1,966 Thanks to 11 Corporations

Thanks to contributions from 11 corporations through the State’s Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) program, PHLF involved 12 Pittsburgh Public Schools in its “Building Pride/Building Character” program of field trips, art activities, and book-publishing projects this January through June 5. Total attendance for PHLF’s programs was 1,966 (including students and adults).

“All 1,966 students, teachers, and parents––and PHLF staff and docents––thank Huntington Bank, PNC Bank, BNY Mellon, Allegheny Technologies Incorporated, Frank B. Fuhrer Wholesale Company, ESB Bank, UPMC, Eat’n Park Hospitality Group, Inc., Hefren-Tillotson, Inc., Maher Duessel, CPA, and Bridges & Company, Inc. for their generous support,” said Louise Sturgess, Executive Director of PHLF.

“We are incredibly proud of the four books and seven stained glass windows that were created as a result of the field trips PHLF offered,” said Louise. PHLF worked with students from Pittsburgh West Liberty, Banksville, Colfax, and Phillips to publish books based on their experiences. Daviea Davis, a stained glass artist with the Pittsburgh Center for the Arts, worked with third-grade students from Pittsburgh Beechwood to create seven stained glass windows of their school, community, and city. “Teachers Tammy Schmidt and Marie Mrvos have always found ways to incorporate the arts into classroom learning,” said Louise, “and the windows and hallways of Pittsburgh Beechwood show the results of their vision. Each year, a new masterpiece is added and the students take pride in the fact that it is their work, as artists, that is being displayed.”

Below are five photos of the stained glass windows that will be hung in the main stair well and second-floor hall of Pittsburgh Beechwood.

PHLF also thanks Molly’s Trolleys, the City of Pittsburgh (particularly the City Council representatives), Allegheny County Courthouse security guards, the Fort Pitt Museum/Heinz History Center, Fort Pitt Block House, and Duquesne Incline for welcoming hundreds of students in April and May.

PHLF received more than 100 program evaluations from teachers and parents who participated in the “Building Pride/Building Character” field trips and activities: they were filled with positive comments and constructive suggestions. Here are just a few:

• “A big thank you to ALL of the businesses that continuously support PHLF’s efforts in educating our youth with programs such as this one. Without them, this program could not continue.”
• “The best field trip I’ve been on! Very informative and fun. A great way to learn about the great city of Pittsburgh.”
• “The students were engaged and excited for each destination within Pittsburgh. The vocabulary connections also helped to link the entire tour together and allowed the students to have a personal connection with what they saw.”
• “The activities were hands-on and based on authentic learning tied to real places.”
• “This program gives pride in one’s city as well as pride in oneself as a result of character building and knowledge of the surrounding world.”

PHLF is renewing its application and welcomes corporate contributions for the 2013-14 school year. For information click here or contact: louise@phlf.org; 412-471-5808, ext. 536.