Leigh Halverson is the Strategic Projects Advisor to the President at The Heinz Endowments.

Though Leigh Halverson didn’t grow up here, she’s in love with Pittsburgh. This is partly because she views the metropolis as the perfect place for her to work at a local level to enact global change.

“[Collectively, the city is] completely open to new ideas and to young people,” she says. “As a result, I’m able to make an impact.”

She’s served as chairwoman of the board for the Environmental Charter School and for The Pittsburgh Foundation for over 5 years. Due to her involvement with the first Day of Giving in 2024, Halverson met with more than 800 nonprofits to create online profiles that would qualify them for inclusion.

After attending the 2024 One Young World Summit in Zurich as one of 30 Pittsburgh delegates, she helped host the 2024 summit here, bringing major delegates to Pittsburgh; she restructured the gathering to include 20 breakout groups throughout the city rather than in a conference room.

In addition, she organized 101 home dinners for students and delegates to connect with local community members. Halverson says Pittsburgh is a global leader, but more than that, “this is a place where I really feel that my contribution is valued.”