Special Activities And Programs

The Pittsburgh Host Committee has arranged a number of activities (both before and during the conference) which will give you a taste of what the city has to offer. You can even take a video tour of Pittsburgh philanthropy by clicking here! Take advantage of these great opportunities while you attend the annual conference!

The Disability Awareness Showcase located in Resource Central profiles Pittsburgh's innovations in accessibility and highlights poster presentations of model programs that you could replicate in your region. Participate in hands-on demonstrations of cutting edge assistive technology, take a disability awareness quiz in exchange for a chance on a valuable high-tech prize, and learn how to integrate disability grantmaking into your funding without changing any of your strategic priorities. Pittsburgh is a city that is welcoming and accessible to all. We welcome you to visit this exhibit, which is sponsored by the FISA Foundation in partnership with the Disability Funders Network.

PITTSBURGH VISITORS BOOTH ON-SITE

Be sure to stop by the Greater Pittsburgh Convention & Visitors Bureau information booth for information regarding sight-seeing attractions, shopping, dining options and special events. A staffed professional with the GPCVB can assist you with any questions you may have, as well as provide you with a walking map of the downtown business district and neighboring Oakland, home to Carnegie Mellon University and the University of Pittsburgh, as well as the world famous Carnegie Museum. You’ll also be able to sign-up for Sunday Evening Dine-arounds and get your tickets for the dynamic site sessions scheduled throughout the conference. For information about Pittsburgh go to http://www.visitpittsburgh.org/ .

The Nonprofit Marketplace will contain information about a number of local organizations. Don’t forget to visit them as you visit the other exhibitors and sponsors in Resource Central.

• Preconference
• Networking Event! Pittsburgh Roars!
• Conference Site Sessions
• Pittsburgh Dine-around Restaurants

Preconference

PITTSBURGH HISTORY AND LANDMARKS WALKING TOURS

Tour some of Pittsburgh’s finest historic buildings along Grant Street, once the eastern edge of this frontier town and now Pittsburgh’s grand civic boulevard. A Pittsburgh history and landmark guide will introduce you to H. H. Richardson’s Courthouse, three historic landmarks commissioned by industrial magnate Henry Clay Frick, modern skyscrapers, historic churches and Mellon Square Park. Space is limited. Register on-site at the Host Committee Booth in Resource Central.

Saturday, May 6
2:30–3:30 p.m.

Sunday, May 7
10:00–11:00 a.m.

PITTSBURGH ART IN PUBLIC PLACES DOWNTOWN WALKING TOUR

Come take a walk with an artist who will introduce you to the ways in which public art is changing the face of Pittsburgh. You’ll see art from different periods. You’ll enjoy art in different mediums. You’ll view art for different purposes, and you’ll learn the story behind each. Space is limited. Register as soon as you can at the Host Committee Booth in Resource Central. Meet at the East Entrance (ground floor) of the David L. Lawrence Convention Center.

 Saturday, May 6
3:45 – 4:45 p.m.

CITY THEATRE

1300 Bingham Street in Pittsburgh’s historic South Side

Set in contemporary Pittsburgh, Honus and Me is a story filled with baseball history, lore, and time travel with a twist. This play centers on little leaguer Joey Stoshack and the magical things that happen when he finds the most valuable baseball card in the world—the T-206 Honus Wagner.

• Saturday, May 6, 2006
• 5:30 p.m. show
• $30 for Council attendees ($10 off the regular $40 price)
• Conference attendees must mention “Council on Foundations” to receive the discount
• 412.431. CITY (2489) to make reservations

PITTSBURGH SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

Heinz Hall for the Performing Arts, 425 Sixth Ave, in downtown Pittsburgh’s beautifully restored Cultural District

Catch a performance by one of the world’s greatest orchestras, featuring Epic Masterpieces including Strauss’ musical depiction of the ascent of man made famous in 2001: A Space Odyssey and delightful Viennese waltzes.

• Saturday, May 6, 2006
• 8 p.m. performance
• 25% off any seat for Council attendees (from $15 Gallery to $54 Dress Circle seating)
• Conference attendees must mention “Council on Foundations” to receive the discount
• 412.392.3320 to make reservations
• Reservations taken until May 5, 2006.

GATEWAY CLIPPER FLEET

Across the Smithfield Street Bridge in the unique entertainment district known as Station Square where you can board one of the Gateway Clipper's fleet for a riverboat view of Pittsburgh. A one-hour Goodship Lollipop Sightseeing Cruise features the Captain of the ship pointing out the city sights and relating tales of Pittsburgh’s past and present as you sail along the scenic three rivers. For the young and the young-at-heart!

