Quarryville Library has received a $6,000 grant from the PNC Foundation in recognition of the volunteer efforts of 10 PNC employees who earned a grant through PNC’s Grants for Great Hours program. The program rewards volunteerism by providing grants to child care centers that are assisted by employee volunteers. PNC employees volunteered 105 hours by participating in children’s programs, library fundraising events, and working on projects to maintain the library both in and outside the building.
The Quarryville Library served more than 800 children through its early childhood education programs in 2014. Studies have shown that children who receive quality early education are more likely to do well in school, graduate on time, obtain a meaningful job and contribute to the community. The library plans to use the funds to purchase new print and electronic educational materials that will support and enhance early education programming opportunities and student learning.
PNC provided the funding in support of Grow Up Great, its $350 million multi-year bilingual program in early childhood education that began in 2004. In 2012 and 2013, PNC awarded the Quarryville Library grants to implement a financial education initiative for young children. Through special story times at the library and outreach programs at local preschools, library staff helped families understand how to engage with their children in learning basic financial concepts, including spending, sharing, and saving. The library purchased approximately 250 financial-related resources including books, board games, DVDs, audio books, and two iPads stocked with financial literacy related apps. In addition, the library added career costumes, magnetic coins and currency puppets, pretend cash registers, and money puzzles to their play area.
PNC encourages employee involvement in Grow Up Great through a progressive policy that permits up to 40 hours a year of paid time off for volunteerism. Since the Grant for Great Hours launch in 2005, PNC has awarded more than $1.63 million to early childhood education centers through the volunteerism program.
The PNC Foundation, which receives its principal funding from The PNC Financial Services Group (www.pnc.com), 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 Grow Up Great, its signature cause that began in 2004, PNC has created a $350 million, multi-year initiative to help prepare children from birth to age 5 for success in school and life.
For more information, please visit www.pncgrowupgreat.com and www.youtube.com/PNC