Community Sustainability, PPG Foundation

When PPG and the PPG Foundation announced a commitment of $520,000 to support the emerging needs of local organizations serving those most at risk amid the coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis, PPG communities around the globe jumped into action. Our worldwide teams identified organizations and causes serving those most in need in the communities where we operate around the world.

The local grants have been allocated to food banks and programs responding to the increased need for food for kids, families and seniors facing hunger. Additional grant recipients include support for organizations offering vulnerable communities with basic needs and helping people experiencing hardships due to the COVID-19 crisis.

“Due to the coronavirus pandemic, we are finding our global neighbors in need now more than ever. Our emerging community relief grants exist to provide food assistance and other dire areas of support,” said Malesia Dunn, executive director, PPG Foundation and global corporate social responsibility. “I’m proud of how PPG community engagement teams around the world worked to identify organizations in their local areas and brighten the lives of others in this challenging time.”

The $520,000 commitment to supporting the emerging needs of community relief efforts is part of PPG and the PPG Foundation’s commitment of $1.5 million to support global COVID-19 relief efforts. Learn more about our global COVID-19 response and support of crucial international and regional needs.

Read on to learn about some of recipients of emerging community relief grants and their important work.

Emerging relief grants

Food assistance programs

We have donated emerging relief grants to community food banks and organizations providing food assistance to those facing hardships because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

A sampling of the organizations PPG is funding to provide hunger relief, include:

• Hope Gardens in Sylmar, California to provide food for children, women and seniors in a recovery program.
• The Boys & Girls Club in Huntsville, Alabama to purchase food for children in need during the crisis.
• Love Pacs, an organization in Dallas, Texas, providing school lunches and pacs for children.
• Gleaners Food Bank in partnership with the Indianapolis, Indiana public schools bus system to deliver food to 25 sites around the city.
• Old Colony Elder Services in Avon, Massachusetts to serve food to more than 1,700 elderly and provide personal protective equipment for volunteers delivering the food.
• Mojave Elementary in Mojave, California to provide food and to school children, many whom are homeless.

Youth, family and community support

As our communities cope with the financial challenges of the COVID-19 crisis, our emerging community relief grants address the needs of organizations helping those in need, including:

• More in Common in Birstall, U.K., which was formed to care for vulnerable community members during the pandemic.
• Fondazione Uspidalet to help a hospital near by our Quattordio and Felizzano, Italy plants purchase a bronchoscope. 
• Mission Metroplex in Texas to fund resources to help with emergency needs of families who have lost jobs or have reduced hours during the crisis.   

Student and academic support

Amid the COVID-19 crisis, students are adapting to online learning environments. Several of our emerging needs grants provide tools and resources to assist, including:

• Latino Community Center in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to purchase educational supplies for students in need to access remote learning.
• WQED – Public educational television in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania providing more than 1500 education and STEM activity backpacks for school children.

Aid for the homeless

The risks associated with the COVID-19 pandemic have created an emergency situation for many facing homelessness. Our emerging relief grants support multiple organizations providing aid, including:

• In Alabama, support for the local homeless community through the First Stop organization to provide food resources and COVID-19 testing.
• The Veterans Place of Washington Boulevard to provide homeless veterans in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania with shelter amid the COVID-19 crisis.