Steeler Favorites Heyward and Batch and Actor Joe Manganiello Join Gala

Building a new state-of-the-art terminal for Pittsburgh, by Pittsburgh, has been a multi-year labor of love that is getting closer to completion with an opening expected this fall. The project has been a powerful statement of community pride and collaboration. That new terminal will be the front door that reflects, connects and serves this region.

It’s no surprise then that Pittsburgh is showing up in big and small ways. Three more Pittsburghers will be speaking as part of the Transformed PIT Gala: current Pittsburgh Steeler Cameron Heyward, former Steeler Charlie Batch and actor Joe Manganiello.

Heyward is a defensive tackle and captain for the Pittsburgh Steelers, with 15 years of NFL experience and 356 career tackles. He is a seven-time Pro Bowler, four-time All-Pro and the 2024 Walter Payton Man of the Year. Pittsburgh born, Heyward created The Cameron Heyward Foundation to empower, enlighten and engage youth through innovative programs, partnerships and community outreach. Programs include Blessing in a Backpack, which provides over 9,000 meals to kids for the weekend, and Craig’s Closet, providing over 700 men suits and professional attire, among other community initiatives.

Batch is a former NFL quarterback turned entrepreneur, media personality/color analyst, community advocate and professional speaker. His NFL career spanned 15 years and two Super Bowl victories. He continues to be a respected strategist in the NFL, providing game-day commentary for Steelers broadcasts and several national media outlets. His Best of the Batch Foundation was founded in 1999 and offers a multitude of programs for K-12, serving more than 4,000 children and their families annually across nine counties in Southwestern Pennsylvania.

Manganiello, a Mt. Lebanon native, is an actor, producer, director and author. He earned a BFA in acting from Carnegie Mellon University School of Drama, before becoming known for his roles in HBO’s “True Blood,” Steven Soderbergh’s “Magic Mike” franchise, Sam Raimi’s “Spider-Man,” and more recently Netflix’s Emmy-nominated film “Nonnas,” and as the host and EP of NBC’s primetime gameshow “Deal or No Deal Island.” He won an Emmy for his narration of the documentary “Pittsburgh is Home: The Story of the Penguins,” which chronicled the first 50 years of the Pittsburgh Penguins. He also narrated the Audible documentary “Sidney Crosby: The Rookie Year.” He currently serves on the board of directors at both UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh and The Children of Armenian Fund.

The addition of Heyward, Batch and Manganiello to the program follows news in recent weeks that Jeff Goldblum and the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra will be entertaining attendees. And last week, it was announced that DJ Bonics, Wiz Khalifa’s tour DJ, and Cello Fury will also be part of the evening’s entertainment. A full line-up of Pittsburgh chefs with palates, tastes and influences as varied as the region they call home was also included in last week’s announcement.

The sponsor-driven Transformed PIT Gala event is being held on Friday, Oct. 3, for partners and organizations involved in building the project. It will celebrate the completion of the new terminal and is one of many events leading up to the opening later this fall.

This past weekend, over 300 people participated in the first of two integrated public trials, testing systems from check-in to TSA to baggage claim. A second, larger public trial is expected to be announced in the coming weeks. The Oct. 11 Community Open House is nearly at capacity, with a little over 100 spots of the more than 10,500 slots still available. (Registration for the Community Open House can be found here.)

The transformation project has resulted in an elevated platform for exploration, development and innovation. For passengers, that means a more intuitive, cohesive and carefully crafted passenger journey – from curb to gate and back again. The goal for the new terminal is to create an easier, more enriching, more universally accessible experience so that everyone feels welcome and considered at PIT.

For more information on the new terminal, visit PITtransformed.com.