PPG Revitalizes School in France as Part of COLORFUL COMMUNITIES 10-year Celebration

PPG announced the completion of a COLORFUL COMMUNITIES project at the Donat Godin School in Estreux, near PPG’s automotive OEM coatings manufacturing site in Saultain. The project is one of 10 global flagship initiatives in 2025 celebrating the 10-year anniversary of PPG’s Colorful Communities program.

The initiative brought together almost 130 volunteers across three Saturdays, including employees from Saultain, PPG’s Marly research and development site, members of the school’s parent association and the Estreux Town Hall, and local partners. Their efforts helped transform the school’s interior and exterior spaces into a vibrant and inspiring learning environment for more than 150 students and staff.

PPG provided €133,000 to support the project, including more than 200 liters of SEIGNEURIE® paints by PPG. These included high-performance products such as Pancrytex TT Bas Carbone Mat durable low-carbon exterior façade paint; Pantex Bas Carbone Mat low-carbon matt interior paint; and Elyopur Mat wall and ceiling paint with formaldehyde-capturing “Air Purifying” technology, certified with the EU Ecolabel. The funding also supported the purchase of playground equipment and gardening supplies.

“This project means a great deal to us. We – students, families and the teaching staff – feel incredibly fortunate thanks to the commitment of PPG and its volunteers,” said Delphine Mattart, Principal of Donat Godin School. “Enthusiastic, inspired, and warm-hearted artists are helping transform our school into an even more inspiring place, with colors on the walls and floors that spark curiosity, creativity, and the joy of learning. The students were also thrilled to receive new playground equipment to play, relax, and dream. A huge, heartfelt thank you to PPG and all the volunteers for their generosity and dedication to our school.”

French artist Leona Rose created a series of dreamlike, nature-inspired murals throughout the building, depicting endangered animals such as the marine iguana, blue-throated macaw, monarch butterfly and polar bear. These vibrant artworks flow through shared spaces including the canteen, recreation yard and hallway areas, encouraging curiosity, joy and a deeper connection to the natural world.

Outdoor areas were enhanced by artist SabartDeco with playful, with painted features including a rocket hopscotch, a maze, a football field with animal-themed elements and a series of imaginative trails encouraging movement and interaction. The project also included the renovation of restrooms, a full repaint of the motor skills room, and the planting of a small orchard to bring nature further into the heart of the school.

“I’m proud of the PPG volunteers from our Saultain and Marly sites who gave their time to support Estreux school,” said Maxime Linke, PPG plant manager, Saultain. “This project is part of our global celebration of 10 years of Colorful Communities, with nearly 600 projects completed worldwide — including more than 30 in France since 2015 — bringing color and joy to over 10 million people.”

PPG has expanded the Colorful Communities program for an additional 10 years and will commit a further $10 million to the program, taking its total investment to $25 million through 2035. To build on the positive impacts of the program, PPG and the PPG Foundation will also distribute a total of $1 million in celebration grants to 100 previous and current Colorful Communities partners globally this year.