DETROIT – The North American International Auto Show and the PNC Foundation will greet over 400 Detroit Public School pre-K students as part of “PNC Grow Up Great Day” at the show Jan. 25, 2018.
Dedicated to providing the very youngest members of the community with a fun and engaging look at the auto industry, “PNC Grow Up Great Day” at the NAIAS is part of PNC Grow Up Great, a $350 million, multi-year, bilingual initiative to early childhood education.
Ric Devore, PNC regional president for Detroit and Southeast Michigan, will kick off the pre-K event, now in its eighth year. Plenty of age-appropriate, hands-on science, technology, reading, engineering arts and mathematics (STREAM) activities will follow – many based on the participatory-based HighScope Preschool Curriculum. Activities will include a coloring contest, an Arts and Scraps project, a parade of cars and teachers, a group photo and a number of other entertaining workshops on the show floor.
“This special day at the show provides young, inquisitive minds with an innovative and fun way to think about cars and the auto show,” said 2018 NAIAS Chairman Ryan LaFontaine. “Some of these youngsters may be future leaders within our industry, so let’s spark their imagination and curiosity about automobiles at the earliest possible age.”
Every participant will go home with a copy of the book, “Pincy’s Auto Show Adventures,” in addition to receiving a stuffed animal version of the lovable canine. Pincy was created by NAIAS and PNC to give youngsters a lighthearted way to learn about automobiles and the auto show.
“PNC’s support of ‘PNC Grow Up Great Day’ reflects our strong corporate commitment to early childhood education in Detroit and communities served by PNC,” said DeVore. “Over the past eight years, PNC has brought more than 2,900 DPS preschool students to this world-class show in an effort to spark an interest in math and science at an early age.”
“PNC Grow Up Great Day” students will also be given lesson plans to bring NAIAS STREAM education home and engage families in the children’s learning. In addition, a booster seat will be awarded randomly to one lucky preschooler.
