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Celebrating 10 Years
In celebrating ten years of grantmaking in South Pittsburgh the Birmingham Foundation realizes that our work is simply a reflection of the dedication, compassion, and ingenuity of many community members. We are inspired by the energy and drive of our grantees – to see solutions that are deeper than the problems they face and to take action to make a difference. We invite you to page through our scrapbook to share our inspiration.
Ten years have brought many changes to South Pittsburgh. Our founding was a result of the sale of The South Side Hospital to UPMC in 1996 and we are proud to have been involved in the creation of two assets for the community whereas there had only been one. While the area we serve has seen dynamic economic development and growth over the past ten years, many South Side and Hilltop communities are still contending with issues of health access, quality of life for seniors and children, violence and safety. We have proudly supported various individuals, organizations and communities who have come together to tackle these issues in creative ways and enhanced the quality of life for all in doing so.
DOWNLOAD THE DECADE REPORT
Since its grantmaking began in 1997, the Birmingham Foundation has contributed over $9.2 million to 140 organizations serving local residents and communities. Yet our ongoing community commitment is demonstrated in our ability to remain a viable, vital organization since at the same time we have also grown our assets from an initial $17 million to nearly $22 million. Our dedicated board members have excelled in their fiduciary responsibilities while also being keenly involved in the grantmaking process. In order to award grants with the highest impact, board members have visited various organizations nearly 200 times and have awarded hundreds of grants to create powerful change in our communities.
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Over the years, we have sought to highlight diverse resources to the community through practical tools such as the Birmingham Directory, a comprehensive list of South Pittsburgh resources and the Summer Fun Guide, which lists programming for children in various South Pittsburgh neighborhoods. We have also focused on building coalitions among organizations striving to address the similar concerns, whether it is senior safety and support, violence prevention or South Pittsburgh life in general. These partnerships further leverage our precious community resources.
The Foundation will move into its next decade of grantmaking and service to the community with new staff leadership. In March of 2007, the Foundation lost its beloved Administrative Assistant, Jackie Ross, to cancer. We are pleased to welcome Chris Mason in that role. In August of 2007, Mary Phan-Gruber, who has served as the Foundation’s first Executive Director since 1997, will leave to begin work with a nonprofit consulting firm. The board is currently conducting an executive search.
As we page through our scrapbook of ten years of service to South Pittsburgh, we are proud to see seniors staying in their homes, a new community health center, more mentoring opportunities for children, stronger organizations and a solid overall community reflected on the page. We thank all of our partners for their tireless work and look forward to many more years of collaboration, connection and positive change in South Pittsburgh.
Floyd R. Ganassi
Chairman Emeritus
Mary Phan-Gruber
Former Executive Director
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