Growing Up Great with PNC!
Children's Village recently welcomed PNC volunteers, who led read alouds, seed plantings, and other activities to celebrate the 19th anniversary of the PNC Grow Up Great® initiative.
PNC Grow Up Great® Initiative:
Planting the Seeds for a Lifetime of Opportunities
Preschoolers focus on planting seeds!
On a recent morning in our 13 preschool classrooms, students scooped soil into pots, poked seeds into the dirt, and then watered their plantings, guided by their teachers and PNC volunteers. The activity reflected the aim of PNC Grow Up Great -- to support programs and experiences that plant the seeds for a lifetime of opportunities.
Children's Village hosted the volunteers as part of PNC's 19th anniversary celebration of its Grow Up Great initiative. PNC provided the seed-planting materials, books for read alouds, and donated books and craft supplies for every preschooler to take home and enjoy with their family.
"PNC has been an extraordinary partner and continues to enhance learning at Children's Village in countless ways. PNC representatives serve as Board members, students benefit from our PNC Grow Up Great® Lending Library, and PNC has supported business administration trainings delivered through our Learning Lab," says Mary Graham, Executive Director, Children's Village.
Additionally, a PNC grant is currently deepening our commitment to social-emotional learning (SEL). Teachers have noted an increase in challenging behaviors, which are attributed to pandemic-related isolation. To respond, PNC is funding classroom sensory kits, which include materials to help calm children, and a range of fun and engaging presentations by community partners on animals, arts, science, and music (see photo below!).
"We are so pleased to mark this Grow Up Great milestone with PNC and deeply appreciate PNC's investment in the lasting academic, social, and economic impact of high-quality early learning," says Ms. Graham.
(below) Preschoolers point with their drum sticks as they learn about rhythm during a special bucket drumming program, funded through a PNC grant.
