Alcoa Foundation today announced that it has begun a five-year
partnership with Gilda’s Club Western
Pennsylvania as lead sponsor of “Conversation
with Paul O’Neill Evenings,”
the organization’s signature event. Alcoa
Foundation awarded a total of $125,000 over five years to the local
chapter of Gilda’s Club created in honor of
Comedian Gilda Radner who died of ovarian cancer at the age of 43. Gilda’s
Club offers social and emotional support, and lectures and workshops to
anyone touched by cancer.
The “Conversation with Paul O’Neill”
program started in 2004 and focuses on issues of current interest that
impact the Pittsburgh region and the nation in a conversation led by
Paul O’Neill, former secretary of the U.S.
Treasury and former Chairman of Alcoa (NYSE:AA). More than 900 guests
attended the most recent conversation held at Heinz Hall last month in
Pittsburgh between Mr. O’Neill and Cokie
Roberts, political correspondent and NPR news analyst.
“We appreciate the opportunity to partner
with Gilda’s Club Western Pennsylvania to
keep this series of ‘O’Neill
Discussion Evenings’ an integral part of the
community calendar for the Pittsburgh region,”
said Meg McDonald, President Alcoa Foundation. “It
is a fitting tribute and wonderful way of expressing our thanks for the
dedication and generosity of Nancy and Paul O’Neill
in establishing this event and giving so much of themselves to ensure
the successful growth of this amazing organization.”
“The Alcoa Foundation has given a tremendous
gift to our community, to Gilda’s Club and to
Nancy and Paul O’Neill,”
said Betsy Marcu, Chairman Emeritus Gilda’s
Club Western Pennsylvania. “Nancy and Paul
have been wonderful benefactors of Gilda’s
Club Western Pennsylvania since its early stages of development. It is
great to be able to honor them in this way through the generosity of the
Alcoa Foundation, which has been such an important aspect of their lives.”
About Alcoa Foundation in Pittsburgh
Alcoa Foundation’s mission is to actively
invest in the quality of life in Alcoa communities worldwide. Over the
last five years, Alcoa Foundation has invested approximately $11 million
in Pittsburgh/Allegheny County, bringing its total investment in
Pennsylvania to more than $15 million in grants to not-for-profit
organizations. Recently Alcoa Foundation announced a $1.2 million
strategic investment in three local cultural and health organizations to
continue to build positive community resources in the Pittsburgh region.
Throughout its history, the Foundation has been a source of positive
community change and enhancement, with over $465 million invested since
1952. To learn more about Alcoa Foundation, visit www.alcoa.com
under Community.
