Former Steelers running back Franco Harris has been named chairman of The Pittsburgh Promise, a $250 million scholarship program for children in the Pittsburgh Public Schools.

Mr. Harris, also the owner of Super Bakery Inc., was a unanimous choice for the appointment by the Promise's board. The newest addition to the board is Maxwell King, former president of The Heinz Endowments, who will begin June 1. Other board members are Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl, Pittsburgh Public Schools Superintendent Mark Roosevelt, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Chief Diversity Officer Candi Castleberry-Singleton, Olga Welch, dean of Duquesne University's education school, and Richard Reed, executive vice president of The Pittsburgh Foundation.

Board members are also reviewing a short list of candidates for an executive director of the program, which is being managed by The Pittsburgh Foundation.

First Published: May 7, 2008, 2:30 p.m.