You made a difference
with your gift in 2025
Join us on Tuesday, February 24, 2026 for this year's Pitt Day of Giving as we continue to make an impact on the Pitt community.
Surge in support fuels Center for Urban Education’s mission
As a research and community hub in Pitt’s School of Education, the Center for Urban Education (CUE) nurtures positive transformations in schools and society. In 2025, that mission helped inspire an impressive 480% increase in Pitt Day of Giving (PDoG) donors to CUE over the previous year.
“For CUE, PDoG is not just about the financial resources, but also the connections and commitment they signify,” said CUE Interim Director Lori Delale-O’Connor. “Every contribution directly fuels our capacity to forward research, cultivate partnerships and engage in professional learning that supports educators and uplifts students.”
Gifts drive research careers and progress in medicine
Many students with high aptitude for science, technology, engineering and math are never exposed to careers in research. This is an opportunity lost for them—and for society.
Each year during Pitt Day of Giving (PDoG), the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine seeks gifts to support the Microbiology and Immunology Departments Scholars (MIDS) Program. The program provides research experience, professional development and mentorship opportunities to all Pitt undergraduates who previously had limited exposure to careers in biomedical sciences. The competitive program places students in laboratories to conduct research with experienced University researchers and principal investigators. It provides a stipend for living expenses so scholars can focus on the work, offers journal clubs and career seminars, and provides opportunities to present research findings. Ultimately, it positions Pitt students to become highly competitive applicants for graduate programs, such as PhD and MD/PhD programs.
PDoG gifts have been able to fund three to five students per year, but many more promising students apply. You can help expand the opportunity to more scholars with a PDoG gift this year.
Technology can be the great equalizer for people with disabilities
Josh Marino wasn’t born with a disability, but he sustained multiple traumatic brain injuries during his military service. He wants everyone to understand that the disability community is the one minority group that anyone can join in the blink of an eye. When that happens, you suddenly face a world that is not designed for people on wheels.
At the University of Pittsburgh Human Engineering Research Laboratories (HERL), he and his team design and build tools to improve mobility and function for people with disabilities, such as their next-generation robotic wheelchair. Their work requires experts in many fields, including engineering, software development, artificial intelligence, robotics, clinical research and medical rehabilitation.
HERL uses funds raised during Pitt Day of Giving to recruit and support about 10 interns per year who have the expertise to move the mission forward. The internship program leverages technology as a great equalizer, instills the importance of this work early in people’s careers and helps demolish the stigma around disability.
Wyoming research expands horizons of Frederick Honors College students
During annual field study treks to the Alan L. Cook Spring Creek Preserve in Wyoming, David C. Frederick Honors College (FHC) students dig into an immersive study of the American West’s ecology, history, culture and creative practice. Supported by Pitt Day of Giving donors, these hands-on experiences span a range of disciplines—from field research and archaeology to studio art and writing—bringing life-changing opportunities within reach for honors students.
“Students hike farther than they thought possible, ignore digital distractions for hours on end and literally get their hands dirty by collecting data,” said Josh Cannon, FHC director of research. “The Spring Creek Preserve knocks students out of their comfort zones and allows them to grow intellectually through challenging and rewarding field research.”
Debt relief and financial education empower Panthers Forward participants
Rohit Mantena (A&S ’25) is heading to medical school with a prestigious Pitt degree—and invaluable financial know-how from the Panthers Forward program.
“The principles I learned in Panthers Forward about reducing debt have definitely stuck with me,” said Mantena, who was recently accepted to the Grossman School of Medicine at New York University with a full-tuition scholarship.
By supporting Panthers Forward, Pitt Day of Giving donors have shown participants the lasting impact of giving back. Since 2017, the program has empowered 1,200 Pitt students by offsetting nearly $6 million in federal loan debt, fostering connections with alumni mentors and providing education on budgeting, saving for retirement and more.
SPIA scholarships translate into a world of opportunities
For School of Public and International Affairs (SPIA) student Ryan Lindner, Pitt Day of Giving donations took flight as a passport to life-changing opportunities. Scholarship gifts have allowed Lindner to immerse himself in his graduate work, deepen his understanding of global policy issues and travel to Latvia for Russian-language studies.
“I am thankful not only for the financial assistance, but for the confidence that donors place in students like me who are committed to understanding and addressing complex global challenges,” he said. “That support has made my time at Pitt profoundly meaningful, and I will carry its impact with me throughout my career."
Donors invest in student career success at the Education & Training Center at Pitt-Titusville
Pitt-Titusville nursing students and Swanson School of Engineering Manufacturing Assistance Center students received a financial boost to launch high-demand careers, thanks to Pitt Day of Giving scholarship support.
Kayla Rihel studied basic and CNC machining at the Manufacturing Assistance Center at the Education & Training Center at Pitt-Titusville.
She gained real-world experience and confidence that paved the way for a position after graduation with Komatsu, where she manufactures precision components for mining equipment. “I love everything I learned,” Rihel said. “I was looking for a career, and I for sure found it.”
Your gifts cultivate community and power play at Falk
There are countless lessons to be learned through friendship and play, and Falk Laboratory School is committed to creating a space to reflect that. Last PDoG, the Falk community raised an astounding $44,259, which was invested in new equipment for play and community-building at the school.
From new basketball hoops and terrace furniture to playground equipment handcrafted in the WonderLab, your generosity helps create an environment where every child can flourish. On February 24, even more dreams can become a reality—because anything is possible when Falkies come together. Explore your impact.
Pitt staff expand key skills and networks with award funding
Gifts to Staff Council helped Pitt employees advance their expertise and build resourceful networks through the Frisch Professional Development Award. José F. Goyco-Blas, a Department of Biological Sciences lab manager, put his funding to work earning a Project Management Professional certification. Meanwhile, Carolyn Mazzella, a sponsored projects administrator in the Kenneth P. Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences, gained insights at a National Council of University Research Administrators (NCURA) conference. Allison Vorp, an operations team leader in the School of Medicine Research Administration Office, also attended and presented at a NCURA conference.
“Because of donors’ generosity, I was able to collaborate with colleagues from other leading institutions and take part in a professional publication—two milestones that have profoundly shaped my career and professional growth,” Vorp said.