DPS recieves $1.5M donation from PNC Foundation

[Ardent15]

The Detroit Public Schools Foundation received a $1.5-million donation today from the PNC Foundation to be used for early childhood education.

DPS will use the money for professional development for preschool teachers in the areas of arts and sciences. It also will fund hands-on experiences for preschoolers, including field trips and family days at the Detroit Science Center and Music Hall Center for the Performing Arts.

“For Detroit Public Schools, this is a major component in our preparation gap program,” said Robert Bobb, DPS emergency financial manager. “I believe strongly that when you teach kids at an early age, those are the children most likely to succeed, when they have a strong academic education early on.”

DPS is funding 12 new preschool classrooms in seven schools next year, which will serve 192 children, Bobb said. The school district is also offering preschoolers summer school classes for the first time this summer. Those new classes will not be funded by this donation but they will be able to benefit from the projects paid for by the PNC funding, Bobb said."

http://www.freep.com/article/20100527/NEWS01/100527043/1322/DPS-gets-1.5M-for-early-childhood-education

[Starry Messenger]

1. PNC

Looks like they've been moving into place in Muskegon, Michigan. We'll have to keep an eye on them and see if they start showing up rubbing shoulders with the other foundations messing around in Detroit. This looks like "getting to know you" money.

http://www.mlive.com/news/muskegon/index.ssf/2010/04/national_city_set_to_become_pn.html


National City set to become PNC Bank, with name changing this weekend
By Dave Alexander | Muskegon Chronicle
April 09, 2010, 5:11AM

MUSKEGON -- By Monday morning, another era in Muskegon's banking history will have ended and a new one begun.

All of the Muskegon-area National City Bank branches will be converted to their new owner -- PNC Bank. The Pittsburgh-based PNC purchased the Cleveland-based National City in October 2008, including 12 West Michigan branch offices stretching from Ludington to Grand Haven.
BANK TIMELINE

The National City branch signs will be changed today to PNC. Staffs and operations will remain unchanged, bank officials said.

"We are excited to offer our customers the resources of the nation's fifth largest bank, delivered by the same familiar faces to which our customers have grown accustomed," said Sean Welsh, PNC regional president for western Michigan. "We continue to make decisions locally by a team of leaders who know this market because we live and work here."

PNC will keep in place National City's Community Bank President Mary Lou Achterhoff and her management team. Achterhoff manages 14 branches in the West Michigan region.

[Ardent15]

2. PNC's CEO has many Republican connections

-Bush-Cheney '04
-The Financial Services Roundtable
-Friends of John Boehner
-George W. Bush for President
-John McCain 2008
-McCain-Palin Victory 2008
-RAND Corporation Trustee (2002-)
-Romney for President
-Rudy Giuliani Presidential Committee
-Santorum 2006


http://www.nndb.com/people/768/000167267/

These are the people we're handing our education system over to, folks. :(