New Head Start Early Learning Play Area provides innovative opportunity for Gainesville preschoolers
Press release from Episcopal Children’s Services
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Episcopal Children’s Services (ECS), with the support of PNC Foundation, celebrated the opening of a new outdoor play area at the Gainesville Head Start/Early Head Start Center yesterday. The “STEAM Ahead with Outdoor Learning” area, supported by a $56,000 grant from PNC Foundation, provides a learning environment specifically designed to build skills for STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math) and provide a hands-on learning experience with opportunities and materials that support exploration, discovery and creativity. Attended by community members, regional leadership, and one very special guest, the playground dedication event proved to be a significant milestone in the partnership between the two organizations.
One of the highlights of the event was special guest, Elmo, greeting everyone and enjoying the new play area alongside the children. The interactivity fostered meaningful outdoor play in a learning environment specifically designed to build skills for STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math) and provide a hands-on learning experience with opportunities and materials that support exploration, discovery, and creativity.
The “STEAM Ahead with Outdoor Learning” area is supported by a $56,000 grant from PNC Foundation. Funding for this project was made possible through PNC’s signature philanthropic initiative, PNC Grow Up Great®, a $500 million bilingual initiative that helps prepare children from birth through age 5 for success in school and in life, with a particular emphasis on underserved communities. The new playground will serve over 65 of the community’s most vulnerable preschoolers in one of the most challenged areas in Alachua County.
The $56,000 grant awarded to Episcopal Children’s Services is one of many PNC investments in the ECS community. In 2024, the 20th anniversary of PNC Grow Up Great, PNC is focused on outdoor play and learning, including a dedicated grant pool to help build or refresh nature-based play and learning spaces across PNC markets coast to coast.
ECS extends its heartfelt gratitude to all participants, especially PNC Foundation, for their contribution to the success of this event. Their unwavering support and dedication were instrumental in making the event a memorable experience for everyone involved.
This blurb basically says nothing, and is repetious.
On today’s episode of “white people spending 10’s of thousands of dollars to help poor black folk in every way except the ways which will actually address their needs in a significant way”
Soo… a 56,000 grant from the PNC foundation was stated more times than ever needed. I still know nothing about this play center.
Its a playground. Companies need to do these things or get put on the ESG naughty list by getting a low score. Theres no interest in addressing the fatherless households that cause most issues with kids 0-5 so this is one of the substitutes.