The Pittsburgh Foundation

Dietrich Foundation Greenville, PA fund gives grants to six area organizations

PITTSBURGH, Pa., July 17, 2018 – The Dietrich Foundation Greenville, PA Fund of The Pittsburgh Foundation has awarded $25,806 to Greenville-area organizations this year. Grantees this year are the Greenville Symphony Orchestra, Downtown Ministries, Greenville Area Community Theatre, Greenville Area Historical Society, First Baptist Church and the Girl Scouts of Western Pennsylvania.

  • The Greenville Symphony Orchestra is awarded $10,306 to celebrate its 90th season by presenting Beethoven’s 9th symphony. In addition to its 75-piece orchestra, the symphony plans to host 300 high school and college-age choral singers from Mercer County, Pennsylvania. This event is expected to be the premier cultural event in the area next spring.
  • Downtown Ministries receives $8,000 to support its Neighbor to Neighbor program. This program is intended to reverse the downward trend toward poverty and blight in the west side of Greenville. The Neighbor to Neighbor program uses interns from Thiel College and Grove City College to develop summer recreation activities in collaboration with children ages 6 and 14 and their families in Greenville. This program is provided at no cost to participants. The college interns are paid for their service.
  • The Greenville Area Community Theater is awarded $3,000 to present “Cinderella” the musical to the community of Greenville. This youth-focused show will allow the theater to target young audiences and families, bringing live productions to many who may be experiencing it for the first time. This production will be held at Thiel College’s William A. Robinson Theater.
  • The Greenville Area Historical Society receives $2,000 to repair and replace the stone floor and steps of the front porch of the Waugh House Museum housed in a 192-year-old home. This work is deemed necessary for historical preservation as well as safety of members, visitors or passers-by.
  • First Baptist Church is awarded $1,500 to support its Hometown Mission program, the cornerstone local outreach mission of the church. This program assists with construction projects and yard maintenance projects for those who are unable to financially fund the projects themselves. There is no cost to the homeowner: teams of volunteers do the work and First Baptist Church covers material costs. In addition to the construction work, teen volunteers help with smaller acts of service such as cutting grass, delivering groceries or washing windows. 
  • The Girl Scouts of Western Pennsylvania receives $1,000 to provide support for the Girl Scouts Leadership Experience in Greenville. Funds will be used to help provide supplies, recruitment materials and training for volunteers. The program currently serves 42 girls in Greenville who that are receiving training on value life skills such as STEM, academic success through community service, financial leadership/entrepreneurship, environmental stewardship, leadership and professional development.

William S. Dietrich II, a former steel industry executive who died in 2012, established the fund at The Pittsburgh Foundation to support charitable programs in the community of Greenville. This is the fifth year the fund has awarded grants. Grant applications for next year will open in January.

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