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Jewish women's group here pledges $10,000 to Promise
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Citing its longtime commitment to education, the Pittsburgh Section of the National Council of Jewish Women will give $10,000 to the Pittsburgh Promise college scholarship program.
The Promise and NCJW confirmed the gift yesterday.
NCJW is the first community organization to join the "Committee of 100," a initiative targeting business and civic leaders.
The recently established committee has about 15 members so far, said Saleem Ghubril, the Promise's executive director. Each member gives at least $10,000 and pledges to seek other donors.
"We look forward to leading by example and playing an active role in advocating for other leaders in business and the nonprofit community to support this scholarship opportunity as a means for improving the region's long-term outlook and performance," Susan L. Nitzberg, president of the NCJW Pittsburgh Section, said in a statement.
Mr. Ghubril said the council committed to the gift only 48 hours after hearing his pitch Nov. 30.
Ms. Nitzberg said she already had discussed the gift with Cynthia Shapira, one of five people spearheading the Committee of 100 and the Promise's $50 million corporate fundraising effort.
Ms. Nitzberg said the gift builds on NCJW's previous education initiatives here.
The Promise provides scholarships to graduates of Pittsburgh Public Schools and city charter schools who meet certain enrollment and academic guidelines.
The program is funded largely by the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, which donated $10 million and offered a nine-year, $90 million matching grant.
The Promise leveraged the first $10 million of the match last school year, and it must raise $15 million by June 30 to leverage the next $10 million. Mr. Ghubril said he expects to have raised $10 million of the $15 million by Dec. 31.
First Published December 15, 2009 12:01 am
