About The CLAAE Foundation

The CLAAE Foundation (Children Learning through Arts, Athletics, and Enrichment) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that empowers youth ages 5 to 18 through immersive, hands-on programming. From film, music, and 3D printing to flag football, tabletop gaming, and leadership development, CLAAE is built for kids who need more than a desk. We create spaces where they can test ideas, try on new identities, and build real skills.

A new kind of space for the next kind of kid.

What We Believe

Every child is creative, and creativity is power when adults take it seriously.
Athletics are not just about winning; they are a lab for trust, communication, and resilience.
Enrichment activities like debate, tabletop games, and storytelling help kids practice thinking in three dimensions.
Mentorship matters at every level: peers, college students, working professionals, and elders all have a role.
Equity starts with access, so we work to bring programming directly into neighborhoods where resources are thin.

“Many of us remember the first time we reached a campus or program that let us explore what we loved. For a lot of people, that did not happen until college. CLAAE asks a simple question: why should kids have to wait that long? We help them start now.”

Affiliations and Partnerships

CLAAE does not work alone. Our model is built on collaboration with schools, universities, churches, and community-based organizations that know their neighborhoods best.

Formal affiliation with the University of Pittsburgh, hosting social work and program interns.
Program partnerships with The Shepherd’s Door (Bellevue, Pennsylvania) and The Cove (Avalon, Pennsylvania).
Growing relationships with local schools, youth programs, and organizations across Allegheny County.
Volunteer pipelines through platforms such as VolunteerMatch, Idealist, and AmeriCorps.

What Makes CLAAE Different

CLAAE is intentionally designed as an expanded learning space, not a traditional classroom replacement. Youth move between arts, athletics, and enrichment instead of being tracked into only one lane. They might spend one hour building a character in a tabletop game, the next hour outside at practice, and the next in a creative lab recording a song or editing a film.

We treat kids as three-dimensional people: thinkers, movers, creators, and future community leaders. Our programs are built to be flexible enough for youth who are thriving, youth who are disconnected from school, and youth who simply have not yet been invited into spaces where their talents make sense.

Looking Ahead

We envision a network of partner sites, mobile learning hubs, and expanded learning opportunities that reach youth across Pittsburgh and Allegheny County. Our goals include deepening mental health supports, building paid leadership pathways for teens through the Up and Coming Leaders (UCL) program, and continuing to grow partnerships that make the entire city a campus for learning.

The CLAAE Foundation is recognized as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Donations are tax-deductible as allowed by law.