Arconic donates more than $80K to local nonprofits for sustainability and social equity
Pittsburgh-area nonprofits were among organizations worldwide benefiting from $360,000 in grants from the Arconic Foundation promoting environmental sustainability and social equity.
Arconic, an Alcoa spinoff with roots in the Alle-Kiski Valley, is headquartered in Pittsburgh. It has a research center in Upper Burrell and a building and systems business site in Cranberry. About 800 residents are employed at the three local sites, Arconic spokeswoman Tracie Gliozzi said.
The foundation, with assets of about $180 million, has a history of donating to educational and community causes in communities where the company operates. Last year, the foundation added environmental sustainability and social equity to its charitable mission.
The Latino Community Center of Pittsburgh, one of several local nonprofits receiving grants, was awarded $25,000 for technology support for virtual learning environments for students.
“Through this initiative, we have been able to support local Latinx families in accessing reduced-cost internet services while providing bilingual support to help parents understand how to use their technology devices to support their children’s learning,” said Rosamaria Cristello, the center’s executive director.
Specifically, the donation helped an additional 53 families connect to reliable internet access.
“The switch to virtual learning revealed how unequal the playing field is for many of our kids,” she said.
The Western Pennsylvania Conservancy received $25,000 for its Tree Vitalize program to plant trees in Allegheny County municipalities, while the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy received $30,000 to develop resources and lessons for teachers tapping opportunities at the Frick Environmental Center.
Other nonprofits Arconic contributed to include Hiring Our Heroes, Global Fund for Women, PFLAG, Junior Achievement Europe, Hispanic Scholarship Fund and the Equal Justice Initiative.
“Arconic Foundation is excited about our new partnerships that help build a more equitable society and protect the world around us to ensure a sustainable future,” said Diana Toman, president of the Arconic Foundation and Arconic’s chief legal officer.
The foundation’s “Grow Together Inclusion and Diversity Awareness” campaign, launched in August, directed the foundation’s grants to nonprofits where employees volunteered and contributed personally. Each employee’s charitable action resulted in the foundation giving $25 to those nonprofits.
In December, the company tallied that employees made 2,200 charitable actions, including 1,500 education actions, 260 volunteering actions and more than $100,000 in personal donations.