Family-friendly event highlights meaningful activities focused on kindness
PITTSBURGH, September 14, 2026 — WQED and Fred Rogers Productions, supported by PNC Grow Up Great®, invite neighbors to attend Be My Neighbor Day in the Borough of Wilkinsburg. The free event takes place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026.
This year’s theme, “History to Hope,” celebrates Wilkinsburg’s unique story while looking ahead to the community’s future. The event features activities at several key locations, including the Civically FreeStore Wilkinsburg, Wilkinsburg Public Library, Harold Young Parklet and the newly remodeled Wilkinsburg Train Station.
Inspired by Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood, the beloved PBD KIDS series from Fred Rogers Productions, this event aims to encourage local volunteerism and foster family engagement and community development. Families will enjoy hands-on activities, educational resources, a community resource row and the chance to meet neighbors who are making a difference, including a special appearance by Daniel Tiger.
“One of the most rewarding parts of Be My Neighbor Day is collaborating with community partners who are deeply invested in supporting local families. Their support makes this event possible,” said Taylor Whiting, WQED Learning Neighborhood manager, Eastern Region.
“We are looking forward to bringing our community together for this wonderful family event. We hope everyone will have fun and gain information about the amazing organizations and schools located in Wilkinsburg,” said Charlene Castronovo, Children’s Library manager at Wilkinsburg Library.
“Wilkinsburg has always been a community where neighbors show up for one another, and that spirit is at the heart of Be My Neighbor Day. We are honored and excited to partner with WQED to bring this special celebration to Wilkinsburg, creating an opportunity for neighbors of all ages to connect and celebrate the power of community right near where Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood came to life,” said Marita Garrett, founding president and CEO of Civically, Inc.
Event Details
What: WQED’s Be My Neighbor Day 2026
Where: Wilkinsburg, PA (Civically FreeStore Wilkinsburg, Wilkinsburg Public Library, Harold Young Parklet, Wilkinsburg Train Station)
When: Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Who: Families, children and neighbors across the Pittsburgh region
About PNC Grow Up Great
The PNC Foundation, which receives its principal funding from The PNC Financial Services Group (www.pnc.com), actively supports organizations that provide services for the benefit of communities in which it has a significant presence. The Foundation focuses its philanthropic mission on early childhood education and community and economic development, which includes the arts and culture. Through PNC Grow Up Great, its signature cause that began in 2004, PNC has created a bilingual $500 million, multi-year initiative to help prepare children from birth to age 5 for success in school and life. For more information, visit http://www.pncgrowupgreat.com.
About WQED
Founded in 1953 as America’s first community-owned television station, WQED was a forerunner to PBS and the television home of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood. Today WQED provides a trusted platform that amplifies the southwestern Pennsylvania’s vibrant and diverse cultural assets. WQED’s Education team builds vital bridges between families and dozens of schools, libraries, and community partners, offering free and accessible resources wherever kids learn, live, and play. Every day, WQED showcases the stories and voices that make our communities unique, strengthening our connections to each other and deepening our pride in the place we call home.
About Fred Rogers Productions
Fred Rogers Productions (FRP) is the nonprofit children’s media company founded by Fred Rogers in 1971. Originally the producer of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, FRP focuses on supporting children and families through award-winning series like Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood, Donkey Hodie, Alma’s Way, and Odd Squad. Through convergent TV, interactive games, experiences, and community engagement initiatives that model kindness, respect, and enthusiasm for learning, the organization aims to earn the trust of parents and caregivers while building on the legacy of Fred Rogers. FRP has earned a Peabody Award and 31 Emmys® along with honors from Common Sense Media and the Parents’ Choice Foundation. For more information, visit www.fredrogers.org or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood is an Emmy®-winning animated preschool series that models age-appropriate social-emotional strategies and practical life lessons for young children. The first TV series inspired by the iconic Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood stars 4-year-old Daniel Tiger, who invites young viewers into his world, giving them a kid’s-eye view of his life. Executive producers are Angela C. Santomero; Ellen Doherty, chief creative officer of Fred Rogers Productions; and Vince Commisso, president & CEO, 9 Story Media Group.
About Civically FreeStore Wilkinsburg
FreeStore Wilkinsburg launched in 2017 by Founding President & CEO Marita Garrett. She recognized Wilkinsburg needed more than the FreeStore to create self-reliance and general wealth-building within her community. Civically, Inc. envisions a community that is truly self-reliant and creates opportunities from within that has a positive and sustainable impact. Knowing that for a community to flourish residents must be engaged and connected to the tools to steer their own empowerment and prosperity. Civically exercises multiple approaches to accomplish this effort by focusing on the creation of sustaining communities, public health advocacy, literacy, and equity building. The store itself acts as a space for passive learning and family support.
Wilkinsburg Public Library
The Wilkinsburg Public Library serves as a primary venue and programming partner, offering space for activities like storytelling, library card sign-ups, and the “Living Timeline” or “Call to the Past” station. It acts as an essential educational and community hub for families. The Wilkinsburg Library was founded in 1899 as a branch of the Braddock Library, which was the first of the local Carnegie Libraries. Over the years, the library moved to several different locations and eventually became an independent community library funded by the Borough of Wilkinsburg.