Some Past Projects
84 Lumber Donation to support Our Makerspace
In 2022, 84 Lumber supported Purple Eagle with a $1,000 donation to purchase makerspace materials for Pittsburgh Obama Academy. The effort was led by Ashish Badjatia, Executive Director of Purple Eagle, who coordinated the grant request and partnership. At the time, Purple Eagle was expanding its student-led makerspace initiative, equipping classrooms with tools like 3D printers, laser engravers, and heat presses to help students design and sell custom products through their school store.
The 84 Lumber contribution helped fund essential supplies and consumables, enabling students to immediately begin creating merchandise while learning design, fabrication, and entrepreneurship skills. This early show of support demonstrated the value of local business partnerships in building sustainable, student-driven innovation programs.
The DICK’S Foundation Grant 2022
In 2022, Purple Eagle’s student grant writing team — Isaiah Trumbull (Class of 2024), Jane Balog (Class of 2023), and Emma Coyne (Class of 2023) — secured a $16,000 award from the The Dick’s Foundation to support underfunded swim, tennis, and soccer teams at Pittsburgh Obama Academy. These teams had long struggled with outdated or insufficient equipment, including broken swim lane lines, worn tennis balls, and inadequate soccer gear. the grant, Purple Eagle was able to provide new swim caps, competitive tech suits, lane lines in school colors, fresh tennis equipment, and proper soccer training tools. This investment immediately improved practice conditions, boosted team morale, and leveled the playing field for athletes competing against better-funded programs. In addition to the monetary award, The DICK’S Foundation donated over $8,700 in exercise equipment, further amplifying the impact. This combination of funding and in-kind support not only revitalized Obama Academy athletics but also underscored how student-led grant writing can unlock major community resources and create lasting benefits for underserved schools.
CMU ZUZ Partnership for Student Startup Fundraising
Purple Eagle partnered with ZUZ, a Carnegie Mellon University startup, to give students a new way to launch and finance their ventures. ZUZ is a lending and payments platform that enables businesses to raise funds based on community trust. Through this collaboration, Purple Eagle students gained the opportunity to create fundraising campaigns on the ZUZ platform, raising capital in exchange for “ZUZ” — digital gift card–like certificates that supporters could later redeem within the student-run startup ecosystem. This partnership allowed students to experience real-world entrepreneurship by building campaigns, attracting supporters, and managing early-stage financing, all while working alongside CMU students and faculty on cutting-edge technology. By blending innovation, education, and community support, Purple Eagle and ZUZ created a unique pathway for young entrepreneurs to test their ideas, raise capital, and learn how trust and networks play a vital role in business success.
Eurasia Group Foundation – Climate & Social Justice Project
Purple Eagle partnered with the Eurasia Group Foundation (EGF) to give students hands-on experience researching global issues and producing educational content. Initially focused on climate change and global health, the collaboration evolved into a project on the effects of climate migration on social justice. Five student leaders from Obama Academy worked alongside EGF advisors and Purple Eagle mentors to conduct research, manage project operations, and engage with experts. Their work intended to produce content designed to make complex global challenges accessible to young audiences worldwide. Although their work could not be completed, this partnership not only exposed students to international policy and research but also gave them valuable skills in project management, scholarship, and advocacy. It demonstrated Purple Eagle’s ability to bridge local student leadership with global organizations, amplifying youth voices in critical conversations about climate and justice.