PPG has completed a transformative COLORFUL COMMUNITIES® project in partnership with Heart of America at the Fort Lauderdale, Florida campus of Kids in Distress, Inc. (KID), marking a meaningful investment in the environments where vulnerable children live, heal, and grow. The project brought together 100 of PPG’s top global leaders for a hands-on volunteer effort designed to reimagine and revitalize multiple spaces across the campus, reinforcing the organization’s commitment to protecting and beautifying communities around the world.
Kids in Distress is a nonprofit organization dedicated to preventing child abuse, preserving families, and providing treatment and care for children who have experienced abuse and neglect. Its Fort Lauderdale campus serves as both a safe haven and a place of healing for children navigating some of the most challenging moments of their young lives. Recognizing the critical role that physical surroundings play in emotional well-being and recovery, the Colorful Communities project focused on creating spaces that feel warm, welcoming, and supportive—places where children can feel secure, valued, and at home.
Over the course of the project, PPG’s global leaders worked side by side to refresh foster family group homes throughout the campus. Their efforts extended far beyond painting walls. Volunteers applied fresh, thoughtfully selected colors to bedrooms, kitchens, dining areas, and shared spaces, bringing new energy and brightness into the homes. Aging kitchen cabinetry was replaced, new furniture was assembled and installed, and outdoor areas were landscaped and beautified to create inviting spaces for play, relaxation, and connection with nature.
One of the most visible and symbolic elements of the transformation was the creation of a vibrant mural, designed to inspire hope and imagination. The mural, filled with color and positive imagery, now serves as a daily reminder to the children on campus that they are surrounded by care, creativity, and community support. Together, these improvements were intentionally designed to foster a sense of calm and belonging—essential components in helping children feel safe as they heal.
In addition to interior and exterior upgrades, the project incorporated innovative elements that encourage movement, learning, and exploration. Using ENNIS-FLINT® by PPG DECOMARK® preformed thermoplastic horizontal surface signage, volunteers installed a custom obstacle course designed by Traverse Landscape Architects. The course adds a playful, interactive feature to the campus while supporting physical activity, coordination, and confidence-building for children of all ages.
The impact of the project extended beyond the Kids in Distress campus itself. PPG volunteers built 20 “little libraries” to be placed throughout the Fort Lauderdale community, offering free access to books and encouraging a love of reading among children and families in the surrounding neighborhoods. In addition, the team assembled 24 tricycles and push cars to provide children on campus with opportunities for play and mobility, as well as 28 luggage sets filled with essential toiletries—thoughtful items that promote dignity and comfort, particularly for children transitioning into new living situations.
“For the children who live and heal on our campus, their environment matters deeply,” said Mark Dhooge, president and CEO of Kids in Distress. “The commitment shown by PPG’s global leaders goes far beyond paint and construction—it sends a powerful message to our kids that they are seen, valued, and worthy of beautiful, safe spaces. We consider our campus an important part of each child’s treatment, and this project has enhanced that environment in ways that will have a lasting impact. We are incredibly grateful for this partnership and for the heart and humanity that was poured into every corner of our campus.”
The project exemplifies PPG’s broader purpose to “protect and beautify the world,” a mission that extends beyond the company’s products to the way it engages with communities. For the leaders who participated, the experience was an opportunity to connect directly with that purpose through service and collaboration.
“The work Kids in Distress does every day helps children feel protected and supported during incredibly difficult times,” said Malesia Dunn, executive director of the PPG Foundation and corporate global social responsibility at PPG. “By revitalizing these spaces with color and care, PPG’s global leaders truly lived our purpose as they created environments designed to feel uplifting and comforting. Our hope is that these updated surroundings make a meaningful difference in helping children feel safe, calm, and at home—because those feelings are foundational to healing and growth.”
To bring the project to life, PPG partnered with The Pittsburgh Paints Company, which supplied high-quality architectural paint products selected for durability, safety, and aesthetic impact. The collaboration also included Heart of America, a nonprofit organization with a long-standing mission to transform learning spaces and support underserved students across the country. Heart of America’s expertise helped ensure that the refreshed environments would not only be visually appealing but also supportive of children’s developmental and educational needs.
“At Heart of America, we know that learning happens everywhere—at home, in school, and in the moments between,” said Jill Hardy Heath, president and CEO of Heart of America. “A stable, nurturing home environment is proven to support stronger attendance, engagement, and learning outcomes. By transforming spaces in and around the Kids in Distress campus with PPG, we’re strengthening a critical part of that continuum. These refreshed spaces will help ensure children feel safe, supported, and ready to learn, both now and in the future.”
The Colorful Communities project at Kids in Distress is part of a larger global initiative launched by PPG in 2015. The program was created to unite the power of PPG’s products with the passion and skills of its employee volunteers, bringing color, brightness, and renewed pride to neighborhoods around the world. Over the past decade, the program has supported hundreds of community projects, ranging from schools and community centers to housing facilities and nonprofit campuses like Kids in Distress.
In 2025, PPG celebrated the 10-year anniversary of the Colorful Communities program, marking a major milestone in its community engagement efforts. To build on this momentum, the company committed an additional $15 million to extend the program for another decade, reaffirming its long-term dedication to making a positive, tangible impact in communities where PPG employees live and work.
PPG’s global community engagement strategy, supported by the PPG Foundation, focuses on bringing color and opportunity to communities worldwide. In 2025 alone, PPG supported hundreds of organizations across more than 30 countries. A key priority of these efforts is investment in education, particularly initiatives that help develop the next generation of STEM innovators and skilled workers in fields related to coatings, manufacturing, and advanced materials.
Equally important is PPG’s commitment to empowering its employees to give back in meaningful ways. Through volunteer programs and charitable giving initiatives, employees are encouraged and supported in multiplying their impact for causes that matter most to them. The Kids in Distress project stands as a powerful example of how employee engagement, strategic partnerships, and purposeful action can come together to create environments that inspire hope and possibility.
To see the transformation and hear directly from those involved, viewers are invited to watch a video highlighting the Colorful Communities project at the Kids in Distress campus—a visual reminder that sometimes, the simple act of adding color can help brighten lives and futures.
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