Downtown Pittsburgh's Sidewalks Blossom

Colcom Foundation Presents a Most Colorful Gift to the City of Pittsburgh for
its 250th birthday

PITTSBURGH, June 26 /PRNewswire/ -- "Pittsburgh Blossoms!" is the
unofficial name of the 250th birthday gift to the city of Pittsburgh that came
packaged in 6-foot tall green gift boxes today and were unveiled on both sides
of Seventh Avenue in Downtown's Cultural District. A total of 400 flowering
planters will be placed in Downtown streetscapes during the next two weeks.
The first set of approximately 35 flowering planters was installed today in
the Cultural District along the sidewalks of Seventh Avenue.
Colcom Foundation has provided the funding to place the 400 planters on
the sidewalks of downtown Pittsburgh to 'dress it up' for the summer of the
city's 250th birthday celebrations. The Western Pennsylvania Conservancy is
responsible for managing the planting of the flowers, placement of the
planters and maintaining them for the summer of 2008.
"This special gift to Pittsburgh's downtown neighborhood is something our
founder Mrs. Cordelia May would have encouraged," said Tim Inglis, President
of the Colcom Foundation. "Mrs. May's legacy continues to support many
beautification efforts in southwestern Pennsylvania. We hope these blossoming
planters will add a burst of color and beauty to the excitement of our
Downtown area this summer," added Inglis.
Officials from the Colcom Foundation, the Laurel Foundation, the City of
Pittsburgh, the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership and the Western Pennsylvania
Conservancy today convened outside the Benedum Center for the Performing Arts
to present the special "Pittsburgh Blossoms!" gift to the City of Pittsburgh,
and to make a "sidewalk birthday tribute" to the city.
While the flowering planters represent a new gift to downtown, they will
add to another flower project of 450 hanging baskets lining a number of
downtown streets and bridges. The hanging flower baskets - a program now in
its sixth year - are underwritten by the Laurel Foundation, also founded by
Mrs. Cordelia May.
The Western Pennsylvania Conservancy estimates that the combination of the
new planters and hanging baskets will feature more than 20,000 flowering
plants to grace the city's sidewalks and bridges this summer. Conservancy
President Tom Saunders commented on the impact of these programs to the
downtown landscape.
Former City of Pittsburgh Mayor Sophie Masloff, a spry 90-year old who is
currently America's oldest "Super delegate" and the only woman to ever lead
the city (from 1988 to 1993), was in attendance and expressed her appreciation
for making downtown even more beautiful. Ms. Masloff initiated a group sing-
a-long accompanied by the Barbershop Quartet "Note4Note" in a rendition of
"Happy Birthday to Pittsburgh."
The gift to the city was also officially accepted by Sabrina Saunders,
Special Assistant to Mayor Luke Ravenstahl, who expressed the Mayor's
appreciation for the 'burst of flowers' throughout downtown.
Mike Edwards, President of the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership expressed
his appreciation, on behalf of downtown merchants, for the beautification
effort and stated he hoped the planters could be used from year to year with
the support of the downtown community to plant and take care of them in future
years. All those in attendance were invited to have a celebratory 250th
cupcake and to enjoy the beauty of the planters.
About Colcom Foundation and Laurel Foundation
The Colcom Foundation was founded by Cordelia S. May, a western
Pennsylvania philanthropist who supported regional and national initiatives to
improve the quality of life. In fulfilling her vision, the Colcom Foundation
supports local programs that enhance Pittsburgh's viability and livability.
The Foundation has participated in local programs to enhance parks and trails,
expand public gardens and streetscapes, provide access to lifesaving
equipment, create and maintain art for public spaces, support environmental
education programs, and sustain local recreational facilities. In addition,
Colcom supports conservation and environmental efforts and cultural assets
throughout southwestern Pennsylvania. Colcom Foundation has been ranked the
8th largest Pittsburgh-area foundation based on total grant funding.
The Laurel Foundation, founded by Mrs. May in 1951, makes grants in
Pittsburgh and Southwestern Pennsylvania in the fields of arts and culture,
education, environment, health and human services, and community and public
benefit.
SOURCE Colcom Foundation

Lynn Reno, or Bob Butter, +1-412-281-6970, +1-412-736-6186, both for Colcom
Foundation