PITTSBURGH PROMISE

My engagement with The Pittsburgh Promise has been so vital in my professional development and the scholarship I received has allowed me go to college without the stress of needing to take on massive debts, because my promise dollars helped to filled gaps in my financial aid. But beyond the generous scholarship, the Promise has provided me numerous opportunities while in high-school and later in college which I very much appreciate.

During my Junior year of High-school I had the opportunity to be a Pittsburgh Promise Ambassador and it was a very enriching opportunity. Through the promise I had the chance to visit numerous colleges and do community outreach throughout the city. I brought the information I learnt to my peers in school to help inform them of their post secondary options. In my freshman year of college I was selected as a Executive Promise scholar where I had networking and professional development opportunities.

The Pittsburgh Promise is a truly wonderful organization that offers world class programming that makes a real long lasting and impact in people lives, either through their programming and especially through the Promise Scholarships.

I worked as a student ambassador for the Promise scholarship and was lucky enough to get to know the amazing staff there. Everyone is incredibly committed and passionate about the mission. Helping relate information about the Promise to my classmates was a very rewarding experience and one that I believe helped me to realize the true impact of the scholarship. I've heard countless stories about how the Promise opened doors to post-secondary education that students never thought possible. As a graduate from the Pittsburgh School for Creative and Performing Arts Magnet I depended on the Pittsburgh Promise scholarship with out this scholarship I don't know where I would be at today if it wasn't from the Pittsburgh Promise and The amazing staff that guide me to help me choose a school that was the right fit for me and I Strongly would like to thank them for all the great things they have done and accomplish over the years to support Pittsburgh Kids like me and others. This organization is more then a scholarship its a major big asset to the city of Pittsburgh

My team had the pleasure of working with the Pittsburgh Promise as part of a coalition aimed at reducing food insecurity among college students. The team there was incredibly professional, responsive, proactive, caring, and able. From our first email, they went above and beyond to think through every aspect of the event we were working on so that it could be as impactful and strategic as possible. They were willing to leverage their network and personal relationships to engage policymakers and thought leaders on behalf of students. The staff is extremely dedicated and committed to changing the world for the better, and I couldn't recommend this organization more highly.

I worked as a student ambassador for the Promise scholarship and was lucky enough to get to know the amazing staff there. Everyone is incredibly committed and passionate about the mission. Helping relate information about the Promise to my classmates was a very rewarding experience and one that I believe helped me to realize the true impact of the scholarship. I've heard countless stories about how the Promise opened doors to post-secondary education that students never thought possible. Nearly everyone in Pittsburgh has heard these stories, and I hope that the scholarship and the wonderful people who make the scholarship possible can continue for the generations of Pittsburgh students yet to come.

The Promise is an organization rich with wonderful people who want to do what's best for kids. I've personally seen many of their staff's interactions with students, and the Promise staff do everything they can to make each student feel special, welcome, and worth the time to get to know. I love how the Promise understands that each student's story is unique, and they will work to make sure that each student makes the best decision for them and have as many opportunities afforded to them as possible.

I am a researcher at the University of Pittsburgh specializing in college access and success programs. I've had the great pleasure of conducting evaluation and research for the Pittsburgh Promise for many years. The Promise team is a passionate and thoughtful group of professionals that understand the complexities and barriers that prevent equitable access to college and career readiness in the district. The Promise has forged relationships with industry partners, community-based organizations, and the school district to broaden their capacity to make meaningful change in Pittsburgh. The Promise Coaches, in particular, have served as mentors and role models for many high schoolers. They have provided invaluable support to students and have made real, positive impact on students' lives. It's been an honor to provide evaluation support to this fabulous group of people and I look forward to seeing how their organization grows to further support equity and make significant differences in the lives of Pittsburgh's students.

Fabulous organization that goes above and beyond for students.

