Tony Fountain

Tony Fountain (A&S ’70, CGS ’77) has lent his leadership skills to the public and private sectors, many nonprofits, and the University of Pittsburgh. He is also a long-time and generous financial supporter of Pitt.

“Education is the most important investment we make,” Fountain said. “Not just in our children, but for our communities.”

As a student, Fountain was a founding member of the Black Action Society and has remained active in the Pitt community. He served as President of the Pitt African American Alumni Council and has mentored students as part of the University’s Hesselbein Global Summit on Student Leadership and Civic Engagement.

Fountain and his wife, Lark, created a charitable gift annuity at the University, funding the Anthony S. and Lark T. Fountain Scholarship, which supports students in the College of General Studies. The couple also gives generously to the African American Alumni Council Scholarship Endowment and established an endowment with the Pittsburgh POISE Foundation providing scholarships to future teachers, including several Pitt grads from the School of Education.

Fountain served as Chief Financial Officer for the Power Business Unit of the global engineering and construction firm URS Corp. After retirement, he founded Support America’s Teachers, a nonprofit that conducts teacher appreciation events, provides scholarships for future teachers, and raises awareness that education is the most important investment we make in our communities. 

“My Pitt experience helped propel me through a successful career and today I recognize that it is essential to give back to the community,” Fountain said.