Christine Fulton brings 25 years of fundraising experience to position

Allegheny County Executive Dan Onorato joins United States Steel Chairman and Chief Executive Officer John Surma, Christine Fulton, Council President Rich Fitzgerald, and Parks Director Andy Baechle to name Fulton as the Executive Director of the Allegheny County Parks Foundation.

PITTSBURGH — Allegheny County Executive Dan Onorato and U. S. Steel Chairman & Chief Executive Officer John Surma today announced the selection of Christine Fulton as executive director of the Allegheny County Parks Foundation. Onorato created the foundation to raise private funds for the County’s nine regional parks. Surma serves as chair of the foundation’s board of directors.

“Christine Fulton’s experience in fundraising and project management will benefit the foundation as it works to improve our parks and engage the community,” said Onorato. “County Council and I have pledged $10 million in capital funds to match, dollar for dollar, the first $10 million raised by the foundation. In doing so, we will quickly double the amount of funds to address deferred maintenance, recreational improvements and facility enhancements in our parks.”

The foundation’s charge is to transform Allegheny County’s parks through funding, asset improvement, increased utilization, and public/private collaboration in order to enhance quality of life in the region.

“Urban green space is once again being viewed as a key quality-of-life indicator in cities across the United States, and with nine parks spanning more than 12,000 acres, Allegheny County has the potential to be recognized as the home of one of our nation’s finest park systems,” said Surma.  “While everyone associated with the Allegheny County Parks Foundation recognizes the challenges that lie before us, we are firmly dedicated to this cause and confident that the talents and resources we have to offer will help secure the long-term viability of our county park system.” 

Fulton joins the foundation with 25 years of experience in major fund raising for prominent institutions, including the University of Pittsburgh’s McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine, University of Chicago and Northwestern University, of which she is a graduate. She also brings significant private-sector experience, including work with the Soffer Organization, which is best represented by the SouthSide Works development. Most recently, Fulton built public/private partnerships to improve and enhance a mixed-use, suburban development of 1,700 acres, including 450 acres of green space located in Bridgeport, W.Va.

Fulton is also well accomplished in the green movement. Her achievements include major involvement in the McGowan laboratory building, the first gold LEED-rated laboratory facility in the nation, as well as participation in the funding and design of the South Shore Riverfront Park, a key segment of the Three Rivers Trail. Fulton served on the Green Building Alliance Board of Directors, including as board chair.

“The county parks are treasures, an important part of the legacy of our region, in need of new funding, improvements and programs consistent with healthy lifestyles and environmental stewardship,” said Fulton.

For more information on the Allegheny County Parks Foundation, or to make a donation, go to www.acparksfoundation.org or call 412-915-7067.

Onorato and County Council also allocated $1 million to assist the foundation with its initial operations and costs.

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Allegheny County Parks Foundation Board of Directors

• John Surma (chair), U. S. Steel Chairman & CEO
• Carol Brown (vice chair), Pgh. Cultural Trust founder & former County Parks Director
• Chip Babst (treasurer), Babst, Calland, Clements & Zomnir Managing Shareholder
• Bill Bates (secretary), Eat ’n Park Hospitality Group Senior Vice President of Real Estate
• Andy Baechle (ex officio), Allegheny County Parks Director
• Ellen Brooks
• Jack Burley, former Heinz executive
• G. Reynolds Clark, University of Pittsburgh Vice Chancellor for Community Initiatives
• Kevin Colosimo, Thorp Reed & Armstrong Partner
• Dennis Davin (ex officio), Allegheny County Economic Development Director
• Karen Wolk Feinstein, Jewish Healthcare Foundation President
• The Honorable Rich Fitzgerald (ex officio), Allegheny County Council president
• Pat Getty, Benedum Foundation President
• John Mascaro Jr., Mascaro Construction Company president & CEO
• Thomas Mulroy, Thomas Mulroy & Associates
• Joe Olczak (ex officio), Allegheny County Public Works Director
• The Honorable Dan Onorato (ex officio), Allegheny County Executive
• Tom Sterling, retired U. S. Steel executive

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