KeyBank Pledges $1 Million to Pittsburgh Promise Scholarships

More than 1,000 high school seniors gathered at Duquesne University’s A.J. Palumbo Center to celebrate a monumental achievement – heading to college. It was the Pittsburgh Promise’s first “senior signing day,” and present among various Pittsburgh community leaders was KeyBank Foundation CEO Margot Copeland. KeyBank announced its pledge to the organization and making college possible for many on the very same day, in the form of a $1 million grant.

Five graduating seniors will be selected annually as recipients of the KeyBank scholarship with the Promise. KeyBank shares in the organization’s vision of equipping urban youth with the tools they need to reach post-secondary success, as well as driving economic growth in the region. The Promise’s research shows that so far, more than 1,000 scholarship recipients have launched their professional careers in the Pittsburgh region after college graduation. Since 2008, the Promise has awarded more than 7,200 scholarships worth more than $100 million. About 1,600 graduates have earned a post-secondary credential.

The Promise’s admirable work delivers more than scholarship funding for graduating seniors. Other initiatives include public school-based outreach and mentoring, outreach to students with exceptionalities, a robust school attendance campaign, workplace internships and more.

The organization points out Pittsburgh’s city population is now beginning to grow after 50 consecutive years of decline. KeyBank’s pledge to the Pittsburgh Promise demonstrates its deep commitment to the communities it serves. Pittsburgh, a new-to-KeyBank market following its acquisition of First Niagara in 2016, is realizing its first major commitment in western Pennsylvania.

The pledge is funded by the KeyBank Foundation, which will donate $175 million over the coming years to various causes throughout the country as part of its five-year community benefits plan.