CHICAGO, Sept. 15 /PRNewswire/ -- The PNC Foundation today
announced $3 million in grants to
four of Chicago's premier
institutions to enhance science education for underserved students
in preschool programs operated by Chicago Public Schools and the Big Shoulders
Fund. PNC will also donate 40,000 of the newly released "Happy,
Healthy, Ready for School – Math Is Everywhere" activity kits,
created by Sesame Workshop, to supplement mathematics learning in
the two pre-k programs.
The initiative leverages the expertise of the Adler Planetarium,
The Field Museum, Museum of Science and Industry and Shedd Aquarium, which will work
collaboratively to improve early science learning and increase
access to community science resources.
As part of the new program, classrooms will be provided kits of
science equipment, tools and materials which are both durable and
flexible. Experts from each organization will work with teachers to
create hands-on activities to aid the children's exploration of
science. Participating pre-school teachers will receive
professional development to increase their knowledge and confidence
in teaching science. In addition, families of pre-school children
will be encouraged to explore science further through free visits
to the museums' interactive exhibits. PNC employees will serve as
volunteers for many of these activities.
"Our support of science and math education for Chicago preschoolers is a strategic investment
to address the changing needs of an economy that is increasingly
based on knowledge and skills," said PNC Chairman and Chief
Executive Officer James E. Rohr.
The grant marks the local launch of PNC Grow Up Great, a
10-year, $100 million bilingual
program to improve early childhood education. It is the latest
investment by the PNC Foundation, which receives its principal
funding from The PNC Financial Services Group (NYSE: PNC), in math
and science education initiatives, which have totaled more than
$9 million over the past 18 months
across several states.
"A quality preschool program creates a foundation for success,"
said Ron Huberman, chief executive
officer of the Chicago Public
Schools. "PNC Grow Up Great enables us to build on our
existing Chicago Math and Science Initiative and provides support
for teachers and parents to help children achieve in these two
disciplines."
The investment by the PNC Foundation will support the science
initiative over a three-year period and provides for an independent
evaluation of the program's success. The second- and third-year
funding is contingent on each institution's successful completion
of the prior year's project goals. More than 1,000 children are
expected to benefit from the programming funded by the grants.
One of Chicago's leading school
readiness authorities, Barbara
Bowman, chief officer of early childhood education for
Chicago Public Schools, will share
her expertise with Grow Up Great by joining its 12-member
advisory council. Comprised of leading experts in the fields of
education, medicine, academia and philanthropy, the council
provides guidance to Grow Up Great's strategy and
implementation.
Gift of Kits: Math Is Everywhere
Included in today's announcement was the national release by
Sesame Workshop, the nonprofit educational organization behind
Sesame Street, of Happy, Healthy, Ready for School! –
Math Is Everywhere, a new mathematics activity kit created for
Grow Up Great through a continuing partnership with PNC. The
announcement was made by Gary E.
Knell, President and CEO of Sesame Workshop and the loveable
Muppet, Rosita. The collaboration between Sesame Workshop and PNC
was hailed by the White House last fall as an example of
public-private partnerships that encourage young people to excel in
science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).
"Math Is Everywhere will highlight everyday experiences
at home, in school, and at places where children are on the go,"
said Knell. "We are excited to continue our partnership with
PNC providing parents, caregivers, and educators with
developmentally and educationally appropriate information and
resources to support and extend young children's exploration and
understanding of early mathematics."
Rohr presented a gift of the "Math Is Everywhere" kits to
Chicago Public Schools and the Big
Shoulders Fund, one for each child in their pre-k programs. The
bilingual, multimedia kits include a guide for parents and
caregivers, a children's book, along with an original Sesame
Street(TM) DVD that follows Abby, Elmo, and their Sesame
friends in a math treasure hunt as they search for Abby's lost wand
-- complete with songs and videos of children discovering
mathematics. An educator's guide is also available online to
provide ideas for early childhood teachers to incorporate in their
classrooms.
Math Is Everywhere materials are available for free at
all PNC Bank branches, pncgrowupgreat.com, and
sesamestreet.org/math. Additionally, the Math Is Everywhere
video will be available, at no charge, on Amazon.com VOD and on
iTunes (iTunes.com).
