PPG Completes COLORFUL COMMUNITIES Project at Academy Prep Center

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

As part of its global community engagement efforts, PPG PPG announced the completion of a COLORFUL COMMUNITIES™ project that helped to brighten and revitalize classrooms at Academy Prep Center of St. Petersburg, Florida. In addition, the PPG Foundation donated $20,000 on behalf of PPG's architectural coatings business to support the school's science, technology, engineering and math programs.

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Approximately 10 local volunteers from PPG and Lowe's Commercial Painting used 25 gallons of PPG PAINTS™ products to beautify three of the school's classrooms. Academy Prep students voted to select the new paint colors for creative learning environments, and they created and presented a colorful banner commemorating the project to display in the school.

The $20,000 PPG Foundation grant enables Academy Prep, which is a private, nonprofit organization, to purchase a well-known science, technology, engineering and math curriculum and provide training for teachers on the program, along with providing an after-school robotics program to students. This supports the school's mission to inspire and empower students qualifying for need-based scholarships to become future community leaders through a rigorous middle school program coupled with ongoing graduate support.

"We are very thankful for the generosity of PPG and the PPG Foundation as they support our efforts to create more colorful learning experiences and brighter futures for our students," said Gina Burkett, head of Academy Prep Center of St. Petersburg. "The colorful PPG Paints products beautifully refreshed the important spaces where our students learn and spend much of their time. And, like PPG, we believe in empowering today's students with education to inspire tomorrow's scientists, mathematicians and innovators."

Premium PPG Paints products, including PITT GLAZE^® WB1, were used to protect and beautify three classrooms. Academy Prep students selected a custom color palette including vibrant colors such as PPG Paints Minerva (PPG1231-3), Flemish Blue (PPG1238-3), Always Blue (PPG1156-3), Copper River (PPG1196-5), Artesian Well (PPG1231-5) and Rojo Colonial (PPG13-15). Specifically designed with a washable formula that withstands the rigorous cleaning and wear and tear in schools, PPG Paints brand Pitt Glaze product was selected for the walls of the classrooms.

Robb Butler, PPG regional sales manager in the St. Petersburg and Tampa area said, "At PPG, we protect and beautify the world while investing in our local communities, especially in support of local educational opportunities. We are proud to be a community partner in the Greater Tampa, Clearwater and St. Petersburg area and hope this project helps Academy Prep continue its mission of providing students with enriching educational opportunities."

PPG operates eight PPG Paints stores in the St. Petersburg and Tampa area. Visit www.ppgpaints.com for more on the PPG Paints brand, and visit www.ppgpaints.com/store-locator to find a PPG Paints store.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Images available. Contact jamie.altman@ppg.com or edgar@ppg.com.

The Colorful Communities program is PPG's signature initiative for community engagement efforts, with the aim to protect and beautify the neighborhoods where PPG operates around the world. The program increases PPG's commitment to invest in communities by adding $10 million to support efforts made during a 10-year period. Together with community partners and PPG employees who volunteer, it supports projects that transform community assets using donated PPG products. In 2015, PPG completed 11 Colorful Communities projects, and it expects to complete more than 30 this year.

PPG and the PPG Foundation aim to bring color and brightness to PPG communities around the world. We donated more than $7.8 million in 2015 to hundreds of community organizations across 20 countries. By investing in educational opportunities, we help grow today's skilled workforce and develop tomorrow's innovators in industries related to coatings and specialty materials. Plus, we empower PPG employees to make an impact for causes that are important to them by supporting their volunteer efforts and charitable giving. Learn more at www.ppgcommunities.com and follow @PPG_Communities on Twitter.

PPG: WE PROTECT AND BEAUTIFY THE WORLD™

At PPG PPG, we work every day to develop and deliver the paints, coatings and materials that our customers have trusted for more than 130 years. Through dedication and creativity, we solve our customers' biggest challenges, collaborating closely to find the right path forward. With headquarters in Pittsburgh, we operate and innovate in more than 70 countries and reported net sales of $14.8 billion in 2015. We serve customers in construction, consumer products, industrial and transportation markets and aftermarkets. To learn more, visit www.ppg.com.

PPG Paints, We protect and beautify the world and Colorful Communities are trademarks and the PPG Logo is a registered trademark of PPG Industries Ohio, Inc.

Pitt Glaze is a registered trademark of PPG Architectural Finishes, Inc.

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