Press Release

November 14, 2011

Ruth Lednicer
(312) 747-4907
lednicer@chipublib.org

Stan Lata
(312) 384-8257
stan.lata@pnc.com

CHICAGO PUBLIC LIBRARY RECEIVES $223,000 GRANT FROM PNC
TO CREATE FINANCIAL EDUCATION PROGRAM FOR PRESCHOOLERS

CHICAGO – The Chicago Public Library today announced it received a $223,000 grant from the PNC Foundation through the Chicago Public Library Foundation to teach area preschool children lessons in spending, sharing and saving and equip parents to reinforce the lessons at home. The PNC Foundation, which receives its principal funding from The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. (NYSE: PNC), provided the funding in support of Grow Up Great, its bilingual program in early childhood education.

The Chicago Public Library will conduct age-appropriate financial education programs to reach 5,000 preschool children and their families. It combines storytelling, play-based learning and parent workshops using a multimedia kit called, “For Me, for You, for Later: An Early Start to Spending, Sharing and Saving,” that was developed by Sesame Workshop, the nonprofit educational organization behind Sesame Street™.

“The Chicago Public Library is proud to partner with PNC Foundation in teaching Chicago’s children to be financially savvy. Critical to a child’s future success is not only the ability to read, but also understanding the three core values of spending, sharing and saving. Together the lessons offered in this program will help to create well-rounded kids, able to read and reason,” said Library Commissioner Mary Dempsey. “We are grateful to PNC Foundation for their support in such a worthy endeavor.”

The library’s 18-month financial education series begins in January 2012 and will be offered at nine branches (see list below).

“We recognize that kindergarten readiness is the foundation of the health of our children, their families and ultimately, our local economy,” said Joe Gregoire, regional president for PNC Bank, speaking on behalf of the PNC Foundation. “Preparing our young children for their first day of school not only helps them learn and succeed as they progress in school, it impacts all of us as they grow up to be our future leaders, innovators and employers.”

PNC introduced Grow Up Great in Chicago last year, providing a three-year, $3 million grant to create a science education initiative for preschool children in programs operated by the Chicago Public Schools and the Big Shoulders Fund. The initiative is leveraging the expertise of the Adler Planetarium; The Field Museum; Museum of Science and Industry; and Shedd Aquarium to work collaboratively to improve early science learning and increase access to community science resources.

In addition, thousands of Chicago PNC employee volunteers are providing up to 40 hours per year to assist with the program, and PNC also donated 40,000 of the “Happy, Healthy, Ready for School – Math Is Everywhere” activity kits, created by Sesame Workshop, to supplement mathematics learning in the two pre-k programs.

Free copies of “For Me, for You, for Later: An Early Start to Spending, Sharing and Saving,” are available at PNC Bank branches and online at pncgrowupgreat.com and sesamestreet.org/math. The bilingual kits include a guide for parents and caregivers, a children’s book and original Sesame Street™ DVD with Elmo, Cookie Monster and their friends. Additional materials are available online, including an educator’s guide, games and a parents’ page. The kit’s video will be available, at no charge, on Amazon.com VOD and on iTunes (iTunes.com).

The following nine Chicago Public Library locations will offer “For You, For Me, For Later” financial education activities, starting in January 2012. For more details, visit the Chicago Public Library website at www.chipublib.org.

North District

• Budlong Woods
  5630 N. Lincoln Avenue
• Dunning
  7455 W. Cornelia Avenue
• Lincoln Belmont
  1659 W. Melrose Street

Central District

• Garfield Ridge
  6348 S. Artcher Avenue
• Hall
  4801 S. Michigan Avenue
• West Town
  1625 W. Chicago Avenue

South District

• Greater Grand Crossing
  1000 E. 73rd Street
• Mount Greenwood
  11010 S. Kedzie Avenue
• Walker
  11071 W. Hoyne Avenue

PNC recently announced the extension of Grow Up Great by $250 million over 10 years to strengthen existing programs in math, science and the arts and reach more children, families and teachers. Considered one of the most comprehensive corporate school readiness programs of its kind, it has earned national recognition for programming through $40 million in grants to numerous non-profit organizations and other PNC funded initiatives.

To learn more about the PNC Grow Up Great initiative, go to www.pncgrowupgreat.com.

About the Organizations
The PNC Foundation, which receives its principal funding from The PNC Financial Services Group (www.pnc.com), 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. PNC has extended its signature cause, PNC Grow Up Great, by $250 million over 10 years to enhance early childhood education and school readiness.

The Chicago Public Library continues to encourage lifelong learning by welcoming all people and offering equal access to information, entertainment and knowledge through materials, programs and cutting-edge technology. The Chicago Public Library is comprised of the Harold Washington Library Center, two regional libraries and more than 70 neighborhood branches. All locations provide free access to a rich collection of books, DVDs, audio books and music; the Internet and WiFi; sophisticated research databases, many of which can be accessed from a home or office computer; newspapers and magazines; and continue to serve as cultural centers, presenting the highest quality author discussions, exhibits and programs for children, teens and adults.

The Chicago Public Library Foundation is an independent charitable organization created 25 years ago by visionary civic, business and cultural leaders who believe that private contributions are essential to keeping Chicago’s Public Library truly world class. The Foundation has provided nearly $50 million in private support for innovative life-long learning programs, collections and public access to technology at the Chicago Public Library.