PPG COLORFUL COMMUNITIES® program
PPG’s Colorful Communities program has dedicated the months of June, July and August 2023 to protecting and beautifying schools around the world with New Paint for a New Start.
In year two of New Paint for a New Start, we’re building on the impact that new paint and improved physical learning environments have on students and teachers. In 2023, New Paint for a New Start aims to help students start each day with a positive outlook and create joyful learning environments where students feel supported, and engaged.
More than 25 schools across our global communities will receive a colorful and transformative makeover. Through our commitment to bring color and brightness to our communities, PPG volunteers will create engaging spaces for students to learn and grow.
What makes New Paint for a New Start so special? Building better, brighter communities starts with students.
With New Paint for a New Start, we are harnessing the power of our paint to help classrooms become colorful, engaging and vibrant environments. Most projects will use a unifying global color palette, including Vining Ivy, the 2023 PPG Color of the Year, specifically selected by PPG color experts.
What’s new in 2023? We’re reaching new markets, teaming up with our customer partners, activating our Employee Resource Networks and more. Each project will also incorporate an element of environmental sustainability such as recycling materials and supplies, planting trees, environmentally-themed murals, and an educational activity.
VICE PRESIDENT, GLOBAL SUSTAINABILITY
DIANE KAPPAS
PPG
“New Paint for a New Start provides students and school infrastructures in need with meaningful changes and resources for fresh starts. This extends to inspiring students to have greater environmental consciousness."
2024
Refreshed learning spaces
More than 50 volunteers painted Scuola Secondaria di I Grado Gianni Rodari in Milan, Italy, with a fresh coat of SIGMA™ paints by PPG, in addition to two murals focused on environmental sustainability and diversity.
Workforce development classrooms
At Pivot Point in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA, 25 employees from the Protective & Marine Coatings business painted workforce development and continual education classrooms.
Library transformation
Our volunteers beautified the library and hallways at the Ronald McDonald House Charities of South Central Ontario.
Volunteers create a transformation
At the Davis Elementary School in Little Rock, Arkansas, USA, volunteers painted the school's hallways, lunchroom, and playground areas, creating a much-improved school environment for years to come.
Education, creativity and playfulness
At the Ecole Primaire Les Erables in Ruitz, France, volunteers renovated the primary school and created a colorful mural focused on education, creativity and playfulness.
Environmental sustainability and diversity
In Milan, Italy, PPG leaders and more than 50 volunteers painted Scuola Secondaria di I Grado Gianni Rodari middle school, adding two murals focused on environmental sustainability and diversity.
Library refresh
The library at the Ohio School for the Deaf received a makeover from volunteers from our Delaware, Ohio facility and Refinish team.
2023
Flourishing spaces
At the Bradley Center in Pittsburgh, PA, 100 volunteers painted classrooms and created seed pods to beautify the community.
Beautiful landscapes
With a vibrant mural, volunteers infused color during a two-part project at Association Pour l’Enfance Rurale (APER) in Saultain, France.
Local scenes for learning
In Moreuil, France, volunteers beautified Lucie Aubrac Public Primary School with a lively mural.
Sustainability in the classroom
In Américo Brasiliense City, Brazil, volunteers brought color and joy to the Carolina Ometto Pavan school and created an environmental themed mural.
Welcoming colors
Volunteers in Valladolid, Spain transformed the Special Education Center "El Corro" and added a nature and wildlife-inspired mural.
Color and connection
In Guizhou, China, we partnered with Chevrolet to renovation a school‘s campus and even played a football game with the students.
Returning volunteers
Our volunteers returned to Walnut Grove Elementary in Huntsville, Alabama, home of a 2022 New Paint for a New Start project to paint six welcoming classrooms.
2022
Colors for focus
Volunteers updated classrooms and a relaxation space for more than 3,000 Mendel University students in Brno, Czechia.
Scientific inspiration
At the Silesian University of Technology in Gliwice, Poland, several chemistry-themed murals now inspire innovation and discovery while greeting university students and visitors.
Preschool play
In Iztapalapa, Mexico, we transformed a preschool into a fantastic place to learn and play. At the preschool, the 35 volunteers painted playgrounds and classrooms.
Colorful learning spaces
In Hong Kong, China about 40 employee volunteers spent more than 160 hours beautifying a primary school and bringing color and vitality to the community where PPG's Greater China office is located.
New school year prep
At Freeport Area High School in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, our volunteers created fresh spaces for fresh starts this academic school year.
Renewed learning environments
Nearly 200 students at Prakiki School in Paramaribo, Suriname will benefit from a renewed learning environment with freshly painted classrooms and a reconstructed roof.
School pride makeover
We joined the Las Vegas Raiders professional football organization in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA to paint locker room benches, a STEM classroom, and a mural of the school's mascot and anthem at Eldorado High School.
School-wide transformations
At Flora Ferreira Gomes School in Sumaré, Brazil, 11 classrooms, a sports court, a playground, and several walls were repainted by 100 volunteers. A vegetable garden was also renovated with new plants and an environmental-themed graffiti mural.
