Point Park Students Help Raise Over $5,000 for Women's Health Research Thursday, October 30, 2025
Students worked together with Women Who Rock to "Paint Pumpkins for a Purpose," turning the seasonal symbol pink to raise awareness for women's health research.
As the temperatures dipped just in time for Halloween, several Pioneers used the chilly atmosphere to help create a vibrant pink pumpkin patch at the Pittsburgh Playhouse.
The colorful scene was a part of "Painting Pumpkins for a Purpose," a student-driven collaboration with Women Who Rock to spread awareness for women's health issues and raise money for vital medical research. The colorful pumpkins were sold at the South Side Works on Oct. 25 and during the Pittsburgh Playhouse's Fall Fest on Oct. 26. With the assistance of Point Park University students, the fundraiser earned $5,195 for Magee-Womens Research Institute.
Volunteers from Point Park were led in part by Anna Fitzgerald, a senior in the sports, arts, entertainment and music business (SAEM) program and a member of the capstone class that was focused on the fall event. Fine tuning the events leading up to and throughout the pumpkin sale, Fitzgerald's role as director of operations put her classroom lessons into practical situations throughout the week.
"We already had some logistics about running the pumpkin painting event from previous years, but this is the first year using the Playhouse," Fitzgerald said. "We had a lot of the information already, but the logistics were the challenge. Planning how many pumpkins needed to be brought in, what the painting process would look like and trying to organize volunteers for both sales."
Over 250 pumpkins were donated by Bedner Farms, located in Upper St. Clair, to be turned hot pink by students. The event was also made possible by sponsors such as Benjamin Moore, who provided the hot-pink paint, and 84 Lumber, who provided the necessary building materials.
"We wouldn't have been able to put this event together without the help and donations from the community," Fitzgerald said.
To complete the project, though, it took Pioneers from all over campus to help the charity work. Students stepped up to the challenge, though, making the event a success.
"The painting event was a really good way to bring students from all majors together to do something good," Fitzgerald said.
To see more about the event, see some of the local media coverage on the pumpkin sale:
- "Women Who Rock and Point Park University team up for a unique and helpful pumpkin painting," KDKA, Oct. 23, 2025.