We all know someone who is absolutely enthusiastic about a hobby or activity. She keeps inviting you, finding ways to make it easy and fun to join her. You finally can’t resist anymore and jump in. Michele Thom, our 16th winner of a $1,000 micro-grant, is literally inviting you to jump. Out of a perfectly…

This spring, start looking for tea pops to pop up around town, courtesy of our 13th award winner, Healcrest Urban Farm. The for-profit social enterprise teaches community members about urban farm production, green vacant land use, and youth employment and mentorship. “We have had great experiences vending around town with our products, going to markets…

Imagine plummeting 400 feet over a river at a top speed of 50 miles per hour. Sound awesome to you? It sure did to us! Our eleventh winner of $1,000 is Adam Young, founder of the new venture ZipPitt. We were so excited about the project that we agreed to keep it under wraps for…

Local photographer Caldwell Linker is Awesome Pittsburgh’s 10th winner of $1,000. Caldwell’s work is best described through the applications we received over three months: Recently I put out a book called “the Haus of Haunt: Watch Children” about underground Pittsburgh drag queens (one of whom, Sharon Needles, isn’t so underground any more, June 12th was official Sharon Needles…

A child’s smile is a source of joy for her family and friends. And, her healthy teeth are vital to her own good health. But too many low-income children aren’t getting to dentists, and their smiles turn into mouthfuls of health problems. Three local Pediatricians are bringing an innovative answer and using Awesome Pittsburgh’s $1,000 to potentially…

The Pittsburgh Light Disco, dreamed up by creator/project director Rasheda Vereen, won our May $1,000 award. This Pittsburgh-themed art installation will be activated by electronic donations to a nonprofit cause. Our $1,000 grant will support the construction and installation of the art project. Rasheda said about her project: “The purpose of the project is to…

The Dickson Elementary Outdoor Art Garden won our March 2012 award. The project will provide a safe and creative outside environment for kids to express, explore, and play. The foundation’s $1,000 grant will support purchasing classroom supplies and furnishings for the garden. “The Art Garden will be an outdoor classroom facility that will allow our…

Congratulations to our newest awardee, the Community Steps Cooperative, an initiative focused on preserving and promoting the many steps and stairways that can be found within the City of Pittsburgh.  The Cooperative will use our $1,000 grant to support outreach and volunteer efforts for cleanup and improvement days at targeted steps within various City neighborhoods….