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'PNC Grow Up Great' Is $100 Million Commitment To Tackle School Readiness Issue; Partners include Sesame Workshop, PBS stations, Family Communications Inc., and Head Start; Pennsylvania Governor Rendell participates in announcement.

Article Excerpt
The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. today announced "PNC Grow Up Great," a new 10-year, $100 million program that is considered the most significant corporate commitment to improve school readiness among millions of children from birth to age five. Pennsylvania Governor Edward G. Rendell joined James E. Rohr, chairman and chief executive officer of PNC, and lauded the company for its foresight and dedication to public education.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20030908/CLM029 )

PNC and its 23,500 employees intend to improve school readiness, a central issue affecting society today, through unprecedented partnerships that involve nationally renowned early education experts, including Sesame Workshop, PBS member stations and Family Communications, Inc., the producers of "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood." A first-year pilot program will involve Head Start centers throughout Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Ohio, Kentucky and Delaware to immediately impact millions of children, families and educators.

"Our goal is to reach 2.8 million children and ensure that boys and girls not only grow up, but they grow up great," Rohr said. "Over the years, PNC has dedicated millions of dollars and volunteer hours to children's causes. This program reflects the desire of our employees to add a primary focus to our giving and build upon those commitments. We are dedicating our financial and human resources in a new and more powerful way to achieve greater results in school readiness, which will yield stronger, smarter, healthier children, families and communities."

He added: "We believe that PNC Grow Up Great will set new standards of excellence for how companies contribute to society by helping children and communities achieve more, every day."

Governor Rendell commended PNC for providing leadership on this important issue and for being a leader among the Commonwealth's corporate citizens. "This program will significantly enhance the proposed introduction of high- quality early childhood education across the region, which is crucial to the formation of a young child's mind, and helps to set the stage for their academic future," he said. "PNC's investment in the region's children defines a new standard in corporate citizenry...

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