For immediate release

July 26, 2010

Contact: Carol O’Sullivan

412-681-5449

The Heinz Endowments Youth

Philanthropy Interns Make Videos

Recognizing the need to incorporate a youth voice in its grant making, the Heinz Endowments employed three teams of 34 “youth philanthropy interns” this summer.

This year’s internship program included the creation of video and radio documentaries that addressed a specific concern related to the “sustainable communities.” Several of the interns worked with Filmmakers at the Center, an educational program of Pittsburgh Filmmakers/Pittsburgh Center for the Arts, to produce 4-minute videos. Susan Howard, director of Filmmakers at the Center, said, “These young filmmakers demonstrated an impressive grasp of the technical and aesthetic skills necessary to create a compelling and informative short film.”

Other interns worked with Saturday Light Brigade, a local children’s radio program, on radio documentaries. An additional group worked with Allegheny Front on a radio piece. Produced at WYEP-FM, the Allegheny Front is a weekly environmental radio show.

One team of interns was assigned to the Pittsburgh Foundation, one to Sustainable Pittsburgh, one to the Sarah Heinz House, one to the United Way of Pittsburgh, and still another team to the Student Conservation Association. In addition to creating media, each team researched and developed RFPs (request for proposals). The interns each recommended $25,000 in grant awards to nonprofit organizations that responded to their RFPs. 



The Heinz Endowments, as well as the participating nonprofit organizations and foundations, will post the intern videos on their web sites.

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