Grove City College to expand outreach to kids

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

Photo

Grove City College President Paul J. McNulty ’80 accepts a donation to expand the college’s outreach to young children from Michael Balale, manager of PNC’s Grove City branch. Above, from left, are Robert Graham, Grove City provost and vice president for academic affairs; James L. Micsky Jr., executive director of United Way of Mercer County; Bill Gathers, Mercer County Success by Six coordinator; Colleen Shaffer, vice president and relationship manager of PNC Public Finance Group; Julie Fertile, senior vice president of PNC Public Finance Group; Balale; McNulty; Sarah C. Potter, guest lecturer in education; Jolene Munson, EEC director; and Constance Nichols, chairwoman of the college’s department of education..

Staff report

GROVE CITY, PA.

Grove City College recently accepted a $10,000 grant from PNC’s Grow Up Great program to work with Mercer County’s Success by Six collaborative in expanding outreach to young children and their families.

College President Paul J. McNulty, ’80, accepted the donation from Michael Balale, manager of the Grove City PNC branch, at the college’s Early Education Center, where McNulty and Dr. Constance N. Nichols, ’93, chairwoman of the college’s department of education, explained philanthropy to an audience of preschool children.

The grant will help the college expand its annual Week of the Young Child event, which has taken place each spring for the last 12 years. It brings children who will be entering or are enrolled in kindergarten and their families together for a free evening of age-appropriate, fun activities in the Physical Learning Center on campus.

Children and their families spend several hours enjoying music, storytelling, crafts, games, puzzles, puppet shows and healthy snacks with other children, teachers and volunteers, including Grove City students, faculty and staff. Community organizations from around the region are also on hand to provide parents with practical information and resources on child health and development, after-school care, services for children with special needs and more. Each family receives a free PNC-branded backpack with a book, flashcards and educational games.

The 6-week Success By Six program provides at-risk preschoolers who show academic need with 135 hours of academic instruction and socialization skills.