CINCINNATI – Santa Maria Community Services, Inc. announced the enhancement of its early childhood education programs, supported by a $25,000 PNC Foundation grant. The grant will enable the provision of vital school supplies and resources for preschool children in the Price Hill area, underscoring Santa Maria’s commitment to addressing educational needs from an early age.
The funding will facilitate the distribution of Amazon Fire tablets to new students, enriching their learning experience with modern technology. Additionally, the preschoolers will benefit from PNC Grow Up Great® educational materials, essential school clothing, a variety of books, personal bookshelves and laundry soap to support their educational journey.
The grant will also cover the costs for the ReadyRosie app and staff training. ReadyRosie is an innovative, research-backed parenting curriculum that leverages video and mobile technology. It fosters a collaborative environment between families and schools, promoting school readiness and parent engagement.
“The PNC Foundation has made it a priority to support healthy early childhood learning and development through the PNC Grow Up Great® initiative,” said Warren Weber, PNC regional president for Cincinnati. “Equipping Santa Maria Community Services with a rich set of resources in supporting children’s early success is a key strategy to helping more children start their educational journey.”
PNC Grow Up Great® is a $500 million, multi-year, bilingual, early childhood education initiative to help prepare children from birth through age five, particularly underserved children, for success in school and life. Previous grants from the PNC Foundation to Santa Maria have already shown remarkable results. Participants in the Promoting Our Preschoolers program demonstrated an average growth of ten percent in Developmental screenings from fall to spring, a testament to the program’s effectiveness. Santa Maria Community Services remains dedicated to addressing the broad spectrum of needs in the Price Hill area, ranging from preschool readiness to high school graduation rates, and from housing to financial stability.
“We are immensely grateful for the PNC Foundation’s ongoing support,” said H.A. Musser, President and CEO of Santa Maria Community Services. “Their commitment has been a cornerstone in our efforts to uplift the educational landscape for young children in Price Hill. The impact of the PNC Grow Up Great program is evident in our community, and this grant will further enable us to nurture the potential of every child we serve. Together, we are laying a solid foundation for their future learning and success.”
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About PNC Foundation
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. Through PNC Grow Up Great®, its signature cause that began in 2004, PNC has created a bilingual $500 million, multi-year initiative to help prepare children from birth to age 5 for success in school and life. For more information, visit http://www.pncgrowupgreat.com.
About Santa Maria Community Services, Inc.
Santa Maria Community Services, Inc. is an independent, 501(c)3 nonprofit organization originally founded by the Sisters of Charity in 1897 and place-based in Cincinnati Ohio’s Price Hill community. Santa Maria provides more than 2,500 individuals with educational tools and resources to build strong families, promote healthy residents, and foster neighborhood revitalization. Our Price Hill Family Centers provide a welcoming environment and the coaching, support, and flexibility to assist families to achieve their identified goals toward stabilization and self-sufficiency. Our mission is to be a catalyst and advocate for Greater Price Hill families to attain their educational, financial, and health goals. Our vision is for Greater Price Hill to be a vibrant, thriving, and self-sustaining community. Learn more at SantaMaria-Cincy.org.
CONTACT: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Christy Cauley November 21, 2023
Santa Maria Community Services, Inc.