or graduating high school seniors who have been accepted into a full-time music major program.
Applicants must also be legal Pennsylvania residents for at least one year, or out-of-state students who attend school in Pennsylvania and can provide proof of a Pennsylvania address( such as a campus address, university mailing, or utility bill).
Applications are available online at keynotesmusicscholarship. com. You may also request one by contacting the scholarship chair, Lori Walter, at 412.260.6972 or houdini5 @ hotmail. com. The application deadline is April 30. For more information, visit keynotesmusicscholarship. com or find it on Facebook at Keynotes Music Scholarship.
ST. MARGARET FOUNDATION ANNOUNCES GRANTS
The St. Margaret Foundation recently announced $ 957,425 in grants for 2026 to support its three strategic priorities for UPMC St. Margaret— patient access, patient education and patient experience. Funding includes new and continued initiatives designed to reduce barriers to care, improve comfort and independence and enhance overall hospital experiences for patients and families.
Highlights include a new grant to revitalize the inpatient rehabilitation activity room, helping patients recovering from strokes, surgeries and falls to practice daily living skills in a supportive environment. Continued funding was also approved for adaptive feeding equipment, allowing patients with tremors or stroke-related impairments to eat independently both in the hospital and at home.
A significant portion of funding supports patient access through free transportation services, including multiple senior shuttle programs and medical shuttles serving communities throughout the Alle- Kiski Valley and surrounding areas.
Additional grants support patient safety, valet services for patients with disabilities and transportation assistance for underresourced patients.
Patient education initiatives include inroom calming programming and community CPR training, while patient experience grants fund cancer care support, food assistance, health screenings, flu immunizations, sensory stations, comfort items and holiday gifts.
The foundation also allocated funds for staff and volunteer recognition.
Together, these grants reflect the foundation’ s commitment to“ filling in the gaps with hope, healing and independence” for patients and families across the region.
PHIPPS CONSERVATORY RECEIVES‘ MAKING AN IMPACT’ AWARD
Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens received the Making an Impact Award from the Mid-Atlantic Association of Museums at its annual conference in Pittsburgh, recognizing the conservatory’ s leadership and community impact through its Climate Toolkit Initiative.
Launched in 2020, the Climate Toolkit connects cultural institutions worldwide to share strategies for addressing climate change and promoting sustainability. The initiative now includes about 250 institutions across 30 countries, reaching more than 120 million annual visitors.
The award highlights Phipps’ longstanding commitment to environmental stewardship, innovation, and global collaboration, as well as its role in fostering positive change both locally and internationally.
YOUNG PITTSBURGH LINXX CHAPTER MEMBERS HONORED BY COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA
Fourteen teenage members of the National Charity League Pittsburgh Linxx Chapter were honored by Governor Josh Shapiro and First Lady Lori Shapiro for their exceptional commitment to service, leadership and community engagement during a luncheon held Dec. 15 in Harrisburg.
Among those recognized was Ashlynn Wees, a junior at Pine-Richland High School.
The state-level recognition was created in response to the suspension of the Presidential Volunteer Service Award program, so that these young women’ s significant volunteer contributions could still be acknowledged.
Governor Shapiro praised the honorees, noting that they exemplify“ the Pennsylvania way” by giving back, bringing people together, and using their talents to improve the lives of others.
Over the past year, Pittsburgh Linxx members— working in mother-daughter
teams— contributed hundreds of volunteer hours to nonprofit organizations across Western Pennsylvania, including Meals on Wheels, Ronald McDonald House Charities, the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust and The Education Partnership.
Their service supported a wide range of causes, from food insecurity and homelessness to senior care and children’ s health.
“ We are incredibly honored that our young volunteers are receiving this recognition,” said Heather Rayburg-Smith, president of the Pittsburgh Linxx Chapter.
“ Their dedication reflects the commitment of every mother – daughter team in our chapter and the strength of our nonprofit partnerships.”
Founded in 2023 and chartered in 2024, the Pittsburgh Linxx Chapter continues to expand its impact across multiple counties while fostering philanthropy, leadership and confidence in young women. For more information, visit nationalcharityleague. org / chapter / pittsburghlinxx. n
PINE-RICHLAND ❘ SPRING 2026 9