PPG COLORFUL COMMUNITIES program marks 500th project

Published : 27-Sep-2023

Thanks to the passion and dedication of PPG employee volunteers worldwide, the PPG COLORFUL COMMUNITIES® program has reached its 500th project milestone.  

PPG employee volunteers completed project 500 by creating science-themed murals and applying fresh paint and color in learning spaces around the Carnegie Science Center in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The project also marked the five-year anniversary of the PPG Science Pavilion facility.

See how this partnership has impacted the Pittsburgh community HERE. 

This project kicks off a month-long, worldwide celebration of the volunteers, community partners and individuals who have helped to bring color and brightness to PPG communities. From China to the Netherlands, additional projects across the world will mark the milestone through local transformation projects.   

“When we launched the Colorful Communities program, we sought to blend the best of who we are - our passionate, talented employees and our innovative products – to improve the communities where we live and work. The momentum built within this journey and outcomes created are beyond what we anticipated,” said Malesia Dunn, executive director, PPG Foundation and Corporate global social responsibility. “The Colorful Communities program has brightened our world in new and meaningful ways, continuing to expand, spread joy and positively impact our communities.” 

Employee volunteer reflections  

Hear from PPG employee volunteers on their personal reflections on 500 projects. 

Colorful Communities program impacts 

From students to seniors, over the past 500 projects, the efforts of PPG employee volunteers have reached diverse communities and important spaces in need of bright and colorful transformations, including positively impacting more than 8.2 million people through projects in 50 countries. Additional highlights include: 

  • Invested nearly $12 million to establish partnerships with organizations that educate and provide essential support to our neighbors. 
  • With nearly 50,000 gallons of paint, PPG and community volunteers created spaces where students are encouraged to learn and thrive, patients and their families feel hope and support, and communities are inspired. In doing so, we’ve completed projects at more than 40 community centers and nearly 30 hospitals or healthcare facilities.  
  • Empowered nearly 25,000 volunteers to spend over 160,000 hours revitalizing important places. 
  • Purposefully applied our color expertise to elevate the positive impact that color can have on a space. 
  • Reached students in more than 140 educational spaces or schools to provide environments where young learners feel engaged and supported. 

Expanding our commitment  

In recognition of the 500th project milestone, PPG is committing an additional $5 million dollars to the Colorful Communities program through 2030 to expand life-changing impacts that are possible when fresh color and paint hold purpose and transform the way people think and feel about their surroundings and experiences. In 2022, the Colorful Communities program exceeded its initial commitment as part of the program’s launch in 2015 to invest $10 million over 10 years. 

The additional commitment will enable PPG volunteers to incorporate new activities and elements into projects that focus on environmental sustainability such as reusing or recycling paint products and sundries, including environmental-themed murals in our painting efforts, incorporating gardening or tree-planting as part of the project, and more. 

“In our communities, our volunteers create brighter futures and live our purpose to protect and beautify the world,” continued Dunn. “The Colorful Communities program brings to life PPG's commitment to protecting and beautifying places where we live and giving employees a meaningful way to give back. The additional commitment makes it possible to continue this work.”