Mile High United Way announced a $250,000 grant from the PNC Foundation to benefit the United for Families Initiative. The initiative will focus on comprehensive, two-generation early childhood education strategies, including service navigation, support and training for parents and providers, policy work, and innovative programming that includes mobile preschool. Mile High United Way is seeking to raise $25 million in early childhood education initiatives and families across the metro area. The campaign has not officially launched, but the organization has already secured almost $2 million dollars in seed funding.
The announcement came during a panel discussion hosted at Mile High United Way, which focused on the importance of early childhood education. PNC Foundation is investing in this initiative to ensure that our youngest citizens will thrive, which aligns with its primary philanthropic program, Grow Up Great, a $500 million bilingual early childhood education initiative. This investment will increase quality of care in under-resourced communities and support training for informal care for providers.
Panelists included Superintendent of Denver Public Schools, Susana Cordova; State of Colorado Special Advisor for Early Childhood, Scott Groginsky; PNC Regional President for Denver, Ryan Beiser; Executive Director of Buell Foundation, Susan Steele; and President and CEO of Denver Preschool Program, Elsa Holguín. It was moderated by Christine Benero, President and CEO, Mile High United Way.