am delighted that our community has rallied to help the Promise surpass its first $15 million goal. In this depressed funding and economic climate the Promise has received unparalleled levels of support from local foundations. Individuals, families, and most recently corporations and businesses are also pledging their commitment to the program. With the help of so many active participants, Pittsburgh’s promise to its young people is being fulfilled.”
The $15 million raised by June 30 enables the Promise to receive the first full $10 million matching grant from UPMC, the program’s key funding partner, adding a total of $25 million to the program’s endowment.
“The Pittsburgh Promise is a perfect extension of UPMC’s vision to create a brighter future for western Pennsylvania,” said Robert J. Cindrich, Senior Vice President, UPMC, and Chief Legal Officer. ”So many other organizations in the community have stepped up to help make a collective difference, and we are thrilled to provide the next $10 million as part of UPMC’s commitment to the city and to the region.”
Two significant corporate gifts were recently made to the Promise, helping it to achieve its first-year goal. Highmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield gave a $1.5 million gift and PNC Corporation has made a $400,000 gift. In addition, recent gifts were received from the Hillman Foundation, Massey Charitable Trust, The Pittsburgh Foundation, Eden Hall Foundation and Hunt Foundation.
For the 2008/09 school year, the Promise has received a total of $13,053,958 from local foundations, most of which have made on-going annual funding commitments to the program; $2,004,517 from corporations and businesses; and $109,571 from families and individuals.
Contributions included nearly $800,000 from a total of 40 funds of individual donors at The Pittsburgh Foundation, and special recognition is also given to local media organizations which donated significant public service space, time and programming to promote the social and economic benefits of the Promise to the regional community.
“In addition we have received donations ranging from $5 to $500 from families whose children were among the first Pittsburgh Public Schools graduates to be awarded Promise scholarships,” said Saleem Ghubril. “This has been a truly widespread and inclusive community effort.”
The Promise also announced today that it is expanding its development infrastructure to strengthen its fundraising reach across the regional community with the formation of a ‘Committee of 100,’ a leadership group that will provide the stewardship for raising $50 million over the next nine years from Pittsburgh’s corporate community and general public.
David Shapira, Chairman, President and CEO of Giant Eagle, Inc., has agreed to co-Chair the Committee, which will comprise the region’s top influencers, including community and corporate leaders, who will play a key role in engaging broad-based support for the Promise as a developmental initiative for the region’s future workforce. The other co-Chair has yet to be named.
Additionally, the Promise will this summer appoint Kim Hammer to the new position of Director of Development. Ms. Hammer, currently Executive Vice President with the Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh Foundation, was previously Vice President of Development and Donor Services with The Pittsburgh Foundation where she served for 14 years.
“Removing the financial burden of post high school education, coupled with providing needed support systems, is helping to change the lives of many of our students,” said Saleem Ghubril. “This is a tremendous legacy we are creating for our children and for our community.”
The Pittsburgh Promise program was established at The Pittsburgh Foundation in December 2007 with a $100 million commitment from UPMC, including an initial $10 million to support the 2008 graduates from the School District. The remaining $90 million is a challenge grant ($10 million a year for nine years), intended to spur support and contributions from all sections of the community to raise an additional $135 million ($15 million annually for nine years).
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FANTASTIC!!!
Never again, will I ever, ever question the capacity of our community and the Pittsburgh Foundation to get the job done. Who would have thought, in such a difficult period that our community and the Pittsburgh Foundation would not only meet, but exceed the goal? I have to admit, not me. But as I said before . . . never, ever again!
Comment by John Denny // July 2, 2009
Cool site, love the info.
Comment by Bill Bartmann // September 3, 2009