Mueller Center, Senator John Heinz History Center
March 30
4 — 7 p.m.
If you had the chance to use $300,000 to make the world a better place, what would you do?
Be the first to see how some of the region’s top innovative thinkers rose to the challenge to create sustainable solutions for addressing critical social issues.
After debuting in 2015, the UpPrize Social Innovation Challenge has returned with an even bigger and bolder mission. Created by The Forbes Funds with partners BNY Mellon and Bridgeway Capital, UpPrize rolled out two challenge areas for 2016.
The “Impactful Technology” challenge is funding products and services that improve nonprofit service delivery and the lives of vulnerable populations in Southwestern PA. The “Healthy Food Access” challenge is supporting products and services that increase access to healthy nutritional choices for vulnerable and underserved populations.
Expanding its geographic focus area to include all of Southwestern PA, UpPrize also deepened its outreach to nonprofits, women and people of color.
Last month, 10 finalists were announced in the 2017 UpPrize Challenge—an impressive group selected from more than 175 applicants. All are working to solve pressing issues facing the region and the world. Each finalist received $10,000 and is now competing for the final prizes of up to $300,000.
On March 30, don’t miss the exciting chance to recognize and celebrate the vibrant community of social innovators unique to Southwestern PA at the UpPrize Community Showcase.
Learn more about the locally developed ideas that are making a significant impact—from Pittsburgh’s first pay-what-you-can café and a program training Homewood youth to be urban farmers, to using technology to level the playing field and allow everyone to access big data insights, a luxury typically reserved for groups with resources.
Free and open to all, the lively night will kick off with registration at 4 p,m., and will feature a program at 4:30 p.m. with a reception to follow at 6 p.m. Registration is required.
The UpPrize event is also a great chance to talk social innovation shop—and network with—regional entrepreneurs, nonprofits, techies, community stakeholders, and others.
Read NEXTpittsburgh‘s interview with BNY Mellon Foundation of Southwestern Pennsylvania President Kenya Boswell.
Read more about the 2017 UpPrize finalists in NEXTpittsburgh.
Looking for more events? Check out our 11 Pittsburgh events not to miss in March, Top 10 family events in Pittsburgh this March and our 17 can’t-miss Pittsburgh concerts in 2017 feature stories.