Pitt to Help Its Neighbors With Involvement in 14 Community Projects During Today's United Way Day of Caring

PITTSBURGH-The University of Pittsburgh with support from TIAA-CREF will be involved in 14 community projects during its United Way Day of Caring Sept. 26, including two key projects in neighborhoods adjacent to the University.

According to Steve Zupcic in Pitt's Office of Community Relations, who coordinates the Day of Caring event, two important projects are "Creating Affordable Housing" in a West Oakland apartment building and several initiatives at Hill House, where volunteers will provide assistance with a few of the agency's efforts.

Working with the Oakland Planning and Development Corporation, 70 Pitt volunteers will be painting and doing general upgrades to rehabilitate and refurbish the apartment building. At Hill House, volunteers will read aloud to children, assist with home maintenance for senior citizens, and take part in a green-up project with the Sierra Club.

"The three-fold mission of the University embraces the role of "Partner in Regional Development," which includes being a good institutional neighbor to the community organizations and neighborhoods that surround our urban campus," said Renny Clark, vice chancellor for community initiatives, chief of staff in the Office of the Chancellor, and United Way Steering Committee cochair. "Through our annual Day of Caring, Pitt staff and faculty members provide a tangible expression of our commitment to that mission."

Other Pitt Day of Caring projects include reading aloud at the Urban League Charter School in East Liberty, transforming a piece of South Oakland property into a green space and park through the Oakland Greenway and Community Park project, providing career development assistance at Sojourner House in East Liberty, and packaging medical supplies at Global Links in Point Breeze. For a complete list of projects visit www.pitt.edu/~united.

"We are honored to sponsor this Day of Caring at the University of Pittsburgh, as our employees have a long tradition of contributing to those efforts that help support the greater good," said Scott Evans, executive vice president of asset management for TIAA-CREF. "Managing our clients financial security to and through retirement has been our only mission for nearly 90 years," Evans added.

TIAA-CREF (www.tiaa-cref.org) is a national financial services organization with more than $420 billion in combined assets under management (6/30/08) and the leading provider of retirement services in the academic, research, medical, and cultural fields. To learn more about TIAA-CREF, visit www.tiaa-cref.org.

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9/26/08/tmw