The PNC Foundation Awards $25,000 to Support Financial Literacy Education in Schools

[Howard Hartman]

For Immediate Release	June 21, 2012

The PNC Foundation Awards $25,000 to Support
Financial Literacy Education in Maryland Public Schools

BALTIMORE, MD (June 21, 2012) – The Maryland State Department of Education has been awarded a $25,000 grant from the PNC Foundation to support financial literacy education in Maryland’s schools. The grant from the PNC Foundation will be used to provide up to 110 teachers with scholarships to attend the August 2012 East Coast Educator Training in Personal Financial Literacy Education.

The East Coast Training will be hosted by the Family Economics and Financial Education (FEFE) and Junior Achievement of Central Maryland (JA), and will provide opportunities for elementary, middle and high school teachers of Financial Literacy Education. The training will be held August 6 – 8, 2012 at Towson University in Towson, Maryland.

Professional development on the FEFE curriculum has been offered in Maryland each year since August 2008 and is extremely well received by teachers. Partnering with JA creates opportunities for elementary educators to receive instruction in personal finance.

Recognizing the importance of early and ongoing instruction in financial literacy education as a means to transform student behavior related to finances, the Maryland State Board of Education requires local school systems to provide financial literacy instruction to all students in grades 3-12 consistent with Maryland’s State Curriculum for Personal Financial Literacy Education.

“Some researchers and educators believe that financial education should start early in life to help children learn the importance of managing and saving money,” said Laura Gamble, Greater Maryland Regional President for PNC. “Through this initiative, we can help children better understand that everything has value and how they can turn everyday moments into financial learning experiences.”

“In a time when local school systems are struggling with tight budgets, PNC’s support has provided a foundation for school systems to implement financial literacy,” said Bernard J. Sadusky, Interim State Superintendent of Schools. “On behalf of teachers throughout the state, I would like to personally thank PNC for helping ensure that they have the necessary knowledge and skills to teach financial literacy. This generous contribution will build a delivery system of financial literacy education at the elementary, middle, and high school levels.”

The PNC Foundation, which receives its principal funding from The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. (NYSE: PNC), 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.