Latest News
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Pittsburgh Public Schools Students Thank Businesses and EITC
PHLF is included on the list of “Educational Improvement Organizations” under the Educational Improvement Tax Credit Program offered by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. In the fall of 2010, seven businesses contributed a total of $29,140 to PHLF so eight Pittsburgh Public Schools could participate this year in our “Building Pride/Building Character” trolley tour, among other tours and activities. We thank the following for making our “Building Pride/Building Character” program possible:
We thank Mayor Luke Ravenstahl, Pittsburgh City Council representatives, security guards at the City-County Building and Courthouse, Molly’s Trolley, the Fort Pitt Museum, and Duquesne Incline for cooperating with us to make this program such a success.
- PNC Bank
- Equitable Gas Company, LLC
- Frank B. Fuhrer Wholesale Company
- ESB Bank
- Bridges & Company, Inc.
- Hefren-Tillotson, Inc.
- Allegheny Technologies
Here are a few of the many compliments we received from the students and teachers who took a full-day Molly’s Trolley tour with us this May, with stops at the City-County Building, Courthouse, Fort Pitt Museum, Fort Pitt Block House, Duquesne Incline, and “Points of View” statue on Grandview Avenue:
- “This is the best field trip I’ve ever been on and I’ve been teaching for 20 years. My students learn more from this trip than they could ever learn from a book. They talk about it for years afterwards. Thank you!” [Pittsburgh Dilworth]
- “Thank you for your generosity in making this possible. Many of my students would never have the opportunity to explore these treasures of Pittsburgh. They loved it. Getting to ride a trolley was just icing on a delicious cake!” [Pittsburgh Murray]
- “Please keep the Building Pride/Building Character program alive! Our children need to learn about the rich history our city holds through real-life experiences such as this! Thank you, PHLF!” [Pittsburgh Phillips]
- “Please provide funding so all Pittsburgh Public School students can benefit from this experience.” [Pittsburgh Morrow]
To support the Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation through this program, please visit the EITC’s Web site and complete the application (Appendix I EIO) found in the “EITC Business Guidelines.” Eligible businesses may receive tax credits equal to 75% of their contribution of only one year or 90% of their contribution if the business agrees to provide the same amount for two consecutive years.
For more information, contact Louise Sturgess (412-471-5808, ext. 536) at PHLF.
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Two Special Saturday Afternoon Tours: June 4 and June 25
There are just a few more spots available on “August Wilson’s Hill District Walking Tour,” on Saturday, June 4, from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Make your reservations. (see below). The free tour is based on PHLF’s recently published guidebook, August Wilson: Pittsburgh Places in His Life and Plays. Authors Laurence A. Glasco and Christopher Rawson will participate in the tour, along with Kimberly C. Ellis, Terri Baltimore, and PHLF docents, among others.
The tour begins and ends in Freedom Corner (Centre Avenue and Crawford Street), and includes visits inside St. Benedict the Moor Church, the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh––Hill District, the New Granada Theater, and Hill House Association.
On Saturday, June 25, from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m., explore the full-length of Grant Street, Pittsburgh’s grand civic boulevard. We’ll begin at PNC Firstside Park and hear about China Town (and sample a spring roll). After walking by skyscrapers, historic landmarks, and BNY Mellon Green, we’ll end up at Liberty Avenue with a view of the area from seven stories up. There is a $10 per person fee for this tour.
Reservations are required for both tours: marylu@phlf.org or 412-471-5808, ext. 527. Wear comfortable walking shoes and dress for the weather. Click here for a calendar of events and to register for these tours.
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Seven College Students Complete Internships With PHLF
We thank the following interns for volunteering with the Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation from January through April: Zachary Adams (University of Pittsburgh), Allison Ake (Duquesne University), Kelly Benninger (Carlow University), Colleen Gribbin (University of Pittsburgh), Elise Oberdick (Robert Morris University), Elena Ramsey (University of Pittsburgh), and Elizabeth Stoyle (University of Pittsburgh). They helped primarily with educational programs, publications, and research/archival activities. Read more about the internship of Elise Oberdick.
In addition, Michal Gould (Chatham University) has been assisting us with historical research. Julie Edwards (Kent State University graduate) and Megan Miller (University of Cincinnati) have been using their interior design skills to create new signage for a main street business in Leechburg, and have been a tremendous help with the “People Who Work to Improve Our Communities” career education program.
Beginning in May, PHLF welcomes a new group of about ten more college interns on an unpaid basis to help with summer educational programs, research activities, and preservation activities.
To learn more about PHLF’s internship program, click here.
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Student Reflects on Her Experience at PHLF
Elise Oberdick, a Robert Morris University Student, recently completed her internship with us. Below are a few sentiments on her experience at PHLF.
When searching for a nonprofit organization where I could complete my final internship, I had no idea how life altering my choice would be. Since my first day at the Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation to my last, I thoroughly enjoyed every second that I spent there.
