PPG global leaders transform Kids in Distress campus in Florida with COLORFUL COMMUNITIES project

Core Viewpoint - PPG has successfully completed a Colorful Communities project in collaboration with Heart of America to revitalize spaces at Kids in Distress, Inc. in Fort Lauderdale, enhancing the living environment for children in need [1][4]. Group 1: Project Overview - The Colorful Communities project involved 100 of PPG's global leaders who transformed foster family group homes with fresh paint, new kitchen cabinetry, furniture, and outdoor beautification [2][3]. - The initiative included the installation of an obstacle course and the creation of 20 "little libraries," along with assembling 24 tricycles and 28 luggage sets filled with toiletries [3]. Group 2: Impact on Children - The project aimed to create warm and hopeful environments for children, enhancing their living spaces to support their emotional well-being [3][4]. - Mark Dhooge, CEO of Kids in Distress, emphasized the importance of a nurturing environment for children in treatment, highlighting the project's role in making them feel valued and safe [4]. Group 3: Organizational Commitment - PPG's Colorful Communities program, launched in 2015, has committed $15 million to extend its efforts for another decade, celebrating 10 years of community engagement [6]. - The PPG Foundation and its global community engagement initiatives aim to support educational opportunities and empower employees to contribute to causes they care about [7]. Group 4: About Partner Organizations - Kids In Distress, Inc. serves over 20,000 children and families annually, focusing on foster care, early childhood education, and family support [9]. - Heart of America has renovated nearly 1,400 learning spaces and provided over 4.4 million books, emphasizing the importance of physical environments in education [10].