Family friendly Kidsburgh, www.kidsburgh.org, has celebrated the Pittsburgh Promise for the reason that they make a huge difference in the Pittsburgh region. The Promise undertakes a major challenge and has changed the lives of countless youth in our city schools through their future-facing efforts. It's no secret that urban education faces many challenges, but the Promise took them on and has helped to create - and deliver on - better futures for so many not limited to 2-year, 4-year and trade schools. Students here don't just dream about post-secondary opportunity, they have a pipeline.

I have had the pleasure of volunteering for this organization more than a few times, and I am extremely thankful that an organization like the Pittsburgh Promise exists. To be able to provide our youth with the tools and funds needed to further their education, unlock new doors for opportunities to succeed, and also be able to come back to assist others in their endeavors; it's beautiful. I hope that they will continue to be a positive example for our youth and communities. Thank you!

We were delighted to be contracted by the Pittsburgh Promise to provide balloon art for their event this year! From a vendor's perspective, this organization was so wonderful to work with - They communicated very well with us and the rest of their team to facilitate the artwork to be created and delivered and were extremely accommodating for the delivery and set up. Overall, this is a great organization to work with! Excited for the next event.

I truly believe in what the Pittsburgh Promise strands for as an entity. Growing up in Pittsburgh I understand the barriers that exist for higher education. As the cost of higher education grows it is a program that levels the playing field and helps clear some of the biggest barriers. I am excited and honored to have the ability to be a caterer for this nonprofit.

Best

Justin

I have had the privilege of working with the Pittsburgh Promise for the last 14 years as a research and evaluation consultant. My team's work has been focused on helping the Promise leadership monitor progress and assess impact. The Promise team members are voracious users of data and seek out evidence-based answers to their core outcomes questions. They pour over the data, ask thoughtful questions, ask for additional drill downs, link the data to real-world implications, and take follow up action based on the results. It is rare to work with an organization so committed to improving their work to achieve its outcomes and I am grateful to be part of this collaborative effort to make transformative change for Pittsburgh families.

I have worked with the Pittsburgh Promise for over 10 years. In that time, I worked with middle school students in the Pittsburgh Public Schools to share Promise information and help them develop a pathway to accessing it after graduation. Working alongside caring adult mentors was also critical in assisting students in developing a plan to stay on the pathway to receiving the Pittsburgh Promise. We also encouraged students to share Promise information and their pathway plan with the parents and family. We appreciated staff of the Pittsburgh Promise doing presentations with our students and providing other interactive activities. Pittsburgh is blessed to have the Pittsburgh Promise and a wonderful team of dedicated staff.

I believe the Pittsburgh Promise is an organization focused on eliminating barriers for young people. Their core values align closely with my own, which is why I enjoy volunteering with the Promise team. One of my favorite events to participate in is Walk for One Promise because it allows the community to get involved.

We would like to thank the staff at The Pittsburgh Promise for helping Oxford plan our second annual 3 Crossings Walk for One Promise. With the help of Promise staff, we put together another successful and fun walk and exceeded our fundraising goals. Saleem and staff even joined us on our 5K walk – truly supporting us all along the way. It is a great partnership that we will continue for years to come!

I am a very proud Pittsburgh Promise Alum! Pittsburgh Promise holds a special place in my heart and I will be forever grateful for the opportunities the organization has helped me access by funding a major of my tuition each year.
Although I graduated a few years ago I am still in awe at the impact Pittsburgh Promise has had and continues to have on so many lives of Pittsburgh Public School students' past, current, and future!

The Pittsburgh Promise does more than provide scholarships, they place hope in the hearts of thousands of children and their families.

As the one of the first students to receive the scholarship, and first in my family to attend a four year univeristy, I am forever grateful for this organization. Prior to The Promise, I could not fully fathom the thought of me going to college. However, after hearing an interactive presentation from the Executive Director about how The Promise cares so much about us to provide us with scholarships, I began to dream about a future where I can work and serve my community. Now, I work at PNC Bank as an Anti Money Laundering Sanctions Specialist and serve on many boards, including The Promise, to serve youth in my community and across Pennsylvania.

