PNC Financial Pledges Additional $250 Million to Extend Great Initiative

PNC Financial Services Group has announced a ten-year, $250 million extension of its Grow Up Great early childhood education initiative, which has benefited more than a million children since its launch in 2004.

The initiative was originally conceived as a ten-year, $100 million effort to help prepare children for school, with an emphasis on math, science, the arts, and financial education.  To date, the initiative has awarded $40 million in grants through the PNC Foundation.  In yesterday's press release announcing its re-commitment to the effort, PNC also announced a $7 million expansion of its preschool science initiative, which was launched in 2009. The competitive grant program will fund regional science centers and nonprofit organizations that give children opportunities for inquiry-based science learning and experience-related activities that are both educational and fun.

The program also includes additional support for the professional development of teachers, support for expanding and diversifying employee volunteer programs, and continued support for PNC's advocacy efforts on behalf of quality early education among business leaders and public officials at all levels.

VEJ