I was fortunate enough to work on a multitude of projects that furthered my nonprofit business knowledge, and also had the opportunity to work directly with PHLF’s education department. This assisted me in developing skills necessary to realizing my passion––working with children.
One of the most fulfilling projects that I worked on while at PHLF was assisting with a new career education program for the Pittsburgh Public Schools titled, “People Who Work to Improve Our Communities.” I was able to see the program develop and help throughout all the stages. When the program was completed, I was also able to assist with presenting the program to fourth-grade students. This provided me with the opportunity to interact with the students, and to see how much work goes into developing an education program. I was so fortunate to be able to work so closely with the program and gained invaluable experience while doing so.
Another opportunity that PHLF provided to me was being able to assist on some of their many tours. These tours were such an amazing educational experience and they were probably my favorite aspect of my internship. I was able to work with many different age groups and gained knowledge about Pittsburgh that I had not previously known.
The experience that I have been fortunate enough to have while at PHLF has been unequaled in my undergraduate college career. I am so thankful for the opportunity that they provided to me.
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Career Education Program Inspires Students
PHLF staff, docents, and volunteers from AIAPittsburgh’s Young Architect’s Forum (YAF) presented an 80-minute career education program to 12 Pittsburgh Public Schools in April. Teachers commended the program, titled “People Who Work to Improve Our Community,” for “captivating the students, introducing them to jobs they did not know about, and driving home the point that they need to graduate from high school.”
Another teacher added: “Very few times can someone come in and grab the attention of all students. Every student was engaged and ready to learn and explore.”
Fourth-grade students learned about 16 professions through huge, full color posters and “tools of the trade.” They also toured the school (including the boiler room when possible) and discussed the surrounding neighborhood. They figured out how urban designers, architects, engineers, landscape architects, developers, contractors, electricians, HVAC technicians, plumbers, carpenters, stone masons, small-business owners, bankers, lawyers, preservationists, and public officials would have been involved in creating or improving their school or neighborhood.
“The real-life objects were great. They really gave the students an opportunity to ‘pretend’,” noted one teacher.
Another added: “The program allowed students to see how things actually work in the school and community.”
PHLF thanks:
- all the businesses who contributed photographs and information for use in the posters, and the “tools of the trade”;
- The Alfred M. Oppenheimer Memorial Fund of The Pittsburgh Foundation, The Fine Foundation, and McSwigan Family Foundation whose support of PHLF’s educational programs helped underwrite this new resource; and
- Joanna Beres, Valerie McDonough, Jenna Cramer, Phillips Iarrapino, and its docents and college interns (see below) for helping staff members present this program.
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School Tours in Full Swing
PHLF staff and docents are out every day now through mid-June, leading elementary through college-age students on walking tours of downtown Pittsburgh, Oakland, South Side, North Side, and the Strip District, among other places. Major funding support from the Alfred M. Oppenheimer Memorial Fund of The Pittsburgh Foundation, The Fine Foundation, and McSwigan Family Foundation make it possible for PHLF to keep the tours affordable to school groups.
We also thank the Gailliot Family Foundation and Grambrindi Davies Charitable Fund of The Pittsburgh Foundation for underwriting the cost of printing 1,000 specially-designed T-shirts that are given to all students participating in our Downtown Dragons walking tour.
To schedule a school or group tour for the fall, contact Education Coordinator Karen Cahall (412-471-5808, ext. 537), or click here for tour details.
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See You at Kennywood: May 6 and May 24
Kennywood isn’t just about rides and fries. The National Historic Landmark is also a great place for students to sharpen their skills in math and develop an eye for architecture. During Kennywood Education Days on May 6 and 24, PHLF is releasing Geometry at Kennywood, a pocket-sized tablet with 18 problems to solve. Authors Kevin Connolly (Harvard University) and William Prince (University of Pittsburgh graduate) were summer interns with PHLF in 2010. If you want to figure out the diameter of the Merry-Go-Round, or find parallelograms and rhombuses, then contact Louise Sturgess (412-471-5808, ext. 536) at PHLF for a copy of Geometry at Kennywood. Funds from the McSwigan Family Foundation supported the design and printing of the workbook.
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Stretch Your Legs and Mind! Free Friday Walking Tours Begin May 6
Get out of the office and enjoy a free walking tour this Friday, May 6, from Noon to 1:00 p.m., or on any Friday in May. You’ll explore the Grant Street area and hear about the greatest of Pittsburgh’s great buildings, the tallest of its tall skyscrapers, and the leveling of a great hill.
Meet our tour guide at Noon on Grant Street near Sixth Avenue (in front of the Omni William Penn Hotel entrance).
Advance reservations are appreciated (so we can have enough tour guides and keep the groups small). Contact Mary Lu Denny (412-471-5808, ext. 527).
Each month features a different downtown walk. Join us for all five downtown walks, May through September, always Fridays at Noon. Bring your friends!
Click here for a calendar of events and to register for any of the free downtown walking tours.
