COLUMBUS, Ohio, Oct. 1, 2024 – The PNC Foundation announced that it is awarding more than $500,000 in grants to support a range of high-quality early childhood education programs across central Ohio.

The grant funding is designed to support the specific needs of pre-K learners and elementary students by providing community-based educational experiences for families with young children, or professional learning and skill development for current or future early childhood educators.

FutureReady5 and Highland Youth Garden each received multiyear, $100,000 grants. In addition, the YMCA of Central Ohio received a $100,000 multiyear grant as part of PNC's celebration of the 20th anniversary of PNC Grow Up Great, its $500 million, bilingual, signature philanthropic initiative designed to help prepare children from birth through age 5 for success in school and life.

"PNC has been in the early childhood education space for 20 years, focused on supporting the high-quality early education that is the foundation of a bright future for young children," said Mary Auch, PNC regional president for Columbus. "We recognize that we have an important role to play in helping to ensure that all children have the opportunity to build the skills they need to succeed in school and life so that our communities prosper."