PNC Bank’s bright blue-and-orange powerlink logo has become a familiar sight at local community projects and events throughout Delmarva. That’s because, as well as offering superior customer service at its 37 neighborhood branches, PNC is deeply committed to enriching the communities it serves.

“Improving the health and vitality of our communities is part of PNC’s core values,” said Jean Sewell, PNC regional manager. “Through the local leadership of Market Executive Tom Mears and innovative programs focusing on early childhood education, community development, environmental responsibility and employee volunteerism, PNC is helping to build strong communities and create financial opportunities for individuals, families and businesses.”

PNC Grow Up Great — “An Investment in Our Future.”

PNC’s commitment to families and local communities is perhaps best illustrated through PNC Grow Up Great, the company’s 10-year, $100 million investment in early childhood education and school readiness. By partnering with some of the nation’s most highly respected early childhood experts such as Sesame Workshop, Head Start and Family Communications, PNC is able to inspire an early interest in learning in Eastern Shore children.

“I’m proud to be part of PNC Grow Up Great,” said Debra Goodman, PNC regional manager and mother of two children. “When children arrive at kindergarten prepared and ready to learn, they are more likely to experience greater educational achievements, strive towards higher vocational aspirations and contribute to society later in life.”

Sewell and Goodman — based in PNC’s Fruitland and Princess Anne branches respectively — oversee numerous community involvement activities in Wicomico, Somerset and Worcester counties.

Research indicates that every dollar invested in quality early childhood education, society saves as much as $16 in remedial education, social services and crime control costs. “It’s not just the right thing to do, it’s an economic imperative. School readiness initiatives have long-lasting impacts — benefiting society and the health of our economy for generations to come,” added Sewell.

As PNC celebrates the fifth anniversary of the nation’s most comprehensive corporate-based, school readiness initiative, it is also celebrating the launch of PNC Grow Up Great with Science, a coordinated effort with nonprofit educational centers to help foster a foundation in science for preschoolers. As part of the initiative, PNC is sponsoring “One World, One Sky: Big Bird’s Adventure,” a mobile planetarium that has visited several local elementary schools.

“It’s like a field trip, and we don’t even have to leave school,” said Ms. Fletcher, a first grade teacher at Westside Primary School, when the mobile planetarium visited the Quantico school. The inflatable dome is transformed into a planetarium by a projection of the night sky, providing an introduction to astronomy for students. “I learned that the sun is the only star we can see during the day,” wrote one of the students following the presentation.

The Grow Up Great with Science initiative also has provided a grant to the Lower Shore Child Resource Center to create an interactive Mobile Science Program that will travel to area Head Start centers on Delmarva.
Creating awareness for the importance of early childhood education is a key focus of PNC Grow Up Great. At the Berlin Spring Celebration, a flag-topped marquee adorned the Grow Up Great Mobile Learning Adventure where kids explored their career ambitions and caregivers used the interactive kiosks to increase knowledge of early learning concepts. PNC volunteers were on hand to provide framed pictures of the children in a setting depicting their desired future profession. PNC encourages employees to volunteer, offering a progressive policy that permits each employee 40 hours a year in paid time to volunteer at early childhood education centers or other Grow Up Great related activities.

“PNC has a strong philanthropic presence in all the communities it serves,” said Sewell. The company provides financial resources to support organizations that are critical to the health and well-being of our communities, including the Beebe Medical Center, Eastern Shore Rural Health Systems, Salisbury University and the United Way of the Lower Eastern Shore. More than 30 grants have been awarded to nonprofit organizations in the local area, including Maryland Capital Enterprises, Habitat for Humanity, Big Brothers Big Sisters Inc., and the Maryland Food Bank.

Building a Foundation for Financial Literacy

“Where do you learn how to handle your money?” is a question Goodman often asks when teaching PNC’s financial literacy classes. “Financial literacy is incredibly important to boost economic sustainability for families in lower-income neighborhoods,” she continued. Available to schools, small businesses and individuals, the classes are taught by PNC employees and are tailored to the participant’s needs. PNC also has established school bank programs to teach elementary school students banking concepts and the importance of saving. As part of PNC’s WorkPlace Banking program, employers can offer their employees financial education seminars taught by PNC staff.

An Environmental Steward

With a commitment to innovation and environmentally friendly business practices, PNC is increasing efficiency and productivity while improving the health and vitality of communities. PNC has more certified green buildings than any other company on earth and was the first major bank to design branches based on green building standards.

Employees’ volunteer projects support the corporate commitment to environmental preservation and sustainability. A team of volunteers from local PNC branches recently worked on Habitat for Humanity’s first environmentally friendly “Green House” in Salisbury and area employees and their families replenished dune grasses along the beach in Bethany.

“We are still a neighborhood bank offering the same great service to customers and strong ties to the communities we serve. PNC’s resources have enabled us to take a long history of giving back to the community to a higher level,” said Sewell.

To learn more about PNC’s products, services, people and programs, please visit any PNC Bank branch or www.pnc.com.