Building Pride in the Kids––That’s What It’s All About!

PHLF member Russ Coe (1916 – 2017), who generously donated to PHLF’s educational and neighborhood revitalization programs, always reminded Executive Director Louise Sturgess that our main goal in education was to “build pride in the kids!” PHLF does just that, through field trips for many school groups and other creative programs year-round, serving more than 5,000 young people.

Between May 1 and June 8, PHLF led 21 walking tours for school students, 9 full-day bus tours, 2 mural-making activities, and 1 full-day trolley tour (including an oral-history program with SLB Radio). In addition, PHLF published Neighborhood Stories, Including Mine, by fourth-grade students from Pittsburgh Colfax; made its Portable Pittsburgh kit available to two schools; welcomed four new summer volunteer interns; and selected ten college-bound students for scholarship or honorable mention awards!

After participating in a full-day field trip with PHLF, a teacher from Pittsburgh Colfax wrote: “This was the first (and maybe only time) that most of our third-grade students had visited the places we toured today. They all felt proud of where they live and were treated as people who are respected and expected to do great things.”

A teacher from Pittsburgh Greenfield added: “Thank you donors! What a gift of knowledge to the students. And the fact that this opportunity comes at no cost to our city school is a gift to the teachers and parents.”

We thank the McSwigan Family Foundation and corporate donors for generously contributing to our educational programs so they are affordable––or provided at no cost, thanks to the state’s Educational Improvement Tax Credit Program.