The University of Pittsburgh School of Public Health is honored to announce that Chris DeCardy, president of The Heinz Endowments, will deliver the keynote at our annual graduation ceremony.
photography: Josh Franzos for the Heinz Endowments
The Heinz Endowments is a private philanthropic foundation based in Pittsburgh that aims to help build a sustainable southwestern Pennsylvania where all residents experience belonging and are able to thrive.
Under DeCardy’s leadership since 2023, the foundation prioritizes grantmaking to uplift our arts communities, rebuild trust in democratic institutions, expand opportunities for youth and young adults and protect the environment to promote health.
When nonprofits throughout the Pittsburgh region began facing significant federal funding losses in January of 2025, the foundation responded by creating the Community Partners Fund, paying out $7 million through around 50 individual rapid-response grants by March. Work then shifted to planning for systemic changes in response to ongoing reduction in government funding.
Pitt Public Health will confer degrees on over 300 graduates on May 2 at 2:30 p.m. at Victory Heights Arena in Oakland. Among those receiving degrees this term are a record 72 undergraduates from our Bachelor of Science in Public Health program.
-Caitlin McCullough