VERBANIA, Italy, – PPG (NYSE: PPG) today announced the completion of a COLORFUL COMMUNITIES® project that helped renovate the Lorenzo Cobianchi Secondary School in Verbania, Italy, as part of the company’s New Paint for a New Start initiative. The project brought together nearly 25 PPG volunteers, who dedicated around 180 hours to repaint the chemistry building’s corridors, classrooms and common areas.
PPG contributed $63,000 (54.000 euro) to the project, including 93 gallons (355 liters) of SIGMA COATINGS™ paint by PPG. The company recently acquired a manufacturing site in Verbania.
Founded in 1886, the Lorenzo Cobianchi Secondary School has 2,000 students, with nearly 350 students and 90 teachers in the chemistry department. The New Paint for a New Start project aimed to refurbish the chemistry area to create a colorful and beautiful space. The color palette included Summer Sunset (PPG1192-6) and Golden Hour (PPG1214-6), which are orange and ochre hues that promote socialization and stimulate happiness. For the upper parts of the walls and ceilings, Gypsum (PPG1006-1) brought brightness to the rooms.
Through New Paint for a New Start, PPG employees around the world volunteered their time throughout the months of July and August to transform 36 schools and serve local students. Using PPG paint products and color expertise, each project aimed tocreate engaging spaces for students to learn and grow.
“We are thrilled to have been chosen for this transformation, and we thank PPG and the volunteers who believe in the education that we provide to our students,” said Vincenza Maselli, dean, Lorenzo Cobianchi Secondary School. “The pandemic has strongly influenced how we teach, highlighting the importance of face-to-face interactions and the need for adequate tools and spaces for on-site activities. Through this makeover, we are sure that we can start the school year with renewed energy.”
For this event PPG also cooperated with aa local non-profit Gattabuia Ristorante Sociale, which is dedicated to the professional integration of ex-convicts. The organization provided catering services during the event and made use of fresh ingredients and sustainable items.
“It is with great pride that we have been carrying out the Colorful Communities initiative for more than seven years”, said Paolo Pallavera, PPG manufacturing and process manager, powder coatings, Industrial Coatings, Europe, Middle East and Africa. “This program underscores our commitment to the communities where we operate. On this occasion, we chose to focus on a community where we recently began operating to bring our mission to protect and beautify the world to life and brighten up Verbania.”
The?Colorful Communities?program, PPG’s signature initiative for supporting communities, aims to protect and beautify the neighborhoods where PPG operates around the world. Through the?Colorful Communities program, PPG’s committed volunteers contribute their time and PPG paint products to help transform community assets – from painting classrooms, to bringing color to a maternity ward and redesigning a playground. Since 2015, PPG has completed nearly 400?Colorful Communities?projects, impacting more than 7.4 million people in 42 countries.
PPG’s global community engagement efforts and the PPG Foundation aim to bring color and brightness to PPG communities around the world. We invested $13.3 million in 2021, supporting hundreds of organizations across more than 40 countries. By investing in educational opportunities, we help grow today’s skilled workforce and develop tomorrow’s innovators in fields related to coatings and manufacturing. Plus, we empower PPG employees to multiply their impact for causes that are important to them by supporting their volunteer efforts and charitable giving.
