Friday, June 30, 2017
Staff report
YOUNGSTOWN
PNC does more than the day-to-day of cashing and writing checks. It created and continues to operate a $350 million multiyear initiative in early childhood education in the Mahoning Valley.
Grow up Great, established in 2004, is dedicated to making sure 3- and 4-year-olds are both kindergarten and life ready, said Ryan Pastore, Youngstown PNC vice president director of client and community relations.
Grow Up Great gives public organizations the means – money – to better early childhood education through teacher professional development, field trip means and classroom resources to enhance the educational experience and family-engagement opportunities to bring families closer, bettering a child’s chances at success.
Joseph Balaban, PNC vice president of media relations, said PNC’s goal with Grow Up Great involves finding new ways to expand and enrich children’s lives.
“We want them to have success both in school and in life,” he said. “And we are doing that by enriching what good organizations are doing already.”