Steelers, Players Announce Donation to United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania

While their season may have ended prematurely, the Pittsburgh Steelers are still continuing their life-changing work in the community.

The Steelers organization and players have announced their latest contribution to the Steelers Social Justice Grant program, a $96,000 donation to United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania.

The @steelers have announced a donation to @unitedwaySWPA from multiple #Steelers players with a matching contribution by the team as part of the Steelers’ Social Justice Grant program to help support community efforts.

📝: https://t.co/jDB6lfkHO3 pic.twitter.com/DDvomUuwJF

— Steelers Community Relations (@SteelersCR) January 13, 2021

Steelers players Marcus Allen, Antoine Brooks Jr., Chase Claypool, Alex Highsmith, Mike Hilton Justin Layne and Cameron Sutton combined to donate $48,000 to those cause, a total which was matched by the organization.

“It is really important to do this for these programs,” Sutton told Steelers.com. “We are talking about an opportunity that is not just monetary, it is life changing. It’s a lifelong process that we are all ready and willing to endure. We have had fulfillment and excitement and enjoyable memories we share with the kids through the United Way programs, and this opportunity to help is even more special to us. I always want to give back and create opportunities for kids who might not have the same ones we had, to help them get through the things they are going through.”

A player-led program, the Steelers Social Justice Grant program works to “engage with various factions, including law enforcement, charitable organizations, military and more to strengthen the community at large.”

“I am very happy that a number of our players have contributed to several important community programs through the United Way,” Steelers President Art Rooney II told Steelers.com. “The United Way and its volunteers identify community programs that are effectively addressing critical needs in our community, and I am pleased that the Steelers organization and our players are able to partner to make these resources available.”

The majority of the donation will go towards assisting at-risk youth in and around Pittsburgh that have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, and to support children facing racial, gender and ability inequities.

This is the third-straight year Steelers players have given back to United Way, continuing a partnership between the team and organization that has lasted more than 40 years.

“The work that the Steelers organization overall and players specifically support through the Social Justice Fund provides important resources for United Way programs that help children lead better lives, to provide services and tools that help them succeed,” president and CEO of the UWSWPA Bobbi Watt Geer told Steelers.com. “Our joint commitment to social justice in the Pittsburgh region can be life-changing for young people. We greatly appreciate this important partnership with the Pittsburgh Steelers organization.”