NEXTpittsburgh
Celebrating 10 years of NEXT
Dozens of organizations in southwest Pennsylvania will receive a total of $9.3 million from the Heinz Endowments to support their work combating climate change, reducing environmental health harms and improving access to nutritious food.
Some of the work was identified through a 2023 study conducted by New York University’s Grossman School of Medicine and supported by the Endowments. The study found a consequential decrease in emissions and heart-related emergency department visits following the 2016 closure of Shenango Coke Works on Neville Island.
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Carnegie Mellon University will receive $93,000 to analyze regional air pollution impacts, and the Environmental Integrity Project will receive $250,000 to improve air quality in Western Pennsylvania.
The breakdown is $6.3 million for environment and health work, $2.2 million for climate-related projects and $830,000 for organizations dedicated to improving food security.
Three organizations receiving grants — Women for a Healthy Environment, PennFuture and Riverlife — were founded with support from the Endowments. PennFuture and Riverlife are celebrating 25 years.
Some of the major recipients are:
Reducing exposure to toxic chemicals
Women for a Healthy Environment will receive $950,000 to educate parents about the harms of children’s exposure to chemicals, community-based education for healthier homes and public spaces, and the 1,000 Hours a Year program, which aims to remediate lead and radon in spaces where children learn.
Women for a Healthy Environment was founded in 2007 to build on Women’s Health and the Environment conferences that began in 1996 and were led by Endowments Board Chair Emeritus Teresa Heinz.
“From the early days of the Women’s Health and Environment conferences to our current-day national footprint, we are honored for the opportunity to change — and save — lives through environmental education and advocacy,” said Executive Director Michelle Naccarati-Chapkis in a press release.
Improving access to clean energy
The Capital Good Fund, a nonprofit certified by the U.S. Treasury Department as a Community Development Financial Institution, will receive $500,000 to support Pennsylvania BRIGHT.
The pilot solar leasing program will help low-to-moderate-income households install solar and photovoltaic battery storage systems.
Enhancing and expanding riverfront recreation
Riverlife will receive $220,000 to advance the Completing the Loop vision, enhancing and expanding Pittsburgh’s 15-mile, 1,050-acre loop of interconnected riverfront parks, trails and public land.
“Completing and expanding the Loop will help ensure that everyone in our region has access to all the beauty, fun, joy and excitement that our rivers have to offer,” Riverlife President and CEO Matthew Galluzzo said in a press release.
Addressing food insecurity
The Pittsburgh Food Policy Council found that one in seven Allegheny County residents is food insecure. Farm to Table Buy Local will receive $240,000 to expand access to fresh, local food.
“Reliable and equitable access to reasonably priced, high-quality, nutritious food is a vital part of the health of a community,” said Erin Hart, founder and executive director of Farm to Table Buy Local.
Taking climate action
Citizens for Pennsylvania’s Future, also known as PennFuture, will receive $400,000 to further environmental and community health improvements, including efforts to transition Pennsylvania to a clean energy economy. PennFuture was created in 1998 with a partnership between the Endowments and the Pew Charitable Trust.
For a list of all recipients, view the announcement.
A Pittsburgh native, Ethan is a freelance journalist interested in telling the stories of people doing great things to build community and sustainability. Ethan served as Editor-in-Chief of Allegheny College’s newspaper, The Campus.
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