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One Year of Partnership Funds Environmental Education, an Electric Vehicle, and Community Events Celebrating Nature and History

PITTSBURGH – OCTOBER 24, 2024 – The Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy is celebrating the first anniversary of its impactful partnership with Giant Eagle. This collaboration has driven meaningful environmental change while empowering the next generation of community leaders by reinvesting paper bag fees collected through the City of Pittsburgh's single-use plastic bag legislation. The first year of this partnership has been a resounding success, with significant funds directed toward environmental education, acquiring an electric vehicle, and organizing community events that celebrate Pittsburgh's rich natural and historical heritage.

Fifty percent of all paper bag fees collected from Giant Eagle customers are currently being directed to programs and initiatives led by the Parks Conservancy. These funds represent a significant step towards enhancing the Parks Conservancy's mission to restore and maintain Pittsburgh's parks, ensuring that these green spaces continue to improve the quality of life for all who call the city home.

"We are deeply thankful for the steadfast support from Giant Eagle and our community," said Catherine Qureshi, President and CEO of the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy. "By reinvesting the paper bag fees into our programs, we are not only cultivating a greener, more sustainable future for Pittsburgh but also honoring the rich history and diversity that make our city so special. This partnership is a powerful reminder that when we come together, we can create lasting change that strengthens our community."

Key initiatives funded by the paper bag fees include the Parks Conservancy's High School Urban EcoStewards (HSUES) program, designed to inspire the next generation of park stewards. HSUES is an environmental education initiative that engages students from six Pittsburgh-area high schools in hands-on conservation work and environmental stewardship. The program encourages teenagers to take an active role in improving their local green spaces by participating in various activities such as habitat restoration, tree planting, invasive species removal, and park maintenance and helps them to cultivate key skills that place them on a path toward academic and future professional success in careers in rapidly growing green industries.

The funds have also enabled the Parks Conservancy to purchase an electric landscape vehicle. This new addition will significantly enhance the effectiveness of the nonprofit's Horticulture and Forestry team's efforts in planting trees, removing harmful invasive species, and beautifying gardens in the local parks enjoyed by Giant Eagle shoppers and team members alike.

The paper bag fees covered costs associated with two family-friendly events, including Earth Month and the first-ever Freedom Harvest Celebration. These programs brought the community together to appreciate our natural environment and celebrate the role that food played for freedom seekers traveling northward to escape slavery.

“We’re thrilled to see how the events and programs that the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy has brought to life have supported the improvement of local green spaces,” said Cara Mercil, Giant Eagle Director, Sustainability & Corporate Social Responsibility. “Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy has done a wonderful job of utilizing the donation made through our paper bag fee pass-through program to make a positive impact on our community and the environment, and we are proud to be a part of their valuable work.”

The Parks Conservancy looks forward to continuing its partnership with Giant Eagle and furthering the shared goal of to restoring and protecting the park system and ensuring that Pittsburgh remains a city where everyone can enjoy the beauty and benefits of its green spaces.

"Giant Eagle was an essential partner throughout the drafting, passage, and implementation of the City's landmark single-use plastic bag ordinance. I'm grateful not only for their support of the policy, but also their real, ongoing commitment to sustainability demonstrated by the first year of this wonderful initiative,” said City Councilperson Erika Strassburger who was the prime sponsor of the City of Pittsburgh’s plastic bag legislation. “Giant Eagle has gone above and beyond to embrace the spirit of our legislation, and they've picked a fantastic partner in the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy."

To learn more about how Giant Eagle is reinvesting in the community, please visit www.gianteagle.com/about-us/sustainability/single-use-plastics#.

Watch our YouTube video about the initiative here.

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 About Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy:
The Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy was founded in December 1996 by a group of citizens concerned with the deteriorating conditions of Pittsburgh’s historic city parks. A non-profit organization, the Parks Conservancy works closely with the City of Pittsburgh under an official public-private partnership agreement to restore and improve the city’s park system to its full potential. To date, the Parks Conservancy has raised more than $150 million and completed 23 major park improvement projects. The Parks Conservancy works with thousands of volunteers, hosts hundreds of events, and provides programming for more than 7,500 children annually.