About the Organizations
The Big Shoulders Fund is a not-for-profit organization that was
founded by a group of businessmen in 1986, inspired by the late
Cardinal Joseph Bernardin, to
sustain the inner-city Catholic school system. The mission of
the Big Shoulders Fund is to provide support to the schools that
serve the poor and disadvantaged in the neediest parts of
inner-city Chicago and ensure that
every child has access to a quality, values-based education,
regardless of ethnic, racial or religious backgrounds. Since
its inception, Big Shoulders Fund has raised more than $192 million and provides $10 to $12 million each year to support 93
inner-city Catholic schools serving nearly 24,000 children, of
which 80 percent minority, 61 percent living in poverty and 32
percent are not Catholic. One hundred percent of funds raised by
the Big Shoulders Fund support scholarships, special education
programs, instructional enhancements, facility improvements, and
operating grants. The Fund is a private, 501(c) (3) non-profit
entity that receives and distributes privately raised contributions
to needy inner-city Catholic schools. For more information, visit
www.bigshouldersfund.org or call 312-751-8337.
Chicago Public Schools serves
approximately 409,000 students in 670 schools. It is the
third-largest school district in the nation.
The Adler Planetarium – America's First Planetarium – was
founded in 1930 by Chicago
business leader Max Adler. The Adler
is a recognized leader in science education, with a focus on
inspiring young people to pursue careers in science, technology,
engineering and math. In 2009, the Adler launched Lift-Off!
Campaign for Chicago's Space
Center to transform the museum in to the world's premier space
science center. The Campaign will support new exhibitions and
theater experiences, education and outreach programs. Learn
more at www.adlerplanetarium.org/liftoff.
Chicago's Field Museum is one
of the world's great museums and it is a focus of public learning
and scholarly research. It's a treasury of more than 23 million
objects including ancient mummies, endangered plants and animals
and Sue, the largest and most complete T. rex ever
found. Above all, The Field Museum is an unforgettable
experience for visitors of all ages. Named for its founding donor,
department store magnate Marshall Field I, the Museum first opened
its doors in 1894. Today, it presides proudly over Chicago's lakefront Museum Campus, its
majestic halls and acres of exhibitions welcoming visitors from
around the world.
The Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago (MSI) offers thousands of fun and
interactive exhibits and one-of-a-kind, world-class experiences to
inspire the inventive genius in everyone. Through its Center for
the Advancement of Science Education, MSI also aspires to a larger
vision: to inspire and motivate our children to achieve their full
potential in science, technology, medicine and engineering.
Come visit and find your inspiration! MSI is open
every day except Dec. 25, and regular
hours are 9:30 to 4 p.m. Monday through
Saturday and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on
Sunday. The Museum is supported in part through the
generosity of the people of Chicago through the Chicago Park District. For
more information, find MSI online at msichicago.org or call (773)
684-1414 or (800) GO-TO-MSI outside of the Chicago area.
John G. Shedd Aquarium, a nonprofit institution dedicated to
public education and conservation, is among one of the world's
largest indoor aquariums. The facility houses over 32,000 aquatic
animals representing some 1,500 species of fishes, reptiles,
amphibians, invertebrates, birds and mammals from waters around the
world. Beautifully situated on the shores of Lake Michigan, Shedd Aquarium is known as "The
World's Aquarium." Since opening in 1930, the aquarium's
mission has been to enhance public understanding and appreciation
of the aquatic world. Today, this educational goal has gained
urgency and Shedd Aquarium is committed to a number of projects
designed to preserve threatened or endangered aquatic species.
Sesame Workshop is the nonprofit educational organization that
revolutionized children's television programming with the landmark
Sesame Street. The Workshop produces local Sesame
Street programs, seen in over 140 countries, and other
acclaimed shows to help bridge the literacy gap including The
Electric Company. Beyond television, the Workshop
produces content for multiple media platforms on a wide range of
issues including literacy, health and military deployment.
Initiatives meet specific needs to help young children and families
develop critical skills, acquire healthy habits and build emotional
strength to prepare them for lifelong learning. Learn more at
www.sesameworkshop.org.
The PNC Foundation, which receives its principal funding from
The PNC Financial Services Group (NYSE: PNC), actively supports
organizations that provide services for the benefit of communities
in which it has a significant presence. The foundation focuses its
philanthropic mission on early childhood education and community
and economic development, which includes the arts and culture.
Through its signature cause, Grow Up Great, PNC has
created a 10-year, $100 million
initiative to enhance early childhood education and school
readiness.
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CONTACT:
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Stan Lata
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(312) 384-8257
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(847) 542-3650 (cell)
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stan.lata@pnc.com
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SOURCE PNC Financial Services Group
Copyright . 15 PR Newswire