$9 Million to Pittsburgh Promise from Richard King Mellon Foundation

Richard King Mellon Foundation

It is being reported at bizjournals.com that Pittsburgh’s largest foundation, the Richard King Mellon Foundation, has awarded a grant of $9 million to The Pittsburgh Promise.

The Pittsburgh Promise was created in 2007 as a pledge to provide help and funding for students in Pittsburgh Public Schools plan, prepare for and attend post-secondary education. UPMC helped launch the program with an initial $100 million commitment at the time.

Local businesses, individuals and not-for-profits who actively invest in the future of our children this way deserve to be recognized and commended for their efforts.

An interesting thought after the President’s non-State of the Union address several nights ago is that once again Pittsburgh proves to be ahead of the times.

While the President is beginning attempts to build political and private sector support for investing in the future of our nation’s children and committing to increasing the number who attend and finish post-secondary education, here in Pittsburgh the political and industrial leaders not only already understood that need, but have developed and largely funded the means to make it happen.

With billions of dollars in assetts, the Richard King Mellon Foundation is not only the largest foundation in Pittsburgh, but is among the largest independent foundations in the United States, with a primary focus on supporting projects in the southwestern Pennsylvania region and giving priority to projects which benefit children, young adults and education.