
One thousand PPG volunteers and community partners participated in PPG’s New Paint for a New Start initiative during July and August 2022. Collectively, they dedicated 6,400 hours to paint 36 classrooms and learning spaces for more than 23,000 students and educators worldwide.
Most of the projects drew from a single global color palette selected by PPG color experts to inspire well-being and learning.
“We carefully selected colors that pair with the learning objectives for each classroom while considering factors that include students’ ages and local, cultural influences,” said Kiersten Lent, PPG color and design manager, architectural coatings.
PPG Also Donated Over $1 Million in Paint and Educational Supplies
PPG contributed more than $1 million to recipient schools through New Paint for a New Start projects, which included educational supplies for several schools and a total of 3,400 gallons of PPG paint products. Each project aimed to create engaging spaces for students to learn and grow.
“We’re proud to have created revitalized spaces to celebrate students and educators and help students feel excited, supported and ready to learn,” said Malesia Dunn, executive director, PPG Foundation and Corporate Global Social Responsibility. “We know that color can enhance learning and create spaces where (students) feel comfortable and encouraged.”
PPG’s Colorful Communities Program
The New Paint for a New Start initiative is part of the Colorful Communities program, PPG’s signature initiative for supporting community development. The program aims to protect and beautify the neighborhoods where PPG operates around the world.
Through the Colorful Communities program, PPG’s volunteers contribute their time and PPG paint products to help transform public spaces.
Since 2015, PPG has completed nearly 400 Colorful Communities projects, impacting more than 7.4 million people in 42 countries.

CSR Program Support for Branding
Messaging for PPG’s Colorful Communities CSR program supports the company’s brand positioning, to sell paints and coatings which “PROTECT AND BEAUTIFY THE WORLD®”.
For instance, the company noted that their New Paint for a New Start palette “includes Olive Sprig, which is the 2022 PPG Color of the Year, or regional colors inspired by it to create a soft, flexible basis for any educational environment.”