The PNC Foundation announced a $19 million, multi-year vocabulary initiative for underserved pre-kindergarten children during a PNC Grow Up Great 10th Anniversary event in Chicago. The city’s children are among those who will benefit from three new vocabulary programs supported by PNC. In addition, PNC is extending its early science learning program through 2015 to benefit preschool children in Big Shoulders Fund and Chicago Public Schools.

The PNC-funded effort will help parents build their children’s vocabularies and will follow the children from age 15-months to kindergarten as part of a five-year longitudinal study. Another early education program designed to help families develop positive routines and habits that support children’s development of vocabulary will be introduced through the collaboration of community organizations in Chicago. Four more cities will introduce the program in 2014, and an additional five in 2015.

PNC also announced a two-year extension of its initial Chicago-focused science learning programs through 2015. Since 2010, nearly 1,000 Big Shoulders Fund and Chicago Public School preschoolers have participated in an innovative science program developed collaboratively with the Adler Planetarium, the Field Museum, the Museum of Science and Industry, and the Shedd Aquarium. For more information, visit www.pncgrowupgreat.com.