Peter Buffett, a composer, performer, author, philanthropist and youngest son of billionaire investor Warren Buffett, spent part of Wednesday morning on Pittsburgh’s South Side listening to calls coming in to the Pennsylvania 2-1-1 Southwest resource center.
Callers seeking food, housing, money to pay utilities, counseling for domestic abuse and other support are caught up in what Mr. Buffett described as a “systemic crisis … now coming to a head” across the country.
“Economic disparities are only increasing,” he said.
His visit to the PA 2-1-1 center was one stop on a 20-plus city tour Mr. Buffett is doing through a partnership with United Way Worldwide.
United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania, the local affiliate of the global charity, administers and helps fund PA 2-1-1.
For Mr. Buffett, 61, the tour provides an opportunity to get an up-close look at social and economic challenges throughout the U.S. and to engage local individuals in finding and funding solutions.
On Wednesday night, he was scheduled to appear at Carnegie Music Hall, Oakland, in “A Concert & Conversation with Peter Buffett.”
The concerts feature him playing piano, telling stories about growing up in Omaha, Neb., with his high-profile father, and taking questions from the audience.
Mr. Buffett, whose compositions include the score for the “Fire Dance” scene in the film, “Dances with Wolves,” launched his major philanthropic efforts in 2006 with a $1 billion gift from his father.
While he runs the New York-based NoVo Foundation along with his wife, Jennifer, Mr. Buffett’s work with United Way is a separate initiative, he said.
A decade ago he connected with Julie Sills-Molock, managing director of individual philanthropy for United Way Worldwide, who encouraged him to take a look at the social assistance programs United Way supports.
She called Mr. Buffett’s visits across the country “a listening tour so he can find out the needs of people.”
For Wednesday’s concert, Mr. Buffett said he would likely reflect on his experience at the call center earlier in the day as well as “what I’ve seen nationwide.”
PA 2-1-1 Southwest, launched in 2011, handles inquiries from people in 13 counties in southwestern Pennsylvania and five counties in the southeastern region of the state near Philadelphia.
Staffers are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
In the southwestern region of the state, PA 2-1-1 last year handled about 63,000 contacts including phone calls and texts and recorded about 55,000 visits to its website, according to United Way.
Most inquiries were from people ages 55-64; 68 percent of those who initiated contact were female.
On Wednesday morning, Leigh, a resource navigator who asked that her last name not be used, took a call from a 54-year-old woman who needed food.
On her computer screen, Leigh recorded the caller’s name, age and Zip code, and asked questions such as whether the caller was a senior or veteran who might qualify for financial assistance.
Leigh accessed the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank’s website and gave the caller names and locations of a food pantry, soup kitchen, and two emergency food assistance programs accessible to her home.
Angela Reynolds, senior director for United Way’s United for Families and 2-1-1, said the highest needs among callers are housing, utility payments and food. “And often, they have multiple needs,” she said.
PA 2-1-1 has resource staff who specialize in assisting veterans and plans to add specialists who will assist seniors and parents with young children, said Ms. Reynolds.
Recently it added a referral network to better serve women in crisis, she said.
Leigh, the resource navigator, has worked for PA 2-1-1 for 11 years. She said she makes follow-up contacts with 10 percent of the people she assists.
“We really want to do that with the most vulnerable seniors, veterans and parents of young children,” she said. “It gives you a sense of satisfaction when somebody gets help.”
Admission to Mr. Buffett’s event at Carnegie Music Hall was free but attendees were asked to make a donation to United Way. Among those invited were members of United Way’s Tocqueville Society who pledge $10,000 annually.
After the performance, Mr. Buffett was scheduled to sign copies of his 2010 book, “Life Is What You Make It.”
Joyce Gannon: jgannon@post-gazette.com or 412-263-1580.
This story was updated at 5:25 p.m. Oct. 3, 2019.
First Published: October 2, 2019, 6:43 p.m.
Updated: October 2, 2019, 7:02 p.m.