I had the privilege of working for the Pittsburgh Promise as a college student over the course of two different summers. I am can say with one hundred percent confidence that the Promise team is one of the most thoughtful, compassionate, caring, and dedicated groups of individuals I have ever encountered. They care deeply about the work that they do because they care deeply about the PEOPLE they serve. It continues to be a joy to support them both financially and in other ways.

Dickie, McCamey & Chilcote - law firm located in Market Square, downtown Pittsburgh - participated in a 5K walk with Pittsburgh Promise. The organization was efficient, friendly and excited for the event. I coordinated with Shelley and Katina, both of whom were invested in a positive experience for all participants. Overall, we were able to raise money for a fantastic cause and do it together in a fun way. I look forward to working with Pittsburgh Promise in the future.

I have been a donor as a member of the Keepers of The Pittsburgh Promise for several years. Through this experience I have been able to see first hand the great work the Promise does in our community, and how well the organization is run. They prepare students for higher education financially and provide motivation academically. As an educator by profession, I appreciate the work of the Promise to get students from The Pittsburgh Public School System, "Promise Ready" for continuing their education past high school.

I am grateful to the Pittsburgh Promise for helping fund my way through college. I wouldn't have had to opportunity to financially afford Penn State without their help. $40,000 goes a long way when you have to pay room and board, buy books, get a meal plan, etc. I was able to get my degree and have significantly less debt coming out of school.

Pittsburgh Promise focuses on providing low-income first generation-to- college students preparing them with the essential tools, resources, and opportunities for post-secondary success. I applaud the Staff they see the broad spectrum of educational opportunities that may not be a 4-year education but realizing the opportunities and the earning potential a
2-year technical education can offer. We have a student from the program that excels in the classroom and the sports field. His time management for education and athletics is second to none, an example of the Pittsburgh Promise's mentoring and support.

The Pittsburgh Promise delivers an outstanding experience combined with strong dedication in furthering advancing educational efforts across our region. The Promise has intentional focus on diversity and partners well with employers in the region to build career paths. I've been very impressed with the staff of the Promise and their willingness to bring both students and employers together in a meaningful way.

The Pittsburgh Promise is an exceptional scholarship program that has positively impacted many students who have chosen to attend our institution. This scholarship has broken down financial barriers for many to pursue a four year postsecondary education. It has also assisted in reducing student loan indebtedness which benefit goes beyond. This scholarship far exceeds its monetary value. The Pittsburgh Promise supports the students' journey starting with career and college counseling pre-matriculation to career development and alumni support post-graduation. It's truly an honor to work with the Promise and the many students in our community who are supported by them. 

As a Promise scholar, I benefitted greatly from the work the Pittsburgh Promise does. The scholarship allowed me to attend a school that was otherwise outside my budget. Being able to attend Penn State opened so many doors and helped me to find my real passions in life. After graduating in 2017, I moved back to Pittsburgh for work and went right back to Pittsburgh Promise as a donor and a member of the Promise Legacy group (the alumni group of the Promise). Being a part of this group and working so closely with Promise made it very clear how amazing they are as an organization. The staff at the Promise go above and beyond to ensure Pittsburgh Public School graduates have all the opportunities available to them. After moving out of the city for work, I still stay very connected to the Promise. They made a difference in my life and the opportunity to pass that on is amazing!

I have donated to and been involved with the Pittsburgh Promise for at least 8 years as a donor and a mentor. Not only does it have a mission that is incredibly important for low-income students in PIttsburgh and society at large - to provide access to college for over 20,000 Pittsburgh public school students - but it does this really well and effectively. The number of Pittsburgh public school students who attend and complete college has increased significantly. Throughout its inception, the Pittsburgh Promise has carefully researched the effects of its work and adjusted its programming and funding based on systematic research. As an educational researcher, that is very impressive to me, since I have seen many educational programs that do not make data-driven decisions. Finally, everything that the Pittsburgh Promise does is compassionate and humanizing. They lift up the children of Pittsburgh and, in doing so, demonstrate to the entire region that our children are capable of amazing things.

