Practical Optimism Is Really Practical
The spirit of charity has a rich tradition in this city, from the beginning of business development to the present. The schools, firms, and associations in the area place really high value on charity and community service. Actually, Duquesne University’s students, faculty, and staff give over 200,000 hours every year to volunteer work. This kind of commitment is not uncommon among Pittsburghers, from millionaires to blue collar workers. Andrew Carnegie, of course, donated numberless millions to diverse causes throughout the country, as did the Mellons, Hillmans, Westinghouse, the Fricks, and many others. Today, foundations like the Heinz Endowment write $60,000,000 in grants yearly.