Whether it is virtual or in-classroom, back-to-school time is officially here and the Pittsburgh Pirates are teaming up with several area partners to host events around the city for “Pittsburgh Pirates Back to School Week, presented by PNC.” A number of back-to-school events are planned this week as the Club works to assist teachers and more than 5,000 local students by providing the necessary tools to ensure a safe and healthy beginning to the 2020-2021 school year.

To start the week, the Pirates and PNC teamed up to distribute a total of $10,000 in grants to local teachers to provide funding for their classroom needs during this challenging time. The grants were distributed to 10 area teachers not only as support, but as a thank you for their dedication and passion for education. The teachers were chosen inpart through the Latino Community Center and the Pittsburgh Public Schools, and each were surprised in an online meeting and awarded the grants in recognition of their efforts.

Events scheduled to take place throughout the week include:

• Wednesday, August 19: The Pirates and PNC will host a virtual Back to School Bash with the Latino Community Center. The bash will include video appearances from Pirates players Gregory Polanco, Erik Gonzalez, Richard Rodriguez, Joey Cora and more. In addition, more than 500 backpacks will be distributed through the Latino Community Center to area families as a way to help with their back to school needs.

• Thursday, August 20: The Pirates and PNC will join with Giant Eagle to support the Education Partnership, a local nonprofit providing school supplies to low-income schools in Southwestern Pennsylvania. The support includes a donation of more than 300 backpacks filled with Pirates promo items, face masks and even a 2020 Josh Bell bobblehead, presented by Giant Eagle.

• Friday, August 21: The Pirates and PNC will partner with the Steelers, Penguins and others to support Pittsburgh Public Schools and their #PittsburghForPPS event. The drive-up book bag and food distribution event is scheduled to serve nearly 4,000 participants and will take place in Gold Lot 1A on the North Shore from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The distribution is the largest back-to-school event in the city with backpacks stuffed with school supplies, boxes filled with meals, cloth face masks, hand sanitizer, back-to-school resources and more.

• Saturday, August 22: Pirates pitcher Keone Kela will host a back to school food distribution event for area youth in support of the Josh Gibson Foundation and Urban Impact. The event is scheduled from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., at the Josh Gibson Field on Bedford Avenue in Pittsburgh’s Hill District. Youth attending will receive to-go meals courtesy of Kela and Fudge Farm, Pirates face masks and more.