Central PA Early Childcare Centers Operate Safely With Covid-19 Relief Grant From PNC Foundation
$30,000 grant to Child Care Consultants Funds New COVID-19 Health and Safety Consulting Services

HARRISBURG, Pa., Feb. 3, 2021 -- The PNC Foundation announced that it is awarding a $30,000 grant to Child Care Consultants based in York, Pa., to help childcare programs in the region stay open and operate safely during the COVID-19 pandemic. This support is part of an ongoing effort by PNC to mitigate the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the communities it serves.

Every year through their services, Child Care Consultants supports approximately 24,000 children and their families enrolled in early childhood education programs in Adams, Centre, Cumberland, Dauphin, Juniata, Lancaster, Lebanon, Mifflin, Northumberland, Perry, Snyder, Union and York counties.

 “We are thankful for the PNC Foundation’s support of our efforts to assist early childhood education programs in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Christy Renjilian, executive director of Child Care Consultants, Inc. “We have assisted hundreds of programs to develop policies and procedures, secure PPE and train their staff. Ultimately, this grant program is keeping children and families safe and early childhood education programs open so people can work.” 

One such program that has benefitted is the childcare program at Lititz Christian Early Learning Center in Lancaster. “Throughout the pandemic, Child Care Consultants has been a consistent source for critical information and support as we navigate providing care for children in a pandemic,” noted Jamie Esbenshade, director of the program. “They have advised us on quarantining, isolation, screening procedures, and cleaning and disinfecting, among other best practices. The valuable expertise and resources they’ve provided, with help from the PNC Foundation have given us peace of mind that we can continue to operate in a way that prioritizes our children and families.” 

 “Through PNC Grow Up Great®, we’ve long emphasized the important role early childhood education plays in preparing young ones for success in school and life,” said Jim Hoehn, PNC regional president in Central Pa. “Concerning data has already emerged revealing the impact virtual learning is having on young children who traditionally benefit from the socialization and hands-on activities central to early learning curriculums. This grant aims to mitigate that harm by ensuring childcare centers that can stay open safely are able to do so. PNC enthusiastically supports organizations like Child Care Consultants that are doing the critical work of caring for young children and their families in our communities.” 

About Child Care Consultants
Child Care Consultants (CCC) serves as the Early Learning Resource Center for Regions 9 & 10 and is committed to helping children, families, and early childhood education programs be successful. We support low-income working families in paying for child care and provide resources, training, and on-site technical assistance to early childhood education providers to help them improve their program to ensure that every child is successful in school and life. We serve approximately 24,000 children, families, and early childhood education programs every year in Adams, Centre, Cumberland, Dauphin, Juniata, Lancaster, Lebanon, Mifflin, Northumberland, Perry, Snyder, Union, and York counties. To learn more, visit childcareconsultants.org.  

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 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.


CONTACT: 
Olivia Lammel
(412) 762-0278
olivia.lammel@pnc.com

@PNCNews