City Proclamation for PHLF

Councilwoman Natalia Rudiak and City Council presented a proclamation on June 23 to PHLF for its “Building Pride/Building Character” Trolley Tour that connects third-grade students with local government through a visit to Council Chambers and meeting with their Council representative and staff. Representatives from the Pittsburgh Public Schools, PHLF, and partnering organizations accepted the proclamation on behalf of more than 4,300 third-grade students who have participated in the program since 2007.

“The City-County Building is the first stop in our six-hour fieldtrip adventure,” said PHLF’s Executive Director Louise Sturgess. Students have the chance to meet and talk with their Council Representative who leads them in the Pledge of Allegiance. They also stop by the Mayor’s office to say “hello” and to see the portraits of all of Pittsburgh’s mayors. After visiting the Allegheny County Courthouse (and sometimes meeting the County Executive or judges), students board Molly’s Trolleys and drive to Point State Park, where they tour the Fort Pitt Museum and Fort Pitt Block House. The tour culminates in a ride up the Duquesne Incline, walk along Grandview Avenue to the “Points of View Statue,” and ride back down the incline.

Each historic landmark is associated with “character-building words,” and students try to be like the City-County Building (respectful, responsible, tolerant, proud); the Allegheny County Courthouse (robust, dignified, impressive); Fort Pitt Museum (disciplined, loyal); Fort Pitt Block House (a survivor, adaptable, caring); and Duquesne Incline (ingenious, cooperative, courageous).

PHLF created its “Building Pride/Building Character” Trolley Tour in 2007 as one of the field-trips and in-school activities available to some Pittsburgh Public Schools through the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) Program. Since 2007, PHLF has involved a total of 4,336 third-grade students and their teachers from 20 different Pittsburgh Public Schools.

Teachers and students often describe the Trolley Tour as “their favorite day of the year.”

To learn more about PHLF’s EITC program, click here.