• Saturday, May 6, 2006
• Launch Times Vary (choose from 11 a.m., 12:15 p.m., 1:30 p.m., 2:45 p.m.)
• $11 for Council attendees ($1 off regular $12 price)
• Conference attendees receive a coupon in advance that must be presented at box office stating “valid May 6, 2006 for $1 off one-hour Goodship Lollipop Sightseeing Cruise”
• 412.355.7980 to make reservations or walk up that day to buy tickets

DINNER AND JAZZ WITH PITTSBURGH'S JAZZ LEGENDS

If you'd like to treat yourself to a relaxing and sophisticated evening of jazz, just head around the corner from the Convention Center and stop in at Dowe’s on Ninth  where you can ennjoy Pittsburgh jazz legends Al Dowe and Etta Cox.  Cover charge for the Saturday evening 7:00 p.m. show is $10.  Dinners range from $12.95 - $42.95. 

Saturday, May 6, 2006
7:00 p.m.show, $10 cover change
121 Ninth Street
412.281.0225

Networking Event!

PITTSBURGH ROARS!– CARNEGIE MUSEUM OF ART

Monday, May 8 --- 6:00–8:30 p.m.

A Roaring Good Time!

Join the Council on Foundations and the Pittsburgh Host Committee for an untamed networking event in the wilds of the Carnegie Museum of Natural History. Re-connect with colleagues on one of the main stages for Pittsburgh Roars, a year-long art-and-culture extravaganza created around the theme of animals.

Enjoy hors d'oeuvres, beverages and special entertainment showcasing the city’s rich arts scene in the setting of one of the most captivating exhibits: depictions of animals dating back to the dinosaurs. Conference attendees also will have access to a variety of other exhibits, performances and screenings featured in Pittsburgh Roars, including “Fierce Friends, Artists & Animals in the Industrial Era.” This banner exhibition at the Carnegie Museum of Art, next door to the Museum of History, is presented in collaboration with the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam, where it will open this fall. Pittsburgh will be the only other venue where people can view this extraordinary exhibit. “Pittsburgh Roars” is supported by 27 artistic-cultural institutions, foundations, government agencies and civic leadership groups.

Following the reception, guests can take reserved buses downtown to explore restaurants in the Cultural District or head out on their own with directions to some of the city’s best restaurants in trendy neighborhoods around the museums.

Conference Site Sessions

Site Sessions are a great way to experience how foundations work with local organizations to serve their community. Take advantage of great opportunities to visit these great examples of foundation/community partnerships in the greater Pittsburgh region---but, remember space is limited! Tickets for each site session are available the day before and while they last. Visit the Pittsburgh Host Committee booth, in Resource Central, to get your ticket to another great Pittsburgh philanthropy experience!

Here’s the schedule of planned events. Visit the Agenda Builder for details on each site session.

Sunday May 7

SITE SESSIONS

1:30–5:00 p.m.

• The Arts Transform Downtown Pittsburgh
• Saving City Treasures in a 21 st Century
• A Tale of Two Neighborhoods
• Riverfronts and Revitalization

Monday, May 8

SITE SESSIONS

9:30 a.m.–1:00 p.m.

• Reinventing Human Services Delivery
• Emerging from the Smokestacks, Robo-Burgh Is Born
• The New Frontier in Perfecting Patient Care: Simulation Education and Team-centered Training
• Center for Minority Health/Kingsley Center

SITE SESSIONS

1:30–5:00 p.m.

• Owning a Cultural Facility—The Golden Egg or the Poisoned Apple
• Dead Poets Society Meets That’s Entertainment
• Social Entrepreneurship: Visit One of the Best
• The Pittsburgh Project: Using Financial Innovation and Standards to Improve a Faith-Based Organization

Tuesday, May 9

ALL DAY SITE SESSION

 9:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m.

• Coal Town to B & B: How Cultural and Recreational Tourism Can Transform Rural Communities

PITTSBURGH DINE AROUNDS

Sunday, May 7
7:00–9:00 p.m.

 See sign up sheets on-site at the Host Committee Booth in Resource Central.

• Bella Vista Ristorante Italiano 412/431-1660
• Café Allegro 412/481-7788
• Cafe Zao 412/325-7007
• Church Brew Works 412/688-8200
• Cozumel Restaurante Mexicano 412/621-5100
• Grand Concourse 412/261-1717
• Kaya 412/261-6565
• Lidia’s Pittsburgh 412/552-0150
• Mallorca Restaurant 412/448-1818
• Monterey Bay Fish Grotto 412/481-4414
• Soba Lounge 412/362-5656

Does your foundation focus on arts and culture, community and economic development, education, technology, or health and human services? Do you give high priority to helping people find meaningful employment and improved quality of life? Many foundations fund programs that focus on underserved populations, such as people of color, those with low-incomes, immigrants and at-risk youth. Often overlooked, however, is the largest minority group-people with disabilities-who make up 20 percent of the population of the United States. It is a diverse group whose needs mirror those of society, crossing lines of age, ethnicity, gender, race, sexual orientation and socioeconomic status. We all have a personal stake in this population because it is open to anyone who might experience an accident, illness, or the effects of aging. In spite of this, the Foundation Center reported that only 2.9 percent of grants made by institutionalized philanthropy in 2003 were directed to programs serving people with disabilities.

