The Pittsburgh Foundation

Record public support in record time

Record public support in record time

$900,000 goes to organizations assisting homeless
Donations in response to shift in Federal funding

PITTSBURGH, PA, Dec. 9, 2014 – The Pittsburgh Foundation Critical Needs Alert program to aid individuals and families experiencing homelessness or housing insecurity set new records in amount and time as the public responded with contributions of $450,000 through its PittsburghGives donation portal.

Beginning yesterday, the foundation had planned to conduct a three-week public campaign to address homelessness in Allegheny County, similar to last year’s campaign to end food shortages, but a flood of donations quickly exhausted the $450,000 in matching funds.

Donations at PittsburghGives.org of $25 or more were matched dollar for dollar from the pool that began at $100,000 and rose several times throughout the day to finish at $450,000. This was due to key donors who were inspired to help specific organizations that offer various services to those facing housing insecurity. With the additional match, a total of $900,000 was raised to assist those facing homeless crises in the community.

Last year’s Critical Needs Alert campaign raised $617,804 to help food banks in Allegheny and Westmoreland counties meet an unprecedented rise in demand.  This year’s result surpassed that amount in just six hours, setting a new mark for generosity in the community and providing much-needed funds to 36 organizations that provide emergency and temporary housing to the homeless.

In June, the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced it would eliminate its funding for supportive services projects. This shift has resulted in a loss of funding for many of the organizations serving Allegheny County’s homeless or those facing the prospect of homelessness.

In addition to the matching funds provided by The Pittsburgh Foundation for the match pool, two other match pool gifts were received: $50,000 from the Rita M. McGinley Foundation and $100,000 from the donor of a Fund at The Pittsburgh Foundation who wishes to remain anonymous.

“This has truly been an outstanding community response to assist our neighbors in a time of great need,” Maxwell King, the foundation’s president and CEO said in response to the new record.  “Everyone deserves a safe, warm place to call home. My heartfelt thanks and appreciation to all who have generously supported this appeal, and to those who provided additional matching funds to double the generosity shown by our remarkable community.”

The grant from the Rita M. McGinley Foundation is in memory of Ms. McGinley, a long-time advocate and contributor to organizations supporting vulnerable populations.  In addition to being an educator and community leader, she was one of the original supporters of Operation Safety Net, which provides help and health care to homeless people on the streets, beginning in the 1980s.  “Rita would have been very pleased that the community has rallied around this cause so quickly and so generously, especially at this time of the year,” said Jack McGinley, Jr., Ms. McGinley’s nephew. “We are proud to make this contribution in her memory and to help these organizations.”

The anonymous donor stated: “Even though budgets are stretched at this time of the year, I am amazed how people dig deeply into their pockets to help those less fortunate.  If this gift will encourage others to give, then I think we have done our part.”

King said that people in the community often view the homeless as “only those who sleep under bridges. The reality is that such stereotypes are outdated and inaccurate.  It could be a child that is attending school each day but then going to a friend’s house each evening and sleeping on a couch.”

King said Pittsburgh’s economy is looking brighter, and there is a renewed sense of momentum, “but we are still seeing the impact of the Great Recession in our region, with many residents facing financial pressures that can lead quickly to a loss of housing.”