More Pittsburgh-area children will have the chance to learn about science, go on field trips and hit the soccer field, thanks to a donation from the Fox Chapel-based Women’s Board of Pittsburgh.
The group hosted its 34th annual benefit this spring at the Pittsburgh Field Club, bringing in a record-setting $191,000.
It was the board’s most successful event since launching in 1992, event co-chair Terry Robosson said. It brings the total to about $1.9 million raised for nonprofits that support the growth and well-being of children.
“The recipients are so caring about the community and make sure that they provide positive activities for children during formative years,” Robosson said.
This year’s grants went to the Josh Gibson Foundation and Open Field.
Because of this year’s success, the Women’s Board was able to award several other donations to Auberle, The Friendship Circle and the Pittsburgh Palliative Care Coalition.
The Gibson Foundation, dedicated to preserving the legacy of legendary Negro League baseball player Josh Gibson while inspiring and empowering youth through sports, education and mentorship, received its requested $50,000 allocation.
“This will make a huge impact on our kids,” said Executive Director Sean Gibson, great-grandson of the foundation’s namesake.
The group serves more than 300 children of all ages through STEAM programs and a Boys2Men mentorship, focused on violence prevention.
Gibson partners with Pittsburgh Public Schools, the University of Pittsburgh, National Society of Black Engineers and more to bring programs that are fun and educational to kids in kindergarten through 12th grade.
The foundation recently sponsored a “Stop the Violence” trip to Washington, D.C., where they chaperoned students from the Pittsburgh Classical Academy STEAM Program and South Hills Middle School Boys2Men Anti-Violence Program on an overnight trip to the nation’s capitol.
Donations from the Women’s Board will be used to support the foundation’s holistic model of character-building and leadership, specifically among boys in sixth through eighth grades.
“We thank the Women’s Board for helping us with materials for our STEAM programs as well as our six-week summer camp,” Gibson said. “It is a huge help.”
The group’s second recipient, Open Field, requested and received $35,000. The group was started in 2010 in Africa by American Justin Forzano and Cameroonian Peter Ngwane. It expanded into Pittsburgh in 2019 to use interactive play and youth-centered learning to impact kids from immigrant, refugee and other marginalized communities.
Open Field has extended programming throughout Allegheny County to engage hundreds of children in sport-based youth development activities, particularly soccer. Through a shared love of the game, Open Field promotes education, gender equity and well-being.
The grant from the Women’s Board will be used to fund Future Forward, which allows participants to work on career and post-secondary readiness and build relationships on the soccer field.
“Both of these groups stood out for what they do for children,” Robosson said.
The fundraiser, hosted April 30 at the Pittsburgh Field Club, was themed “Fashion Their Future ’26: Bright Blue Skies.” It was an evening of cocktails, dinner, auctions and a fashion show from Carabella, a boutique in Oakmont.
Robosson said there were multiple first-time sponsors and auction items which boosted the total profit.
Previous year’s beneficiaries have included the Children’s Home of Pittsburgh, the Homeless Children’s Education Fund and Hosanna House, among others.
For details about the organization, visit wbpgh.org.