The leaves are changing, kids are carving pumpkins, and Steelers games are on Sundays, which can only mean one thing. It is time to kick off this year’s Activate for PUMP giving campaign. Asking our members and friends for financial support was first born out of necessity in response to funding challenges caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. Since that time, Activate has become a part of PUMP’s annual calendar, because the support we have received has been so strong and the need continues.
Why Activate for PUMP?
In a year where our fellow Pittsburghers are struggling with inflation, wage and staffing shortages, and the ongoing impact of the pandemic, PUMP’s advocacy, voter education, and community organizing efforts are crucial for the health of our community. To ensure that our city comes out of these difficult times stronger than ever, as we have so many other times in our history, it is important that we work together to create a Pittsburgh for ALL. That’s why your participation in this year’s Activate for PUMP campaign is vital.
What Does Activate for PUMP Support?
Your efforts will help us continue PUMP’s vital advocacy, civic, social, and recreational programs that engage, educate, and mobilize over 20,000 young adults annually. PUMP creates change by elevating the voice of young people around advocacy and public policy issues that are important to the future of our city. We leverage our collective voice for change and shine a spotlight on pressing public issues.
Our work is guided by our commitment for equity in our region, which is outlined in our community-created Advocacy and Public Policy Agenda.
Our Current Priority Issues
Voting Rights
As we all know, 2022 is an important midterm election year, with a lot of the races and ballot initiatives having a lasting impact on our region for years to come. To ensure that the election results reflect all Southwestern Pennsylvanians, we support voting rights policies including repealing closed primaries in PA and voter education efforts and initiatives that empower and ensure that all residents are able to cast their ballot in every election. Active and engaged residents drive equitable change in our region.
Paid Family And Medical Leave
The United States is the only developed nation in the world without a federal paid family and medical leave program. Many states have begun to address this, but Pennsylvania and dozens of other states still lack a program that supports working families. PUMP supports paid family and medical leave for all. We believe that everyone should have access to leave options that empower them to care for themselves and their loved ones.
Early Childhood Care And Education
PUMP supports access to affordable, high-quality early childhood education for all children, including through early learning, out-of-school time, and childcare programs. PUMP has advocated for expanded access to and funding for these programs through a number of initiatives.
Parks For All
PUMP supports equitable access to parks and safe recreational spaces for every person in every Pittsburgh neighborhood. From the PSL to PUMPed to Run to Kickball for a Cause, our programming relies upon access to high-quality parks and open spaces and reflects the value that these spaces have for our communities’ health and wellness. We support equitable investments in parks through increased funding, regular maintenance, and community engagement.
Sports Advocacy
We know through our work that there are numerous issues where sports and advocacy overlap, especially regarding diversity, equity, and inclusion. We believe that sports provide empowering and confidence-building opportunities for people to meet, socialize, and create change and that these opportunities should be available to ALL
It Starts With You — Activate for PUMP
In 2022, we hope to raise $30,000 from over 200 donors through the Activate for PUMP campaign.
Give Lively is the official giving platform for Activate for PUMP. You can become an individual donor by visiting Give Lively and making whatever donation is meaningful to you.
You can further participate in Activate for PUMP by becoming a fundraiser. You’ll be able to set up an Activate for PUMP giving page on Give Lively and personalize it with pictures, your stories and reasons for supporting PUMP, and a fundraising goal to help your friends, family, and coworkers give online safely and securely.
If you have any questions or would like to learn more about Activate for PUMP, call us at 412-338-2133 or reach us by email at Brian[at]pump.org.
Thank YOU for supporting the PUMP mission!