Chemistry creations
In Verbania, Italy, volunteers refreshed the chemistry area and 9 classrooms at Istituto d'Istruzione Superiore "L. Cobianchi" to support more than 2,000 students.
Transformational colors
A local primary school in Novo Mesto, Slovenia was transformed when volunteers painted 30 classrooms and corridors.
Inspired by nature
Our first Colorful Communities project in Santiago, Chile at the Ciudad de Brasilia school, served 550 students from preschool to high school age and included a nature-themed mural made from a student's drawing.
Outdoor learning
Volunteers at Ecole & College Saint Joseph primary and middle school in Divonne Les Bains, France refreshed classrooms and wooden furniture to create a playground for 120 students.
EXPLORING THE IMPACT OF COLOR
Through our Colorful Communities program, we’ve witnessed firsthand the impact color and freshly painted spaces can have on students. Painting classrooms with colors specifically intended to enhance learning can improve both students’ and teachers’ experiences in the classroom and increase their feelings of engagement in learning.
COLOR & DESIGN MANAGER
KIERSTEN LENT
PPG
"PPG understands that color can enhance learning and create spaces where students feel comfortable and encouraged. We carefully selected colors that pair with the learning objectives for each classroom while considering factors including students’ ages and local, cultural influences."
Read more from Kiersten on the impact of color in the classroom: Elevate Classroom Environments, Create Positive Learning Outcomes with Color.
Highlights from New Paint for a New Start Projects
2023
Flourishing spaces
At the Bradley Center in Pittsburgh, PA, 100 volunteers painted classrooms and created seed pods to beautify the community.
Beautiful landscapes
With a vibrant mural, volunteers infused color during a two-part project at Association Pour l’Enfance Rurale (APER) in Saultain, France.
Local scenes for learning
In Moreuil, France, volunteers beautified Lucie Aubrac Public Primary School with a lively mural.
Sustainability in the classroom
In Américo Brasiliense City, Brazil, volunteers brought color and joy to the Carolina Ometto Pavan school and created an environmental themed mural.
Welcoming colors
Volunteers in Valladolid, Spain transformed the Special Education Center "El Corro" and added a nature and wildlife-inspired mural.
Color and connection
In Guizhou, China, we partnered with Chevrolet to renovation a school‘s campus and even played a football game with the students.
Returning volunteers
Our volunteers returned to Walnut Grove Elementary in Huntsville, Alabama, home of a 2022 New Paint for a New Start project to paint six welcoming classrooms.
2022
Colors for focus
Volunteers updated classrooms and a relaxation space for more than 3,000 Mendel University students in Brno, Czechia.
Scientific inspiration
At the Silesian University of Technology in Gliwice, Poland, several chemistry-themed murals now inspire innovation and discovery while greeting university students and visitors.
Preschool play
In Iztapalapa, Mexico, we transformed a preschool into a fantastic place to learn and play. At the preschool, the 35 volunteers painted playgrounds and classrooms.
Colorful learning spaces
In Hong Kong, China about 40 employee volunteers spent more than 160 hours beautifying a primary school and bringing color and vitality to the community where PPG's Greater China office is located.
New school year prep
At Freeport Area High School in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, our volunteers created fresh spaces for fresh starts this academic school year.
Renewed learning environments
Nearly 200 students at Prakiki School in Paramaribo, Suriname will benefit from a renewed learning environment with freshly painted classrooms and a reconstructed roof.
School pride makeover
We joined the Las Vegas Raiders professional football organization in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA to paint locker room benches, a STEM classroom, and a mural of the school's mascot and anthem at Eldorado High School.
School-wide transformations
At Flora Ferreira Gomes School in Sumaré, Brazil, 11 classrooms, a sports court, a playground, and several walls were repainted by 100 volunteers. A vegetable garden was also renovated with new plants and an environmental-themed graffiti mural.
Chemistry creations
In Verbania, Italy, volunteers refreshed the chemistry area and 9 classrooms at Istituto d'Istruzione Superiore "L. Cobianchi" to support more than 2,000 students.
Transformational colors
A local primary school in Novo Mesto, Slovenia was transformed when volunteers painted 30 classrooms and corridors.
Inspired by nature
Our first Colorful Communities project in Santiago, Chile at the Ciudad de Brasilia school, served 550 students from preschool to high school age and included a nature-themed mural made from a student's drawing.
Outdoor learning
Volunteers at Ecole & College Saint Joseph primary and middle school in Divonne Les Bains, France refreshed classrooms and wooden furniture to create a playground for 120 students.
EXPLORING THE IMPACT OF COLOR
Through our Colorful Communities program, we’ve witnessed firsthand the impact color and freshly painted spaces can have on students. Painting classrooms with colors specifically intended to enhance learning can improve both students’ and teachers’ experiences in the classroom and increase their feelings of engagement in learning.
COLOR & DESIGN MANAGER
KIERSTEN LENT
PPG
"PPG understands that color can enhance learning and create spaces where students feel comfortable and encouraged. We carefully selected colors that pair with the learning objectives for each classroom while considering factors including students’ ages and local, cultural influences."