Message from the Director

Enriching Our Employees, Improving Our Communities and Enhancing Our Businesses Around the World

In 2013, we engaged in a critical strategic visioning process to examine and analyze the results of our past and current charitable giving strategies. As the process moves forward in 2014, we will enhance the structure of our programs and implement improvements that maximize their value to our employees, our communities and our businesses.

We’d like to share some of our most recent successful and exciting projects. This is just a small list of the hundreds of projects and organizations to which the Foundation contributed dollars, the company has contributed products and our employees have contributed their valuable time, talents and skills. We all learn something new with each project.

Who knew that a “Slinky” toy could replicate the movement of an elephant’s trunk and that scientists could use this information for the advancement of robotics research? Through a collaborative project between Pittsburgh’s Carnegie Science Center, the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium and PPG scientists, the “Wild by Design” program is educating students throughout the area about biomimetics. The program may also be scheduled outside of the Pittsburgh region.
Did you know that STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering and Math? Just ask The SciGirls STEM Spotlight program team who bring the excitement and value of these topics to encourage young people to join in the fun and investigate careers in these areas.
Have you ever thought about all of the math and science involved in athletic events? They provide a valuable venue to encourage science, scholarship and success. We support unique academically-based programs in which student athletes are motivated to focus on academics to achieve success.

These are just a very few of the programs to which the PPG Industries Foundation extends contributions.
There are numerous opportunities for individual PPG facilities and employees to extend the support of the Foundation. We contribute global financial aid for communities affected by disaster through grants to the American Red Cross and the PPG CARE fund provides distributions to individual employees who are affected by disasters.

Employees can use the GIVE (Grant Incentives for Volunteerism by PPG Employees and Retirees) program to support their personal volunteer efforts. They can apply for Public Education Leadership Community (PELC) grants to support educational programs in schools where employees have a connection. We help support local cultural events and the value they bring to our communities. There are many more.

As we expand our reach throughout the world, we are proud to report on several exciting projects:

Near PPG’s coatings plant in San Juan Del Rio, Mexico, we are supporting the Wameru Zoo with new educational and colorful signage about the animals, as well as upgrades to the animals’ food preparation area.
In areas of Brazil, we are partnering with Junior Achievement. PPG employee volunteers provide economic education opportunities to several PPG communities.
The World Wildlife Fund has received contributions to support sustaining endangered species.
Most recently we have been involved with several technical schools in Hungary that train painters and paper hangers. PPG is also the main sponsor of the “Young Professionals Painter of the Year” competition.

I am very privileged and proud to guide the efforts of the PPG Industries Foundation and PPG’s Global Charitable Contributions Program. Our success is based on the commitment of the company’s executive management team and our employees. As we reflect on the many organizations and programs that we have supported for more than 60 years, we look forward to enriching our current programs, adding new ones and expanding our overall value globally.

I invite you to visit our website www.ppgfoundation.com frequently to learn the extent of our programs, what’s new and how you can help extend the positive reach of our contributions.

Most sincerely,

Sue Sloan
Executive Director, PPG Industries Foundation
Executive Director, Corporate Global Social Responsibility