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Proclamation recognizing and thanking the POISE Foundation for its rich history of philanthropy within the Greater Pittsburgh Region’s Black Community.
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WHEREAS, since its founding in December of 1980 by Mr. Bernard H. Jones, the POISE Foundation has served as the first public foundation in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, organized and managed by African Americans; and
WHEREAS, created as a community foundation, POISE has focused on developing and enhancing the participation of African American philanthropists in the economic and social development of the Black community of the City of Pittsburgh and Allegheny County; and
WHEREAS, over the past 34 years, the POISE Foundation has grown from an initial capitalization of $164,000 to a present value in excess of $4.5 million. During this same period, POISE has returned to the community that nurtured it more than $4.2 million in grants to deserving organizations that focus on improving conditions in six areas: Aging, Arts and Culture, Children and Youth, Education, Health and Human Services, and Urban Affairs/Economic Development; and
WHEREAS, the POISE Foundation’s current grant-making strategy aims to strengthen Black families by funding projects that improve family communication, increase family time, encourage family civic engagement and strengthen family resilience. Through the POISE Foundation’s various scholarship programs, families receive assistance with tuition, fees and other related costs, in order to provide opportunities to seek an education best suited for their children. The Foundation has also served as fiscal sponsor for more than 20 organizations and programs, enabling more than $1 million in direct programming to the community; and
WHEREAS, in addition to the grants, scholarship, and fiscal sponsorship services that POISE provides, the Foundation sometimes initiates or co-creates programs such as, the Sustainable Black Community, Giving Circles, Greater Pittsburgh After Schoo...
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