I joined the Pittsburgh Promise - Promise Keepers, and was immediately embraced and encouraged by the current leadership within the organization. The group was incredibly warm, welcome and interested in my ideas. It was very easy to get involved and feel like I was contributing and making a difference.

The Promise Keepers work dillegently and creatively (re-imagining many events for the Covid environment) to raise awareness and donations to the Promise. I am proud to be a part of this non-profit ,and I wish us continued success in our efforts!

I attended a Pittsburgh Public School from 2nd grade onward. Post-graduation I committed to a school that I wouldn't be able to use the Promise for since it was out of state (Princeton in NJ). However, due to COVID, I ended up taking the last year off and found myself back home in Pittsburgh. During the summer of 2021, I wanted to take a course at the University of Pittsburgh to get back into the hang of classes and doing homework. I reached out to the Promise to see if I could use the money for my summer course. The Promise people I was in contact with were extremely helpful and took care of getting my scholarship sent over to Pitt. I was incredibly grateful for how easy and stress-free this process was made by the Promise. It is really a pleasure that you can use this money at some point even if you don't use it for your in-state tuition school! I hope that other people in my position know that this is also an option to use the money for.

This charity benefits public school students in the City of Pittsburgh. By providing scholarships and better preparing students for their future, the Promise not only helps these kids, but improves the quality of life in all of western Pennsylvania. When the City wins, we all win. As a resident of the suburbs, I can see the advantage to all the greater community, when city school students get a better education.

I have been a student served in the Pittsburgh Promise since as far back as I can remember. This organization has been monumental in assuring that all student's in the district have the opportunity for greatness. They give their support every step of the way as you grow to be a young adult in this world. You ultimately form life long bonds with the people in the community in which you are a part of. I can say undoubtedly that I never been more proud to be apart of The Pittsburgh Promise in this way.

Pittsburgh Promise makes a special effort to ensure that students with disabilities know about and use the scholarship. Each year, the Pittsburgh Promise sponsors an information event for students and families with resources for post-secondary education/services and student panelists.

We’ve been involved with Pittsburgh Promise from the beginning. Its mission to encourage young people to succeed in high school and then help them afford post-secondary education changes so many lives in so many amazing ways. We consider our annual donations as an investment in our future—and it’s the best investment we make all year long.

I grew up in Pittsburgh and have a heart for the city. I love that there is an organization committed to the future of Pittsburgh and its youth! In particular what I like about the Pittsburgh Promise is that they have enlisted the help of key businesses in the city, local sports stars, and people like me; Pittsburghers, to help the next generation through college scholarship. There is even a group of young people, the Promise Legacy, graduates who benefitted from a Promise scholarship, that help to raise $$ for others like them. We all work together because our future depends on the next generation.

The organization executes Its critical mission to incentivize kids to stay in Pittsburgh Public Schools and to elevate the educational base of the Region so effectively that the program sells itself to the public and corporate supporters. It's beautifully run with a dynamic, charismatic head and very competent, enthusiastic staff.

This nonprofit is near and dear to my heart. I have been affiliated with it since its second year of existence and I am so proud of the work that they do. I was so excited when this nonprofit came into existence and it has exceeded my expectations of the work they were tasked to do! The staff is second to none and the impact they have made on the community is astounding! My youngest son was a recipient of the Promise scholarship and I have been a volunteer and donor for over ten years!

I am an intern with The Pittsburgh Promise and I can say that I have learned something viable from each employee here. They exceeded my expectation what an internship would be here. The following statement is overused and exaggerated a lot, but I honestly can say I am surrounded by individuals, from all different education, religion, and professional backgrounds but each of them love what they do, and it is reflected in the work that they are doing in our community. Not only have I gained experience working in a professional environment and are connected to their pool of resources but they each took the time to work on my resume, included me in banquet and fundraisers, asked me to speak to high-school ambassadors, and took the time to listen to my long-term goals and provided me with the resources to reach them. Not only is The Pittsburgh Promise an amazing scholarship opportunity but it reaches back out to students with the Career Launch Program which gives students access to meet business leaders in the Pittsburgh area.

What an amazing organization and so professionally run!