4/13/2023
PITTSBURGH — Today, UPMC announced a $10 million gift to The Pittsburgh Promise with an audience of Pittsburgh Public Schools (PPS) seventh graders at Pittsburgh Greenfield K-8.
The class of 2028 students cheered as the $10 million gift to The Promise and Pittsburgh’s students was announced. PPS Superintendent Dr. Wayne Walters, UPMC President and CEO Leslie Davis and Pittsburgh Promise Executive Director Saleem Ghubril provided remarks.
Leslie Davis, president and CEO of UPMC, shared the news with the seventh grade classroom. Davis said, “Our investment in The Pittsburgh Promise has always been an investment in the youth of Pittsburgh and in the future of the Pittsburgh region. As the region’s largest employer and health care system, we know the value of education in creating a diverse, skilled workforce and a strong, sustainable Pittsburgh community for years to come. Supporting a generation of students and helping them access higher education has been our absolute honor."
UPMC provided the founding gift of $100 million to establish The Pittsburgh Promise in 2007. The visionary program is the largest of its kind in the country. With this announcement, and an expected $3 million to be announced at The Promise’s upcoming gala on April 15, The Promise has reached a fundraising total of $250 million. Since 2008, The Pittsburgh Promise has invested over $168 million in scholarships to send more than 11,000 urban youth on to a post-secondary education.
“The Pittsburgh Promise has created opportunities for our students to access higher education regardless of their background. This incredible gift will support so many more of our deserving young people as they pursue their dreams, and more importantly allow these dreams to become reality,” said Dr. Wayne N. Walters, superintendent of Pittsburgh Public Schools.
Saleem Ghubril, executive director of The Pittsburgh Promise said, “We are blown away by the incredible generosity of UPMC. They continue to demonstrate their unrelenting commitment to Pittsburgh’s kids by helping The Promise cross the $250 million mark. UPMC’s new commitment helps us finish what UPMC helped us start.”
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CREDIT: UPMC
