East Allegheny School District is proud to announce that it has been selected as a recipient of a Tull Family Foundation grant through the Foundation’s new Team UP initiative. As part of an inaugural $2 million pilot program benefiting nine Allegheny County school districts, East Allegheny will receive $250,000 dedicated to enhancing and expanding high school athletic opportunities.
Thomas Tull, co-founder of the Tull Family Foundation with his wife, Alba, emphasized the lifelong impact of school sports while announcing the grant. The initiative gives districts broad flexibility to invest in facilities, equipment, and programming for any sport, for both boys and girls.
“Sports have played a significant role in my life,” said Tull. “I had coaches and teammates who taught me the discipline of hard work, the structure of showing up prepared, and the rewards that come from relying on one another. This grant focuses on providing athletic departments with the resources they need so every boy and girl gets the chance to be part of a team. I believe that education, paired with the opportunity to play a sport, is something every student should have access to.”
East Allegheny Superintendent Joseph DiLucente emphasized the transformative impact of the grant.
“Our athletic fields are aging, and our track requires replacement as it is well past its intended life,” DiLucente said. “This generous donation helps us better meet needs like these for our students and community. This significant investment in area school districts is tremendously helpful to us.”
The Foundation officially unveiled the initiative Friday at Pittsburgh Science and Technology Academy, where student-athletes, school district leaders, elected officials, and several retired professional athletes gathered to highlight the importance of youth sports.
The school districts selected for the pilot program were identified using U.S. Census data to pinpoint communities with high numbers of underserved students. The Foundation will work closely with districts over time to assess the initiative’s long-term impact on student athletics.
The announcement event featured several notable retired professional athletes, including former Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback and two-time Super Bowl champion Ben Roethlisberger, Hall of Fame running back Jerome Bettis, retired Steelers quarterback Charlie Batch, former Steelers linebacker James Harrison, and Steelers legend Mel Blount. Also attending were former Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Dave Bednar, as well as actor and Pittsburgh native Joe Manganiello.
“Youth sports offer kids valuable life lessons, and I’m excited to show my support for this effort,” Roethlisberger said. “I had the opportunity to play football, basketball, and baseball, which taught me skills that transferred not only in sports but throughout my life. High school sports should be fun, and this pilot grant will give thousands of boys and girls in our community the chance to play.”
Bettis echoed the impact of community investment in young athletes. “Sports give kids the chance to dream bigger than their circumstances. I’m living proof of that,” he said. “When we offer young athletes from underserved communities a hand up, not a handout, we give them the power to rewrite their story and reach for something greater.”
With the support of the Tull Family Foundation, East Allegheny is poised to make long-needed improvements to its athletic facilities, expanding access and enhancing the experience for current and future student-athletes.