PNC Gives $4K to Akron Children’s Program

BOARDMAN, Ohio – Akron Children’s Hospital Mahoning Valley has received a $4,000 grant from the PNC Foundation to support the purchase of new books for the hospital’s Reach Out and Read program.

The PNC Foundation grant was provided under the PNC Grow Up Great initiative, which focuses on supporting educational programs that help children from birth to age five. Since 2004, the initiative has assisted more than 4 million children.

“Instilling a love of reading early in a child’s life better prepares them for success in school, which is why the PNC Foundation has been committed to Reach Out and Read for the last four years in the Mahoning Valley,” said Ted Schmidt, PNC regional president for Youngstown. “Together, we can help close the achievement gap for young children.”

Reach Out and Read is a national program dedicated to promoting early literacy and school readiness in children ages six months to five years. Reach Out and Read focuses on helping children grow by incorporating books into children’s healthcare and educating families on the importance of reading aloud together to support literacy development. Akron Children’s Hospital is among 5,000 program sites around the country.

“We have seen tremendous growth in the impact of Reach Out and Read throughout the community,” said JoAnn Stock, senior director of development, Akron Children’s Hospital Mahoning Valley. “Our mission of helping children develop literacy and school readiness aligns with the values of the PNC Foundation, so it has been a perfect match.”

Copyright 2024 The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.