From left, PNC Regional President For Eastern Florida Craig Grant, Superintendent of Broward County Public Schools Robert W. Runcie and Broward Center for the Performing Arts President and CEO Kelley Shanley.
FORT LAUDERDALE, FL – As part of its multi-faceted education outreach in the community, PNC Bank and the PNC Foundation have awarded the Broward Center of Performing Arts with $25,000 to foster literacy skills. The PNC Foundation will draw on its financial commitment to underwrite the acclaimed "Reading Readiness Through the Theater" program - an educational collaboration between the Broward Center and the Head Start Program at Broward County Public Schools. PNC Bank is sponsoring the 2012-13 Family Fun Series that offers productions based on children's literature to introduce young audiences to the arts, while reinforcing their developing literacy skills.
As part of the Broward Center's Reading Readiness Through the Theater program, four-year-olds in the Head Start classes at participating schools and sites receive books to begin a home library, free admission and transportation to stage adaptations of children's books for themselves and their parents or caregivers. Parents and caregivers also attend reading workshops to learn about the importance of reading aloud with children and receive family learning activity guides produced in English, Spanish, Portuguese and Creole.
"PNC recognizes the role reading and the arts play in the educational success of pre-k children, their families and ultimately, our local economy," said Craig Grant, regional president of PNC Bank for eastern Florida, who spoke on behalf of the PNC Foundation. "Research has shown that children who are ready for kindergarten are more likely to graduate from high school, strive toward higher vocational aspirations and contribute to society later in life."
PNC is deeply committed to supporting educational programs for underserved children through partnerships nationwide. Through Grow Up Great, its $350 million, multi-year, bilingual initiative that began in 2004 to help prepare children from birth to age 5 for success in school and life, it has supported innovative programs emphasizing math, science, the arts and financial education for more than 1.7 million at-risk preschool children.
"This innovative partnership with the Broward Center, Broward County Public Schools and now the support of PNC will reach hundreds of students from schools across the South Florida region with its combination of theatrical performances and reading strategies that engage Head Start students and their families in the joy of reading," said Broward Center President and CEO Kelley Shanley. More than 20 area schools and agencies participate in the Reading Readiness program which continues to earn high marks from teachers, parents and school administrators.
The Broward Center's popular Family Fun Series features one-hour performances combined with pre-and post-show activities that engage children and their families. It is presented on weekends throughout the season in the Amaturo Theater at the Broward Center, the Rose and Alfred Miniaci Performing Arts Center and the Aventura Arts & Cultural Center. Performances feature classic children's literature as well as modern favorites and conclude with Three Little Pigs on May 12. The 2013-14 Family Fun Series will be announced later this spring and promises more great titles and enriching entertainment next season.
The Broward Center for the Performing Arts is located in the Riverwalk Arts & Entertainment District at 201 SW Fifth Avenue in Fort Lauderdale.
About PNC
PNC Bank, is a member of The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. (NYSE:PNC). PNC (www.pnc.com) is one of the nation's largest diversified financial services organizations providing retail and business banking; residential mortgage banking; specialized services for corporations and government entities, including corporate banking, real estate finance and asset-based lending; wealth management and asset management.
The PNC Foundation, which receives its principal funding from The PNC Financial Services Group, actively supports organizations that provide services for the benefit of communities in which it has a significant presence. The foundation focuses its philanthropic mission on early childhood education and community and economic development, which includes the arts and culture. Through Grow Up Great, its signature cause that began in 2004, PNC has created a $350 million, multi-year initiative to help prepare children from birth to age 5 for success in school and life. For more information, please visit www.pncgrowupgreat.com, www.facebook.com/pncgrowupgreat and www.youtube.com/PNC or follow @PNCGrowUpGreat on Twitter.
About the Broward Center for the Performing Arts
The Broward Center for the Performing Arts is one of America's premier performing arts venues. Presenting more than 700 performances each year to more than 600,000 patrons, the Center showcases a wide range of exciting cultural programming and events, and offers one of the largest arts-in-education programs in the United States, serving more than 150,000 students annually. In 2007, the Broward Center was named the Cultural Embassy of Broward County in recognition of its success in linking cultural activity with the region's economic development. The Broward Performing Arts Foundation, Inc. receives and maintains funds to sustain, develop, and secure the future of the Broward Center. The Broward Performing Arts Center is located in the Riverwalk Arts & Entertainment District at 201 SW Fifth Ave. in Fort Lauderdale. For more information, visit www.BrowardCenter.org. Programs are sponsored in part by the State of Florida, Department of State, Division of Cultural Affairs, the Florida Council on Arts and Culture.
