PNC Bank Supports Tinkering for Tots Early Childhood Program at The Henry Ford with $210,000, Three-Year Sponsorship
(Dearborn, Mich., April 9, 2018) – The Henry Ford, PNC Bank, N.A. and PNC Foundation will offer year-round early childhood programming at the historic destination, it was announced today. Under a new three-year, $210,000 sponsorship,
PNC Bank will help The Henry Ford provide STEAM-focused (science, technology, engineering, the arts and mathematics) programming for preschool visitors to the museum. PNC Bank will also provide more than 1,000 pre-K and kindergarten students per year
with complimentary field trips to The Henry Ford.
In addition to the $210,000 sponsorship by PNC Bank, the PNC Foundation has committed $108,000 to fund involvement in PNC Tinkering for Tots and field trips to The Henry Ford for 28 Detroit Public Schools preschool classes as part of PNC Grow Up Great®,
a $350 million, multiyear, bilingual initiative in early childhood education, to help primarily underserved children succeed in school and life.
“Our founder, Henry Ford, believed in the power of real artifacts in an environment that provided hands-on learning,” said Patricia E. Mooradian, president and CEO of The Henry Ford. “With partners such as PNC Bank and PNC Foundation,
we can continue Henry’s vision and offer vital STEM- and STEAM-based programs that can unlock creativity in young minds and unleash an enormous amount of potential to change the world.”
Tinkering for Tots is a monthly hands-on program designed for preschoolers that incorporates science, technology, engineering, art and math. Each month is shaped by a different theme based on programming at Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation
and Greenfield Village. The program includes how-to guides for parents, caregivers and educators for continued engagement.
“Tinkering for Tots was created to encourage creativity and a thirst for learning in preschool children,” said Ric DeVore, PNC regional president for Detroit and Southeast Michigan. “At PNC, we believe that empowering our youngest
minds is the best investment a bank can make.”
PNC Bank will serve as naming partner and presenting sponsor for Tinkering for Tots.