PNC Continues to Support
Early Childhood Education and Early Literacy

The Private Industry Council of Westmoreland/Fayette, Inc. (PIC) is pleased to announce two ways in which PNC Bank is showing its support of early childhood education and literacy for PIC's youngest clientele. PIC recently received a donation of 300 books from PNC to use in the various early childhood and literacy programs it provides in Westmoreland and Fayette counties. The book donation will foster reading among families and young children, for whom early literacy is critical to their future educational success. John Malone, vice president of PNC Bank, helped facilitate the donation and acknowledged that "PNC is happy to be helping the early childhood education programs in the region to promote literacy".

PIC president, Tim Yurcisin, believes this donation is yet another example of PNC helping to strengthen and enrich the lives of the communities in which the Council operates, "Over the years, PNC has been a significant contributor to our programming, helping to make a meaningful, lasting impact on the communities we serve. I would like to thank them for their continued support."

PNC has demonstrated a substantial commitment to supporting early childhood education through its PNC Grow Up Great program, a 10-year, $100 million investment to help prepare children from birth to age five - with a focus on underserved children - for success in school and life. Founded by The PNC Financial Services Group, Grow Up Great and Crezca con Éxito, its Spanish-language equivalent, form the most comprehensive corporate-based school readiness program in the nation committed to helping produce stronger, smarter and healthier children, families and communities.

PIC's Head Start program in Fayette County has been involved in the PNC Grow Up Great With Math initiative over the past three years and is pleased to announce that it will be partnering with California University of Pennsylvania, the Pittsburgh Association for the Education of Young Children, and Ohiopyle State Park on Grow Up Great With Science, PNC's new initiative to help foster a foundation in science for young learners. The Cal U Center for Excellence in Elementary Science and Math Education will receive $379,198 from the PNC Foundation over two years to administer the program, which will prepare Fayette County Head Start children for school by developing vital science knowledge and skills. PIC's Early Childhood Education teachers will receive training to enhance their ability to provide children with exciting outdoor experiences that focus on learning about local plants, animals and geography. Cal U's grant is one of 15 Grow Up Great With Science awards announced April 21, 2009 by the PNC Foundation.

"Our support of California University's Center for Excellence in Elementary Science and Math Education is another strategic investment to help our nonprofit partners, preschools and caregivers develop stronger, smarter and healthier families and communities," says Eva Blum, director of Community Affairs for PNC and chair of the PNC Foundation. "Through these grants, we expect children will have experiences that would not otherwise be possible."

In addition to Cal U education faculty members, J. William Hug, Deborah Farrer, John Shimkanin, Jane Bonari and Nancy Steeley, the Grow Up Great with Science project team consists of Sandra Hall and Tonya Groves-Pierce of the PIC's Early Childhood Division; Michelle Figlar, executive director of the Pittsburgh Association for the Education of Young Children; and park manager John Hallas, assistant manager Stacey Faust, and environmental education specialist Barb Wallace at Ohiopyle State Park.