Editor’s note: We asked the leaders of key local nonprofits the following question: What is your organization’s mission and what are you most in need of as we approach the holidays and 2025? The answers follow.
JANE WERNER, Children’s Museum
Our mission is to provide innovative and inclusive museum experiences that inspire kindness, creativity, curiosity and joy for all learners. Most Pittsburghers know the museum, but few people know that in 2014, we helped launch a national program, Museums for All, which encourages museums to provide reduced-cost access to low-income families. Initially, we welcomed a few hundred families to our museum each year, but the program has grown exponentially. Last year alone, we welcomed more than 43,000 people through Museums for All – about $500,000 in admissions in one year. While Museums for All is promoted nationally, there is no government funding to sustain it. In 2025, I hope the generosity of our community grows to meet this need. Your donation will help local families and children grow, learn and create together at the Children’s Museum.
MELIA TOURANGEAU, Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra
The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra presents concert programming that fills every life with music. We engage broad audiences and play a vital role in music learning throughout the region, all while performing at unsurpassed levels of excellence. The PSO also is proud to be Pittsburgh’s cultural ambassador around the world. The PSO is a big part of Pittsburgh’s holiday traditions, whether that’s Messiah, Holiday Pops, movies (this year, Home Alone and Love Actually), Elvis Christmas, or the giant Christmas tree at Heinz Hall. Browse our holiday programming and spread the word! A concert also makes a great gift, so think about purchasing a PSO Gift Card for your loved ones. We are always grateful if you include the PSO in your end-of-year charitable giving.
SILVIA FILIPPINI-FANTONI, The Westmoreland Museum of American Art
Our mission is to offer meaningful and engaging cultural experiences that build community and inspire creativity, new ideas, and action through the power of art. As we approach the holidays and 2025, we’re excited to announce that 2025 will be the Year of Women Artists, featuring special exhibitions that highlight the important and often underrepresented contributions of female artists to American art history. This initiative aligns with our 2025-2027 strategic plan, which focuses on expanding our audience and collaborating with our Southwestern Pennsylvania community to help us remain a relevant and vibrant institution that reflects the diversity of our region. We invite everyone to visit, engage with our events, and help us celebrate women artists throughout the year—your support is what we need most!
TIM PARKS, Life’sWork of Western PA
LLife’sWork of Western PA is dedicated to helping people with disabilities and other barriers to employment lead fulfilling lives. Our goal is to improve the quality of life for adults and youth with physical and intellectual development disabilities by assisting them in finding productive employment. We also provide support to at-risk youth, families in crisis, and individuals in recovery from substance use disorders to help them become employable. We encourage businesses to consider hiring these individuals, as they can be valuable and dedicated team members. Additionally, we urge the community to support and embrace these individuals, making Pittsburgh a model of inclusivity and acceptance.
RICHARD PIACENTINI, Phipps Conservatory
As 2025 approaches, Phipps Conservatory seeks to grow our collections, improve our displays, and extend our educational programming and community outreach for the wellbeing of people and the planet. The generous support of the community will help to advance education for youth and lifelong learners; sustain the food security of neighbors through our edible-garden initiatives; enhance our seasonal displays that give visitors joy, hope, and connection to the natural world; and restore and decarbonize our beloved historic conservatory and programming sites. Learn how you can help at phipps.conservatory.org/Donate
ROXANN BOOSER, The Maridon Museum
The Maridon Museum is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year. Our founder Mary Hulton Phillips’s dream was to bring an added avenue in which to experience and learn about Asian cultural life, to her hometown of Butler, Pennsylvania. Today, visitors from every state and several countries have viewed her collection and participated in programs, exhibits, book clubs, and film series. Mrs. Phillips collected objects she liked. In keeping with her tradition, the museum offers a Collector’s Series, providing a platform for others to exhibit and share their personal collections with the community. The Maridon is truly more than a museum, having evolved over the years into a cultural center for all. We credit our family of volunteers and supporters who continue to keep the dream alive and to secure The Maridon‘s place in the Cultural District of Butler. In looking forward to 2025 and beyond, it is our volunteers and cultural supporters who we will continue to need to fulfill our mission.
RACHEL PETRUCELLI, UPMC Children’s Hospital Foundation
In a single moment, everything can change for a child and their family, and no child should be hospitalized through the holidays. Yet, many are. With donations, we can provide programs and services that comfort, distract, entertain, and educate children to create a sense of normalcy. Additionally, donations advance research and fuel hope for children still seeking care and cures to devastating diseases. UPMC Children’s Hospital Foundation is committed to putting a child’s future first by providing life-changing care and support to children and their families by raising funds for pediatric health services, research, and patient and family support programs at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh.
SALEEM GHUBRIL, The Pittsburgh Promise
The Pittsburgh Promise promotes high educational aspirations among urban youth, funds scholarships for post-secondary access, and fuels a prepared and diverse regional workforce. As the director, I see firsthand how providing educational opportunities transforms lives. Pittsburgh Public Schools students possess limitless potential, creativity, and resilience that, when nurtured, lead to vibrant, thriving communities. Their futures and ours are intricately linked — if they flourish, we flourish, and if they struggle, we struggle. Supporting them today ensures a more prosperous and equitable tomorrow for everyone in Pittsburgh. As we approach the holidays and into 2025, advocacy, investment, and community partnerships to provide more scholarships and enhance support services for our future leaders are essential to our region’s success.
STEPHEN SUROVIEC, Achieva
Achieva advocates for, empowers, and supports people with disabilities and their families throughout their lives. Achieva envisions a community where all people with disabilities lead lives of personal significance. As we approach the holiday season and look ahead to 2025, Achieva is preparing to unveil a significant fundraising effort that will allow us to invest in the future, expanding and building on critical programs. While we’re not yet in a position to share details about this effort, we are excited about this impactful opportunity to create lasting, positive change in our community for all children and adults with disabilities and their families. The support from Achieva’s supporters and community partners will be essential as we work together toward what will be an ambitious goal.
CATHERINE QURESHI, Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy
We believe Pittsburgh deserves a parks system that enables our communities to thrive. That’s why our mission centers on enhancing and stewarding our city’s green spaces, working alongside many partners to create vibrant, welcoming parks for all. As we approach the holidays and look ahead to 2025, we’re eager to expand accessible park spaces, inspire the next generation through dynamic environmental education programs, and safeguard Pittsburgh’s ecosystems against climate challenges. Achieving this vision depends on the generosity of our supporters, partners, and volunteers. Together, we can ensure a thriving parks system that benefits every Pittsburgher, now and for generations to come.
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