Fred Rogers Productions receives $1.4 million from PNC Grow Up Great to support ‘Alma’s Way’ and Be My Neighbor Day

Fans of the popular animated TV series “Alma’s Way” will be glad to hear that Fred Rogers Productions has extended its partnership with the PNC Foundation. Through PNC Grow Up Great, the PNC Foundation has awarded a $1.4 million grant to support “Alma’s Way” and more. 

The grant offers funding to a range of onscreen content and outreach programs with educational and pro-social themes, including 49 Be My Neighbor Day events that celebrate kindness and what it means to be a caring neighbor. Be My Neighbor Day events have attracted several hundred thousand in-person attendees nationwide since the program started in 2014. 

If your young kids haven’t seen “Alma’s Way,” take a moment to discover it. The series focuses on encouraging kids as they develop problem-solving, resilience, empathy, and other life skills. The series follows 6- year-old Alma Rivera, a proud, confident Puerto Rican girl who lives in the Bronx with her family among a diverse group of close-knit friends and community members. In each episode, Alma models self-awareness, responsible decision-making and empathy, while encouraging kids to develop critical thinking skills and value their own ideas and questions.

“We are so pleased to continue our partnership with the PNC Foundation, a valued supporter of educational and arts programs,” said Paul Siefken, president and CEO, Fred Rogers Productions. “Their sponsorship of our programming and outreach initiatives enables us to continue providing valuable content and hands-on experiences for children and families in their neighborhoods nationwide.”

PNC Grow Up Great is a multi-year, bilingual early childhood education initiative that helps children from birth through age 5 develop a love of lifelong learning, which aligns with the mission of Fred Rogers Productions. The goal? To meet the needs of children and families where they are. 

“Fred Rogers Productions has been a terrific collaborator from the earliest days of PNC Grow Up Great, creating quality programming that encourages young children to discover, learn and grow,” said Sally McCrady, chair and president of the PNC Foundation. “Be My Neighbor Days is one of my favorite initiatives across PNC’s markets, helping families think about how they can be great neighbors and the importance of keeping kindness in mind. We’re excited to see the Alma’s Way Explore Your City events take shape.”