Evolv Technology has detailed its ongoing community relations programme with the Pittsburgh Pirates, highlighting a collaboration that aims to enhance security and community involvement.
This initiative is part of a larger partnership where Evolv serves as the team's Official Screening Partner. Known for its AI-driven weapons detection solutions, Evolv is also a security ally to various institutions in Pittsburgh, including the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, Acrisure Stadium, and PNC Park.
Encouraging educational success
A key component of the collaboration between Evolv and the Pirates is the First Pitch experience. This initiative allows representatives from local community organisations to throw the first pitch at a Pirates home game. For the 2024 season, Evolv has selected three organisations to participate: The Pittsburgh Promise, A Kid Again, and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Pittsburgh.
A key component of the collaboration between Evolv and the Pirates is the First Pitch experience
The Pittsburgh Promise, founded by sports legend Franco Harris and based in downtown Pittsburgh, supports educational attainment by providing scholarships and believes in creating safe school environments. Meanwhile, A Kid Again, a national organisation with a Pittsburgh chapter, provides families with children facing life-threatening conditions opportunities for enriching activities away from the hospital. Lastly, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Pittsburgh focuses on youth mentorship, matching children with caring adult mentors in the East Liberty area.
Enhanced visibility for local organisations
John Baier, Evolv’s vice president of sports, expressed enthusiasm for the partnerships, stating, “We are thrilled to share the benefits of our Pirates partnership with such worthy organisations.” He emphasised Evolv's dedication to the wider community, beyond security solutions, and acknowledged the significant contributions these organisations make to children, families, and the broader Pittsburgh community.
Creating lasting community memories
In addition to the First Pitch initiative, Evolv donates numerous Pirates game tickets to various local bodies, educational institutions, and health facilities each season. This gesture is aimed at fostering enjoyable and memorable experiences throughout the Pittsburgh area.
In addition to their work with the Pirates, Evolv maintains partnerships with 40 other sports teams across various American leagues and collegiate conferences. Beyond sports, Evolv’s technology is in use at theme parks, performing arts centres, casinos, places of worship, and numerous educational and healthcare institutions nationwide, having screened 1 billion people since 2019.
Evolv Technology, the security technology company pioneering AI-based weapons detection to create safer experiences, today shared details about its season-long community relations program with the Pittsburgh Pirates.
This program is an element of Evolv’s broader partnership with the ballclub, through which the company is designated as the team’s Official Screening Partner. Evolv is a trusted security partner to a number organisations in the Pittsburgh community, including the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, Acrisure Stadium, home of the Pittsburgh Steelers, and PNC Park.
Fostering educational achievement
One joint initiative of the Evolv and Pirates community effort focuses on the team’s First Pitch experience, in which a representative of a Pittsburgh-area community organisation has the honor of throwing out the first pitch before the start of a Pirates home game. For 2024, Evolv has enabled three such organisations to have this unique experience and opportunity for enhanced visibility:
The Pittsburgh Promise, located in downtown Pittsburgh, fosters educational achievement among urban youth and funds scholarships for post-secondary schooling. The organisation, founded by local sports legend Franco Harris, shares Evolv’s belief that physical safety at school improves the quality of the learning environment.
Youth mentoring organisation
A Kid Again, a national organisation with a local chapter in Pittsburgh, offers free events and activities to families with a child who faces a life-threatening condition. Many of the recipients have long hospital stays and are likely impacted by hospital security needs and procedures.
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Pittsburgh, based in the city’s East Liberty neighbourhood, is the region’s youth mentoring organisation, matching children who seek a mentor with caring adults.
“We are thrilled to share the benefits of our Pirates partnership with such worthy organisations,” said John Baier, Evolv’s vice president of sports. “Our commitment to the communities we serve extends beyond security and we are honoured to help raise visibility for these organisations doing important work to support children, their families, and the Pittsburgh community at large. Seeing these real-world beneficiaries motivates all Evolvers to continue to execute on the company’s mission of making the world a safer place for people to gather.”
Memorable community experiences
In addition to this initiative, each season Evolv donates dozens of Pirates game tickets to community organisations, schools, and hospitals throughout the Pittsburgh area to provide opportunities for fun and memorable community experiences.
Beyond the Pirates, Evolv has official partnerships with 40 other sports teams across the American professional leagues and collegiate conferences. In addition to sports venues, Evolv’s technology helps secure theme parks, performing arts centres, casinos, places of worship and hundreds of schools and hospitals across the U.S. and has screened 1 billion people since 2019.
