Latest news with #RichardKingMellonFoundation
CBS News
11 hours ago
- Business
- CBS News
Richard King Mellon Foundation gifts $10 million grant to Pittsburgh Cultural Trust
The Richard King Mellon Foundation has gifted the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust with a new $10 million grant to help the nonprofit cover the remaining construction costs to fund Arts Landing. The grant is "among the largest philanthropic gifts to the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust in its four-decade history," per a press release from the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust. The grant will also support other functions of the space, which is scheduled to open to the public in 2026. "The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust is profoundly grateful to the Richard King Mellon Foundation for this capstone contribution that helps ensure our shared vision for Arts Landing becomes a reality for our community," said Kendra Whitlock Ingram, President & CEO of the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust. "This is a defining moment for the Cultural District and Downtown Revitalization Vision—made possible by immense generosity and leadership from philanthropic and civic partners." "Pittsburgh's first Renaissance officially began 75 years ago, in May 1950. Then, and ever since, the Richard King Mellon Foundation has helped to lead Pittsburgh's ongoing strategies to achieve greater prosperity for the people of our beloved city," said Sam Reiman, Director of the Richard King Mellon Foundation. "Our Trustees wanted to demonstrate that leadership again for Arts Landing. This $10 million grant will provide the capital necessary to complete construction. And, just as importantly, it will help to ensure the Cultural Trust has the means to maintain and operate Arts Landing as a safe and desirable destination for many years to come." Arts Landing has been described as "a creatively designed, community-focused, and sustainably operated civic space that will host festivals and performances, exhibit public art, and provide opportunities for everyday recreation" to further revitalize Downtown Pittsburgh.
CBS News
3 days ago
- General
- CBS News
Richard King Mellon Foundation provides Tree of Life with $2.5 million grant
The Tree of Life is getting a huge funding boost thanks to one local non-profit. It was announced on Thursday that the Richard King Mellon Foundation gifted Tree of Life a $2.5 million grant to support building a national center for education, remembrance, bridge-building, and the celebration of Jewish culture. "The Richard King Mellon Foundation's grant comes at a critical juncture for The Tree of Life and the broader Jewish community," said Carole Zawatsky, CEO of The Tree of Life. "Our mission to uproot antisemitism and hate is of the utmost importance at this moment. We are incredibly grateful for the Foundation's generosity and continued support, which is symbolic of our core belief that antisemitism is an American problem and all of us – Jewish and not – must work together to counter it." The gift from the Richard King Mellon Foundation now gives the Tree of Life a total of $3.5 million in investment. "Our community is incredibly thankful for the continued support of the Richard King Mellon Foundation," said Michael Bernstein, chair of the board at The Tree of Life. "Our bold vision to realize a future where our children live without fear of antisemitism depends on partners like this who support our work." Tree of Life breaks ground on new synagogue Last year, after months of demolition, ground was broken on a new synagogue in Squirrel Hill. It was a day more than five years in the making; one filled with emotion, resilience, and hope, as the synagogue broke ground on a new space and a new chapter in its history. Since the horrific shooting on Oct. 27, 2018, the building had remained vacant until then, as construction began on the site of the deadliest antisemitic attack in U.S. history. The main sanctuary will remain for worship, but the new building, what's being called a 'reimagined' Tree of Life, will memorialize and celebrate the lives of those tragically killed. "We announce loudly and clearly to the entire world that evil did not win," Rabbi Jeffrey Myers said at the groundbreaking. Construction is expected to be completed in a couple of years.
