Recapping Our Anniversary Celebration
Thursday, October 8, 2026 | Spirit | Lawrenceville
On October 8, members of PUMP’s team and Board of Directors, PUMP Members and Pittsburgh Sports League (PSL) players, alumni, partners and neighbors convened at Spirit in Lawrenceville to celebrate two milestones at once: 30 years of PUMP and 25 years of the Pittsburgh Sports League. It was a night of old teammates finding each other across the room, new faces finding their people, and a whole lot of proof that what started as a few young Pittsburghers meeting in living rooms and at happy hours has become something much bigger.
Where it all started
In 1995, a Pitt graduate student named Michelle Fanzo wrote an op-ed in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette worrying that too many of her friends were leaving the region in search of opportunity and more vibrant cities. Young people who shared her concern started calling, then meeting in small groups across the East End. PUMP officially incorporated in 1996. They held mayoral civic forums and meet and greets. They traveled to Harrisburg to advocate for placing stadiums on the North Shore.
The organization picked up traction and earned the attention of civic and corporate leadership in the Pittsburgh community. They began studying what seemed to be working in cities that felt more dynamic at the time and noticed organized adult recreational leagues in many of them. In 2001, the Pittsburgh Sports League was born in a City of Pittsburgh park. It has since put thousands of Pittsburghers together in parks, rec centers, YMCAs, community gyms, breweries and the like, and has become not only the largest PUMP program, but a primary way that we further our mission.
Three decades later, the mission hasn’t changed: make Pittsburgh a place where young people want to live, work, and play, and encourage them to have a real voice in shaping it.
30 years of PUMP and 25 years of PSL
Just before 7 p.m., DJ Hoagie Dreams faded the music and attendees gave their attention to a brief program featuring four speakers.
- Ellen Romagni, PUMP Board Chair and Senior Director of Operations and Real Estate at Carnegie Mellon University, welcomed the crowd.
- Tom Baker, CEO of Variety the Children’s Charity, spoke on behalf of the Anniversary Committee.
- Dan Gilman, Chief of Staff in the Office of Mayor Corey O’Connor, presented an official proclamation from the City of Pittsburgh recognizing PUMP’s 30 years.
- Josiah Gilliam, PUMP’s Executive Director, closed things out and asked the room to believe in the PUMP story: that Pittsburgh is a place and this is an era in which neighbors – young and old – can make a positive difference in our community.
Rookie cards for everyone
One of the biggest hits of the night was the trading card station, where guests made their own PUMP 30 / PSL 25 Anniversary Edition cards, complete with rookie year, seasons played, favorite sport and what they’re known for on the field. (A few of our committee members missed the station entirely and are still not over it.)
Made a card? Find yours and share it, and tag us so we can see it.
30 years on the big screen
All night, a slideshow of more than 180 photos from PUMP and PSL history played on the screens: early member meetings, championship teams, 40 Under 40 honorees, advocacy days, and plenty of hilarious uniform choices. Watching people spot themselves (and their younger hairstyles) was half the fun.
Looking back, staying present, looking forward
Thank you
Thank you to everyone who joined us and to the many more who have played, volunteered, advocated, sponsored and showed up over the past 30 years. Special thanks to the PSL team (there were leagues going on even while we celebrated – love to see it!), our Anniversary Committee, our speakers, the City of Pittsburgh, Charlotte’s Webb for producing the night, and Spirit for hosting us.
Here’s to the next 30.
Thank you, Pittsburgh!
Get Active. Be Connected. Create Change. Become a PUMP member or sign up for your next PSL season.