Leon Ford’s 33 for 33 Birthday Campaign: Supporting Bridging the Badge
Help Us Raise $33,000 for Leon Ford’s 33rd Birthday
Support the Bridging the Badge mentorship program and help create career pathways for Allegheny’s county youth in public safety and community leadership.
Why This Campaign Matters
As Leon Ford celebrates his 33rd birthday, he is inviting supporters, friends, and community members to join him in raising $33,000 to expand the Bridging the Badge program through The Hear Foundation.
Bridging the Badge is a mentorship and career development initiative designed to connect Pittsburgh youth with leadership development, mentorship, and exposure to careers in public safety and civic leadership.
Through partnerships with Pittsburgh Public Schools, national public safety organizations, and leading universities, the program helps young people see pathways into careers that allow them to serve their communities while building stable and meaningful futures.
This campaign is about more than a birthday. It is an investment in the next generation of leaders who will help shape safer and stronger communities.
What Your Support Makes Possible
🎂 Giving Levels
$5 – Start the Bridge
Every movement begins with participation. Your contribution helps support mentorship sessions and leadership programming for Pittsburgh students participating in Bridging the Badge.
$33 – Birthday Supporter
Celebrate Leon Ford’s 33rd birthday by helping fund mentorship and leadership development opportunities for students exploring careers in public safety and community service.
$66 – Student Advocate
Help provide mentorship, career guidance, and exposure to professionals working in public safety and community leadership.
$100 – Community Builder
Support workshops and leadership sessions that help students build confidence, financial literacy, and pathways into meaningful careers serving their communities.
$250 – Leadership Sponsor
Help provide students with deeper mentorship experiences, leadership training, and exposure to national public safety leaders through programs connected to Bridging the Badge.
$500 – Future Leader Investor
Support travel opportunities, mentorship programming, and career exposure that help students connect with leaders in public safety and higher education.
$1000 – Bridge Builder
Make a transformative investment in expanding the Bridging the Badge mentorship pipeline and helping prepare the next generation of public safety leaders in Pittsburgh.
Make Your Contribution
Your support helps expand mentorship opportunities, leadership development, and career pathways for Pittsburgh youth through Bridging the Badge.
About Bridging the Badge
Bridging the Badge is a mentorship and career development initiative led by The Hear Foundation that connects Pittsburgh youth with opportunities in public safety and civic leadership.
Working with Pittsburgh Public Schools and programs such as the Public Safety Career and Technical Education program at Westinghouse High School, Bridging the Badge provides students with mentorship, leadership training, financial literacy education, and exposure to professionals working in law enforcement, fire services, emergency response, and community leadership.
Students also gain national exposure through opportunities like the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE) conference, where they meet accomplished public safety leaders and build networks that expand their vision for the future.
Through partnerships with institutions like Duquesne University and the University of Pittsburgh, the program helps students explore higher education pathways and leadership roles in public service.
The goal is simple but powerful: prepare the next generation of leaders while strengthening trust between communities and public safety institutions.
See Bridging the Badge in Action
Bridging the Badge brings together students, mentors, and community leaders to create meaningful pathways into public safety careers.
Through mentorship, leadership development, and exposure to national leaders, the program helps young people envision a future where they serve and strengthen their own communities.
Your support helps expand these opportunities and ensure more students can participate in programs that build leadership, resilience, and purpose.
Help Us Reach the $33,000 Goal
Leon Ford is celebrating his 33rd birthday by raising $33,000 to expand Bridging the Badge and invest in the next generation of leaders.
Every donation moves the campaign closer to that goal and helps ensure that more students have access to mentorship, opportunity, and meaningful career pathways.
Whether you give $33 in honor of Leon’s birthday or contribute at another level, your support helps strengthen communities and empower young people across Pittsburgh.
Join us in building a stronger future.
Be Part of the Movement
Together we can help expand opportunities for Pittsburgh youth and strengthen the connection between communities and the institutions that serve them.
Every contribution makes a difference.