Technical.ly
19-05-2025
- Business
- Technical.ly
Pittsburgh startup gets $265k to build interactive job training games for people with disabilities
It doesn't take a million dollars to make a difference. In this month's money moves, smaller investments are paving the way to bigger social changes, funding projects that support job access, entrepreneurship and inclusive innovation. A local game developer is building tools to help people with disabilities navigate the job market, and Black-owned startups are getting a boost through mini-grants from a local business hub. Plus, a regional challenge is putting $300,000 on the table for mission-driven ventures ready to grow. Read on for more on these investments, plus other money moves shaping Pittsburgh's future. Simcoach Games receives $265k for job-readiness games Pittsburgh-based Simcoach Games has secured $265,000 in seed funding led by the Richard King Mellon Foundation. The startup will put the money toward creating a trilogy of interactive games aimed at helping people with intellectual and developmental disabilities prepare for employment. Developed with behavioral health professionals and grounded in applied behavior analysis, the games will focus on self-presentation, interview readiness and workplace communication. These are skills often cited as barriers to employment for people with disabilities, including those on the autism spectrum, according to Simcoach CEO Brian Kaleida. 'Over the last two years, we've really focused on behavioral health games,' Kaleida told The new project, he added, aligns with Simcoach's mission to create 'transformational games' that are entertaining and engaging, but ultimately 'must positively impact the player in some way,' whether through addressing a harmful behavior or teaching a new skill. Unemployment rates among adults with autism can reach as high as 85%, often because of interview challenges, limited skill-building opportunities and workplace barriers. To counteract this, Simcoach's games aren't just designed to teach; they also track progress, which can then be used by clinicians to personalize treatment plans. For example, the funding will support the development of a companion curriculum, allowing the games to be integrated into therapy sessions, educational programs and home-based learning environments. Founded in 2005, Simcoach has already developed over 100 games, with many already being used in behavioral health settings, according to Kaleida. $300,000 in grants up for grabs in annual competition Applications are now open for the BNY UpPrize Social Innovation Challenge, a competition offering a combined $300,000 in prize money for early-stage and advanced-stage ventures in Southwestern Pennsylvania. The annual challenge is switching it up this year, offering two tracks for local companies and organizations. An early-stage track for emerging ventures with promising ideas is offering $75,000 for first place and $50,000 for second place, while an advanced-stage track for established ventures ready to scale is offering $125,000 for first place and $75,000 for second place. Over the last decade, the challenge has been used to identify and accelerate 'mission-driven entrepreneurs attempting to solve meaningful problems,' said Ven Raju, president and CEO of Innovation Works. 'The program provides founders with practical tools, peer feedback and strategic insight to clarify their value proposition, understand their customers and strengthen their path to growth.' Previous winners include renewable energy startup Farm to Flame and local investment platform Honeycomb Credit. Applications are open through June 26. Administered by Innovation Works and funded by BNY, the challenge has distributed more than $3.4 million in investments, grants and educational assistance since it launched in 2015. Ascender announces mini-grant winners for Black-owned businesses Ascender, a local hub for entrepreneurs, awarded over $4,000 to three local startups in April as part of an annual program to support Black-owned businesses. The mini-grants, funded by Dollar Bank, range from $500 to $2,000 for Black-owned startups and small businesses located in Allegheny County. To apply, business owners made a two-minute video pitching their venture and explaining how the funds would help them achieve their goals. This year's winners were Jajuan Hill of 4Arts, Antonio Williams of Next Level Athletics Fitness and Monae Findley of Plants for Skin. Previous winners include aerial videography business Cloud Collective Media and edtech startup NoCode 4 Change. Other money moves: Local startup Agility Robotics, maker of the humanoid robot Digit, is raising $400 million. The raise would bring Agility's valuation to $1.75 billion. Lovelace AI, a Bakery Square-based company specializing in using AI to synthesize data for high-risk decisions, announced it closed a seed round of an undisclosed amount, led by New York firm RRE Ventures. Local fintech startup Honeycomb Credit is actively raising $3 million, according to an SEC filing. The company has already secured more than $760,000 toward that goal. The Shapiro Administration awarded $2 million to Neovate Life Sciences, a VC firm with offices in Pittsburgh, to invest in local early-stage life science startups, focusing on medical device companies. Autonomous flight systems developer Near Earth Autonomy was selected by the US Army to lead a $15 million project that upgrades old Black Hawk helicopters so they can fly themselves. It also secured a $790,000 contract to provide its miniaturized autonomous flight system for delivering supplies to frontline Marines in tough terrain. Local IT and cybersecurity company Magna5 acquired Shock IT Support for an undisclosed amount, expanding its reach into Eastern Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Aquatech, a Canonsburg-based company working to solve water scarcity, secured an investment of an undisclosed amount from alternative investment firm Cerberus Capital Management. Free Market Health, a local startup connecting patients to specialty pharmacies, has acquired another local startup with a similar mission, Beeline Rx, for an undisclosed amount. The Regional Industrial Development Corporation of Southwestern PA (RIDC) was approved by the commonwealth for a 15-year, $2,250,000 loan to become the lead developer of the Neighborhood 91 complex, located at the Pittsburgh International Airport. The RIDC will work to expand and enhance the property as a global advanced manufacturing 'Innovation Campus.' RIDC was also awarded a $6.9 million grant to rehabilitate two buildings at the New Kensington Advanced Manufacturing Park. East Liberty-based edtech company Duolingo participated in a $9.5 million seed round for California startup The company will use the funds to develop affordable one-on-one AI tutors. Money moves in education: RealLIST Startup honoree Clean Plate Innovations won $20,000 at Duquesne University's 2025 New Venture Challenge, taking first place for its AI-powered vision system that offers real-time analytics on food waste for dining operations. The University of Pittsburgh's Big Idea Competition awarded nearly $80,000 to student-founded startups last week. Pittsburgh Coastal Energy, which is developing a system to power submersible vehicles using ocean wave energy, won the $25,000 grand prize. Tech firm Leidos is investing $10 million in the University of Pittsburgh's Computational Pathology and AI Center of Excellence to accelerate the development of AI-powered tools for faster detection of diseases like heart disease and cancer. Local stakeholders broke ground on a $5.8 million project to revitalize the former Martin Luther King Jr. Reading and Cultural Center in the Hill District to be a state-of-the-art STEM education facility. The University of Pittsburgh will pay $7.85 million to settle a class action lawsuit over its transition to remote learning in Spring 2020. The settlement covers 31,878 students, with a final approval hearing set for July 28. Commute platform Arm and investment holding company SoftBank Group will contribute $15.5 million to a partnership between Carnegie Mellon University and Japanese Keio University to develop technologies powered by artificial intelligence. Upcoming opportunities: Pittsburgh nonprofits, startups and small businesses can now apply for a fully funded student fellow through Grove City College's E+I Fellows Program, an 8-week internship program happening this fall. Local startup accelerator AlphaLab is now accepting applications for its 2026 cohort. The accelerator program offers early-stage companies up to $100,000 in funding, lab space, mentorship and direct connections to investors.
