Laurel: To a spirit of giving. Western Pennsylvania communities deserve credit for stepping up — again — at a time when generosity is harder to give.

This year’s Toys for Tots campaign was more important than ever as families through the region struggle with high prices and stretched paychecks. Hundreds more children required assistance than last year in parts of the Alle-Kiski Valley, while Westmoreland County organizations worked to provide gifts for about 4,000 children.

But while we have covered plenty of the need and the hardship, right now, let’s focus on response.

Despite everyone having tighter budgets, donors still did what they could. So did volunteers. Local organizations coordinated distribution efforts that did their best to give every child a warm, special experience this holiday season. That kind of generosity does a lot of heavy lifting for those feeling pressed this time of year.

Sometimes charity can feel performative. Not this time. It was neighbors doing their part to fulfill the meaning of the “Yes, Virginia” story. Is there a Santa Claus? As long as there are Marines, volunteers, and generous businesses and individual donors doing their all, the answer is yes.

Lance: To a legendary honor. The Heinz History Center’s decision to rename the Western Pennsylvania Sports Museum for Franco Harris comes from a place of genuine admiration — and that’s precisely why it deserves thoughtful scrutiny.

Few figures are as cherished in Pittsburgh sports history. Harris was not only a Hall of Fame running back but also a driving force behind the creation of the museum itself. He was its first chairman and championed its mission for decades. His generosity, civic engagement and commitment to social justice are deeply woven into the institution.

It isn’t that Harris is an unworthy namesake by any means. But naming a museum after one person carries weight.

Across the Allegheny River, The Andy Warhol Museum offers a reason why. Walk through its doors, and you expect — rightly — a museum showcasing the work and legacy of one man. The name says it all.

The Western Pennsylvania Sports Museum is not the same. It tells a broader story. It goes even beyond team to the whole history spanning football, baseball, hockey, soccer, golf and more. It lauds deep traditions in college, high school and women’s sports.

Harris is unquestionably part of that history. But his name on the museum gives the impression of making the scope far narrower. It could feel less like a celebration of a region’s rich athletic legacy and more like a tribute to a single — albeit beloved — figure.

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