History

For nearly 140 years, the Heinz family has been a key business and philanthropic leader in the Pittsburgh region and around
the world.  

The Heinz Endowments grew from the success of one of America’s most accomplished entrepreneurs, Henry John “H.J.” Heinz, as a reflection of the values shared by generations of his family, their devotion to civic causes, and their willingness to embrace transformative ideas and invest in seeing them through.   

The Heinz Endowments was established in 2007 with the consolidation of two Heinz family foundations: the Howard Heinz Endowment and the Vira I. Heinz Endowment. 

Howard Heinz, the second son of H.J. and Sarah Heinz, bequeathed his estate to philanthropic purposes upon his death in 1941.

As part of the will of Vira Ingham Heinz, the wife of Clifford Heinz, the youngest son of H.J. and Sarah Heinz, the Vira I. Heinz Endowment was established in 1983. 

Sen. John Heinz was the leader of the family endowments before his tragic death in 1991. However, he left behind a vision of a modern foundation that under the leadership of his wife, Teresa Heinz, would become The Heinz Endowments. André Heinz, the second of three sons born to Sen. Heinz and Mrs. Heinz, became chairman of the Endowments board in 2016.  

Today, The Heinz Endowments is among the largest philanthropic organizations in the United States, distributing approximately $90 million in grants annually. 

 

Founders:

Howard Heinz, 1877-1941

Howard Heinz, the son of Henry John and Sarah Young Heinz, was born near Sharpsburg, a Pittsburgh suburb, on Aug. 27, 1877. After graduating from Shady Side Academy and Yale University, he began working full time for the H. J. Heinz Co. in 1900, serving as advertising manager, sales manager, vice president and eventually president.

He was a director or trustee of the Pennsylvania Railroad; Mellon Bank, N.A.; National Industrial Conference Board; Pittsburgh Regional Planning Association; Pittsburgh Chamber of Commerce; University of Pittsburgh; Carnegie Institute; Shady Side Academy; Western Pennsylvania Hospital; and the Pittsburgh Symphony Society. He also served as a ruling elder at Shadyside Presbyterian Church.

Mr. Heinz died on Feb. 9, 1941. He bequeathed his residual estate to the Howard Heinz Endowment for philanthropic purposes.

 

Vira I. Heinz, 1888-1983

In a city known for its active and concerned civic leaders, Vira I. Heinz was among the foremost. She was born Vira M. Ingham in what is now Pittsburgh's Brighton Heights neighborhood. In 1932, she married Clifford S. Heinz, son of Henry J. Heinz, founder of the food processing company. Clifford Heinz died in 1935. During more than four decades that followed, Mrs. Heinz was active in the philanthropic and civic work for which she is now remembered.

She did so much for so many that it would be impossible to list the full range of her activities. A few of the more prominent included serving as vice president of the World Council of Christian Education and becoming an active supporter of its work in Africa. She was a founder of the Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera; president and principal benefactor of the Pittsburgh Youth Symphony; and a member of the Pittsburgh Chamber Music Society, Pittsburgh Opera and Pittsburgh Symphony Society boards.

Mrs. Vira I. Heinz received the Chancellor's Medal from the University of Pittsburgh and honorary degrees from 11 colleges and universities. She was a trustee of Chatham College and the first woman trustee of Carnegie Mellon University. She served as a member of the board of Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh and was an honorary fellow of the American College of Hospital Administrators. As a member of the H. J. Heinz Co. board, she was the first woman board member of a multinational corporation headquartered in Pittsburgh. In the spirit of generosity that characterized her life, Mrs. Vira I. Heinz provided in her will for the establishment of a charitable foundation.