PPG Industries announced that it has completed 11 projects around the world since launching the COLORFUL COMMUNITIES initiative in May as part of its global charitable efforts, and it has initiated four additional projects slated for completion in 2016. The Colorful Communities program provides PPG employee volunteers and PPG products along with financial contributions to bring color and vitality to communities where the company operates around the world. The program increases PPG’s commitment to invest in communities by adding $10 million to support efforts made during a 10-year period.

For the 11 Colorful Communities projects completed to date, 2,572 gallons (about 9,735 liters) of PPG paint products were used, and PPG granted more than $209,000 in funding to partner organizations. Additionally, more than 830 PPG volunteers have donated more than 4,800 volunteer hours to help brighten communities by painting, planting flowers, cleaning and contributing to educational resources. The completed Colorful Communities projects have helped revitalize:

•     Propel Hazelwood school in Pittsburgh;
•     the Cesare Arrigo Children’s Hospital in Alessandria, Italy;
•     a child-care center in Busan, South Korea;
•     the Tianjin TEDA Art Center in Tianjin, China;
•     a children's playground in the Park pod Wałką in Cieszyn, Poland;
•     the Amsta Karaad residential care facility at the Overtoom in Amsterdam;
•     the Bursa Merkez Learning Unit of TEGV (Educational Volunteers Foundation of Turkey) in Bursa, Turkey;
•     the soon-to-open Monash Children’s Hospital in Clayton, Victoria, Australia;
•     Mahatma Gandhi secondary school in San Juan del Rio, Queretaro, Mexico;
•     homes in the “La Cruz” neighborhood of Itagui, Antioquia, Colombia; and
•     the Nansha Primary School in Zhangjiagang, China.

Additionally, PPG has already committed nearly $100,000 in funding for Colorful Communities projects underway in Oak Creek, Wisconsin; Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada; the Ronzier neighborhood of Valenciennes, France; and Sumaré, Sao Paulo, Brazil.

“We are very excited about the early success of our global Colorful Communities initiative and eager to offer PPG employees around the world many more opportunities to volunteer their time and talent for community-brightening projects,” said PPG Corporate Global Social Responsibility Executive Director Sue Sloan. “Backed by our capable employees and high-quality products, we look forward to continuing to bring vitality to organizations through the global Colorful Communities program in the coming year.”

The Colorful Communities program is PPG’s signature initiative for its community engagement efforts, aiming to enhance, protect and beautify the neighborhoods where the company operates. Together with community partners and PPG employee volunteers, the program supports projects that transform community spaces using PPG products.

In 2014, PPG and the PPG Industries Foundation donated more than $5.7 million to hundreds of community organizations across 24 countries around the world. These investments focused on: education programs that teach young people skills needed to succeed in studies and careers related to science, technology, engineering and math, such as jobs in advanced manufacturing; revitalization programs for buildings and community spaces; and organizations important to employees through grant and matching-funds programs.