Monroeville, PA – April 16, 2026 − State Senator Nick Pisciottano (D-Allegheny) today announced that $1,747,897 in state funding has been awarded to organizations and schools across his district through the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency’s (PCCD) Violence Intervention & Prevention (VIP) and Building Opportunities Through Out-of-School Time (BOOST) grant programs.
“These investments are about meeting young people where they are and giving them the support they need to succeed,” said Pisciottano. “By strengthening out-of-school programs, mentorship, and violence prevention efforts, we are helping build safer neighborhoods and brighter futures across Allegheny County.”
The following local organizations received funding:
- Duquesne City School District: $500,000 (BOOST) to expand the Duquesne AI Scholars Initiative, an enrichment program for at-risk youth
- Maple Unified Student Academy, Homestead: $385,636 (VIP) to expand out-of-school services for at-risk youth
- The Dragon’s Den, Homestead: $333,911 (BOOST) to expand and out-of-school violence-prevention model
- Will Allen Foundation, Pittsburgh: $291,500 (VIP) to expand its high‑dosage, trauma‑informed out‑of‑school time model serving youth across the Mon Valley
- Best of the Batch Foundation, Munhall: $200,000 (VIP) to expand its trauma-informed out-of-school time model for Mon Valley youth
- Helping Out Our People, Braddock: $36,850 (VIP) to launch a trauma‑informed after‑school intervention and support program
The grants are part of a broader statewide investment following the adoption of the FY 2025–26 VIP and BOOST funding framework by the School Safety and Security Committee on December 10, 2025.
In total, more than $65 million in funding is being distributed across Pennsylvania to support community violence prevention and expand access to structured out-of-school programming for at-risk youth.
VIP funding supports initiatives that address community violence, including gun violence and domestic violence, in areas with high rates of firearm-related crime and injury. BOOST funding expands before-school, after-school, and summer programming opportunities for school-age youth facing challenges such as poverty, housing instability, or academic difficulty.
A total of 464 applications were submitted statewide under the combined VIP and BOOST solicitation, with 177 projects recommended for funding following a competitive review process.
“These are proven, community-driven programs that are making a difference,” Senator Pisciottano added. “I’m proud to support their work and will continue fighting for resources that uplift our communities and keep our residents safe.”
For more information about the VIP and BOOST programs, visit the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency website.