The Disability Awareness Showcase located in Resource Central profiles Pittsburgh's innovations in accessibility and highlights poster presentations of model programs that you could replicate in your region. Participate in hands-on demonstrations of cutting edge assistive technology, take a disability awareness quiz in exchange for a chance on a valuable high-tech prize, and learn how to integrate disability grantmaking into your funding without changing any of your strategic priorities. Pittsburgh is a city that is welcoming and accessible to all. We welcome you to visit this exhibit, which is sponsored by the FISA Foundation in partnership with the Disability Funders Network.

The following demonstrations will take place in Resource Central at the times indicated below.

Showcase Sessions

Saturday, May 6

Computerized Speech Technology: New Tools

4:00 p.m.

More than one million Americans are unable to communicate using their own speech due to such conditions as cerebral palsy, autism, brain injury, Lou Gerhig's Disease, and stroke, but they still have a lot to say. Stop by to chat with Jennifer Lowe, Executive Director of SHOUT -- an international leader in promoting the employment of people with severe communication disabilities. Interacting with Ms. Lowe, who uses an augmentative communication device, will challenge your assumptions about the potential for people with speech impairments to communicate and contribute.

Staying at Home: An Affordable Model for Accessible Housing

4:30 p.m.

You will be fascinated by this real-time demonstration of how innovation, invention, and entrepreneurship can combine to keep senior citizens safer, healthier, and living independently at home longer. Blueroof Technologies will showcase its Smart Cottage, an affordable modular home that seamlessly incorporates state-of-the-art technology to optimize the lives of senior citizens and people with disabilities in a safe home environment.

Where the Backside Meets the Chair: Computerized Pressure Mapping

5:00 p.m.

For many years wheelchairs were designed in standard sizes, and people who used them risked chronic sores and extreme discomfort. This demonstration showcases a small, high-tech device that assesses each person's seating needs so that wheelchair cushions can be tailored for individualized comfort. Try out the technology, and take home a complementary map of your own backside!

A Dream Come True: Get Fit by Playing Video Games!

Try out the GameCycle^TM, putting fun into upper body fitness! You won't even realize that you're working out in this challenging environment that links video-game play with exercise. This technology is fun for everyone, but is a unique solution to the chronic obesity faced by many people who have limited use of their legs.

Sunday, May 7

Internet Accessibility: Can Blind People Read Your Website?

New Time: 8:30 a.m.

Learn from the director of Web Operations for the American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) how people with vision-loss access community resources through the Internet. Crista Earl is a national expert on web accessibility who is herself visually impaired. She will visit your website with you to demonstrate how its pages appear to people who are blind or have vision loss.

Fourth Annual William Diaz Impact Award Presentation Ceremony

9:30 a.m.

Sponsored by the Disability Funders Network, this award honors grantmakers who have had a positive impact on the disability community and whose work encourages foundations to be more inclusive of disability. Join us for this unique opportunity to honor a grantmaker who has made a dramatic difference in the inclusion of people with disabilities.

Staying at Home: An Affordable Model for Accessible Housing

10:15 a.m.

You will be fascinated by this real-time demonstration of how innovation, invention, and entrepreneurship can combine to keep senior citizens safer, healthier, and living independently at home longer. Blueroof Technologies will showcase its Smart Cottage, an affordable modular home that seamlessly incorporates state-of-the-art technology to optimize the lives of senior citizens and people with disabilities in a safe home environment.

Legos and Robots: Fostering Careers in Engineering

3:15 p.m.

High school students from TechLink Program of Pittsburgh will demonstrate their award-winning project from the regional FIRST LEGO League competition titled "No Limits." The students who designed the project identified problems related to accessibility at a local coffee shop and then developed engineering solutions to make the facility more accessible.

Monday, May 8

Internet Accessibility: Can Blind People Read your Website?

New Time: 8:30 a.m.

Learn from the director of Web Operations for the American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) how people with vision loss access community resources through the Internet. Crista Earl is a national expert on web accessibility who is herself visually impaired. She will visit your website with you to demonstrate how its pages appear to people who are blind or have vision loss.

Baseball, Anyone?

New Time: 2:15 p.m.

Or would you rather listen to a concert in the park? Or watch NASCAR? Leisure Choices is a computerized picture-based tool that assists people with communication difficulties to identify their interests and communicate them to caregivers. Stop by to sample the program and get a free assessment of your own leisure preferences.

Buckle Down for Safety! A System for Securing Wheelchairs on Buses and other Motor Vehicles

New Time: 2:45 p.m.

As transportation systems increase their accessibility for people with disabilities, they encounter difficulties because every type of wheelchair is designed differently. Learn about the need for research and product development to improve transportation safety for wheelchair users. Patricia Karg, Director of the Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center on Wheelchair Transportation Safety, University of Pittsburgh School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, will demonstrate an innovative universal docking interface that allows a wheelchair to be secured on a motor vehicle.