Keeping the Promise

A $1 million pledge shows momentum at work

Although it is new to Pittsburgh, KeyBank quickly was able to size up the region’s priorities. A $1 million donation over four years to the Pittsburgh Promise college scholarship program is proof of that. The donation comes from the bank’s philanthropic wing, KeyBank Foundation.

“As newcomers, we were trying to identify a wonderful opportunity that aligned with our vision, mission and goals for the KeyBank Foundation, and this was on target,” foundation chair and CEO Margot Copeland said. KeyBank took over First Niagara Bank, entering the Pittsburgh market last year.

Its foundation joins a long list of Pittsburgh organizations and businesses backing the Promise’s goals of encouraging academic excellence in the Pittsburgh Public Schools, helping students attain their postsecondary dreams and building a skilled workforce for the region. The Promise pretty much aligns with everyone’s goals.

Banks have been among the important contributors — BNY Mellon Foundation and PNC Foundation also are listed as million-dollar donors — but no organization has done more to launch and sustain the Promise than UPMC. The health care giant recently made the last installment of its $100 million funding commitment, even though the Promise raised only $94 million of the $150 million in matching funds it was supposed to generate to leverage the UPMC gift.

The Promise has done an excellent job of keeping its work in the spotlight and of making sure students appreciate the opportunity. The KeyBank donation was announced during the Promise’s first “senior signing day,” at which high school seniors — eligible for up to $30,000 in scholarships each — announced their postsecondary plans.

As “Pomp and Circumstance” rings out in public high school gymnasiums across Steel City and Pittsburgh seniors process in caps and polyester gowns, many families are having tough conversations about how they will pay for college in the fall. Those conversations are a bit easier in Pittsburgh, where the Promise has awarded more than $102 million to more than 7,300 students since 2008.

A decade ago, the Promise was barely a dream. Now, executive director Saleem Ghubril said recently that he and his staff are working on a plan for the program’s next 10 years.