Associated Press
24-03-2025
- Health
- Associated Press
Southwestern PA Workplace Mental Health Regional Coalition Announces Inaugural Annual Summit
PITTSBURGH--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Mar 24, 2025-- One Mind at Work, in proud partnership with the Richard King Mellon Foundation, announces the Inaugural Annual Summit for the Southwestern PA Workplace Mental Health Regional Coalition. The Summit is scheduled for May 19, 2025, at The Auction House, home of the Richard King Mellon Foundation. This premier event will unite HR professionals, business leaders, and workplace well-being advocates to foster essential dialogue on workplace mental health, employee well-being, and organizational resilience. About the Southwestern PA Workplace Mental Health Regional Coalition Led by One Mind at Work and funded by the Richard King Mellon Foundation, the Southwestern PA Workplace Mental Health Regional Coalition is dedicated to empowering employers and nonprofits with the tools, training, and support to drive meaningful improvements in workplace mental health. Key Offerings: Annual Summit: Expert-led sessions, groundbreaking research, and peer networking opportunities. The Mental Health at Work Index: An evidence-based tool to assess and enhance workplace mental health programs. Workshops & Support: Quarterly meetings, interactive workshops, and advisory sessions to strengthen mental health initiatives. Nonprofit Fellowship Program: Funding and tools to help nonprofit leaders prioritize mental health. A Transformative Experience for Employers and Nonprofits The summit will feature insights from leading mental health experts, actionable strategies to elevate workplace well-being, and unique networking opportunities. Attendees will gain valuable tools and knowledge to drive lasting change in their organizations. Key Takeaways for Attendees: ✔ Gain insights from top mental health and business leaders ✔ Engage in peer networking with executives, HR professionals, and advocates ✔ Access practical, evidence-based solutions to support workforce well-being Introducing the Nonprofit Fellowship Program In a major step toward supporting nonprofit organizations in prioritizing mental health, the coalition is launching its Inaugural Nonprofit Fellowship Program, with generous funding from the Richard King Mellon Foundation. This initiative will provide selected nonprofits with: ✔ $5,000 grants to develop and implement workplace mental health programs ✔ Expert training & resources from leading professionals ✔ Community & collaboration opportunities with regional nonprofit leaders Nonprofits are encouraged to apply today. Nominations are also open for organizations committed to improving workplace mental health. Join the Movement For more details about the Regional Coalition, the Summit, or the Nonprofit Fellowship Program, click here or contact us at [email protected]. Together, with the Richard King Mellon Foundation, we are building a healthier, more resilient workforce across Southwestern Pennsylvania. About One Mind™ One Mind is at the forefront of a transformative movement in mental health, delivering innovative solutions to address critical gaps in mental health research, care, workplace wellness, and public perception. Guided by science and lived experience, we fund groundbreaking research, accelerate innovation, enhance workplace wellness, and engage the public to reshape mental health care and awareness. With science as our cornerstone, and people at the heart of what we do, our programs are setting new standards for effective interventions and redefining the future of mental health. As an arm of One Mind, One Mind at Work is a global coalition of organizations committed to the development and implementation of a gold standard for workplace mental health and well-being. With most of the world's population spending one-third of their adult lives at work, employers have a tremendous opportunity to improve quality of life for all people and play a critical role in driving mental health solutions. Leaving mental health needs unaddressed has costly results like higher absenteeism, increased liability, and lost productivity. One Mind at Work believes that a committed group of CEOs can transform the way we view and approach mental health, brain fitness, and well-being in the workplace. Today, there are nearly 150 One Mind at Work member organizations. About the Richard King Mellon Foundation Founded in 1947, the Richard King Mellon Foundation is the largest foundation in Southwestern Pennsylvania, and one of the 50 largest in the world. The Foundation's 2023 year-end net assets were $2.9 billion, and its Trustees in 2023 disbursed more than $176 million in grants and program-related investments. The Foundation focuses its funding on six primary program areas, delineated in its 2021-2030 Strategic Plan. SOURCE: One Mind at Work Copyright Business Wire 2025. PUB: 03/24/2025 09:05 AM/DISC: 03/24/2025 09:05 AM
