PPG announced the completion of a COLORFUL COMMUNITIES project that helped revitalize the Gianni Rodari middle school in Novate Milanese, Italy. The project brought together more than 55 PPG employees from its Milan facility, who spent more than 440 hours transforming the school’s interior.

PPG provided $92,000 (€88,500) to support the renovation of 10 classrooms, three laboratories, an entranceway and corridors, including 221 gallons (835 liters) of SIGMA COATINGS® paints by PPG. Products used included Sigma Pearl Clean water-based interior wall paint with innovative easy-clean technology. The product is highly durable and carries the EU Ecolabel certification.

The Gianni Rodari school is part of Istituto Comprensivo Statale Don Milani, which has 781 students and 35 teachers. The facility provides education to students and support to people with disabilities ranging from 3 to 14 years. PPG also donated funds to the school to support Innovamat, a STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) education project focused on math teaching.

PPG color experts selected Raspberry Ripple, a warm, embracing color for the entranceway; Cajun Spice, a vibrant and stimulating shade for the laboratories; and Sterling Silver, a more relaxing color for the classrooms to encourage concentration. The scheme also included Limitless, PPG’s Color of the Year 2024, a fresh, enveloping yellow.

The project also included two large murals designed by Urban Color, a team of young artists active in the regeneration of unused urban space. The murals depicted themes related to sustainability and respect for the planet and human value, reflecting values that unite the school and PPG with its purpose of protecting and beautifying the world.

“This renovation project demonstrates the value of the collaboration between the public and private sectors, a dialogue capable of generating a synergy that benefits our community on a daily basis,” said Gian Maria Palladino, Mayor of Novate Milanese. “The work carried out on the school, thanks to PPG’s indispensable contribution, has a profound value. It will help our children learn fundamental life steps.”

This project is part of the third year of PPG’s New Paint for a New Start initiative, under which PPG volunteers carried out more than 25 colorful and transformative school and educational space makeovers worldwide.

“We are very proud to celebrate this New Paint for a New Start project and all the employees who collaborated in the restyling of the school’s interior and made a voluntary commitment to encourage a healthier, more colorful and more welcoming start of school year,” said Massimiliano Mimmotti, PPG plant manager, Milan, Automotive Refinish. “We are committed to support local communities in the areas where we operate and continue building our future together.”

“A warm thank you goes to PPG and the many employees and volunteers who embraced the project and contributed their valuable time,” said Stefania Firetto, director of the Gianni Rodari school. “The New Paint for a New Start initiative is a further demonstration that the private sector is sensitive to the development of culture and education and investing in schools and in the future of our next generation. We hope that this relationship can be strengthened over time, producing tangible results for our young people and the region.”