PPG and PPG Foundation Invest $18.4 Million in Global Community Initiatives for 2024
PPG (NYSE: PPG) and the PPG Foundation today announced a significant investment of $18.4 million worldwide in 2024, marking a $900,000 increase over 2023. This funding supports over 400 community partners and programs, focusing on advancing education and promoting community sustainability while fostering PPG employee volunteerism. Malesia Dunn, Executive Director of the PPG Foundation and Corporate Global Social Responsibility, emphasized, “Around the world, PPG’s 2024 community engagement investments aimed to inspire students and aspiring STEM leaders, beautify neighborhoods, and provide our employees with meaningful ways to give back. We’re focused on creating brighter communities, inspiring the future workforce, and applying our employees’ talents in ways that create tangible impacts.”
Highlights of 2024 Community Engagement Commitments
Advancing STEM Education
$11.5 million was dedicated to building the next generation of STEM leaders. Notable initiatives include:
- Expanding the Playlab Project: PPG extended its partnership with the National Museum of Science and Technology Leonardo da Vinci in Milan to open Playlab, a unique educational space for young children. This project aims to spark curiosity and creativity in science and technology from an early age.
- Supporting FEE’s Eco-Schools Program: PPG entered a two-year partnership with the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) to create materials like “Eco-Schools” handbooks, instructional videos, online courses, and training materials for teachers. This collaboration empowers educators to teach environmental sustainability effectively.
- Code/Art Partnership: In Pittsburgh and Detroit, the PPG Foundation partnered with nonprofit Code/Art to expand access to computer science programs for girls, blending art and technology to foster creativity and innovation.
- Girls in Tech Initiative: In Sumaré, Brazil, PPG launched the third edition of “Girls in Tech,” an initiative with nonprofit Casa Hacker. This program aims to empower young women to pursue careers in technology, addressing gender disparities in STEM fields.
Progress Toward Environmental Sustainability
$1.2 million was invested toward a $5 million commitment by 2030 to environmental sustainability education. Key partners include:
- National Energy Education Development (NEED) in the U.S.
- Junior Uni Wuppertal’s sustainability courses in Germany
- Attitude for the Planet program with Junior Achievement in Brazil
Additionally, PPG completed its $2 million commitment by 2025 to future skilled worker training through partnerships with organizations like the Bidwell Training Center’s Chemical Laboratory Technician program in the U.S., the technical education program 42KL in Malaysia, and the donation of PPG LINQ™ innovative tools to vocational schools in Europe. The company also supported WorldSkills Lyon 2024, the world’s largest vocational skills competition.
Community Sustainability and Disaster Relief
$6.4 million was allocated to community sustainability and disaster relief efforts. PPG and the PPG Foundation contributed to organizations supporting emergency relief following natural disasters and extreme weather events in the southeastern U.S. and across Europe. Additionally, 58 COLORFUL COMMUNITIES® projects were completed in 2024 across 27 countries.
Colorful Communities Impact
Since 2015, PPG’s Colorful Communities program has completed nearly 600 projects, involving more than 30,300 PPG employee and community volunteers. These efforts have positively impacted over 10.2 million people in more than 50 countries. In 2024 alone, the program completed its third New Paint for a New Start initiative, transforming 90 schools into engaging environments for nearly 53,000 students and teachers from 2022 to 2024.
PPG’s Global Community Engagement Efforts
PPG’s global community engagement efforts and the PPG Foundation aim to bring color and brightness to communities around the world. In 2024, we invested $18.4 million, supporting hundreds of organizations across more than 30 countries. By investing in educational opportunities, we help grow tomorrow’s STEM innovators and skilled workforce in fields related to coatings and manufacturing. Furthermore, we empower PPG employees to multiply their impact for causes that are important to them by supporting their volunteer efforts and charitable giving.
Why It Matters
Investing in education and community sustainability is crucial for building a better future. By fostering STEM education, promoting environmental sustainability, and enhancing community resilience, PPG and the PPG Foundation are helping to create brighter, more sustainable communities globally. These initiatives not only benefit local communities but also contribute to the long-term success of PPG by nurturing a skilled workforce and fostering a positive brand image.
About PPG
At PPG (NYSE: PPG), we work every day to develop and deliver the paints, coatings, and specialty materials that our customers have trusted for more than 140 years. Through dedication and creativity, we solve our customers’ biggest challenges, collaborating closely to find the right path forward. With headquarters in Pittsburgh, we operate and innovate in more than 70 countries and reported net sales of $15.8 billion in 2024. We serve customers in construction, consumer products, industrial, and transportation markets and aftermarkets. To learn more, visit www.ppg.com.
