PPG has announced the completion of a COLORFUL COMMUNITIES® project that revitalized the Benedek Elek Institute for Special Education Methodology (EGYMI) in Budapest, Hungary. The school serves children with learning and intellectual disabilities as well as autism spectrum disorder. More than 30 PPG and community volunteers contributed over 260 hours to beautify the facility. PPG donated more than $33,000 (30,000 euros) and supplied over 215 gallons (800 liters) of HÉRA™ paint, including Héra Ceramic paint known for its durability and washability.
A key feature of the project is a mural led by Hungarian artists Zoltán Nagy and Katalin Benkő, which portrays iconic fairy tale heroes from stories by Elek Benedek, the school’s namesake. The artwork brings the magic of storytelling to life for the students.
Additionally, PPG organized a roundtable discussion featuring external speakers to highlight the therapeutic power of storytelling. The discussion explored how fairy tales can help children understand and cope with disabilities. Hundreds of activity booklets featuring the mural’s design and incorporating story therapy principles were created for the students at Benedek Elek EGYMI.
“At PPG, diversity, acceptance, and support for those in need are core values. We believe that providing equitable experiences leads to better engagement, enhanced business performance, and more opportunities for all,” said István Miavecz, PPG General Manager for Central Europe, Architectural Coatings. “We hope these values will be passed on to the children at this school through the world of fairy tales.”
This project is part of the third year of PPG’s New Paint for a New Start initiative, which has transformed over 25 schools and educational spaces worldwide.
PPG’s Colorful Communities program, the company’s flagship initiative for community support, aims to protect and beautify the neighborhoods where PPG operates. Since 2015, the program has completed more than 500 projects, benefiting over 8.2 million people across 50 countries.
In 2023, PPG and the PPG Foundation invested more than $17.5 million in community projects across nearly 40 countries. These efforts focus on enhancing educational opportunities, nurturing the next generation of STEM innovators, and supporting PPG employees’ volunteer and charitable efforts to create a positive impact globally.
