Testimonials
Since the program’s inception, we have developed volunteer activities to help build morale, pride and team spirit in our employees. We believe that the one-on-one relationship the volunteers experience in working with children, teachers, parents, center directors and each other can provide tremendous personal growth and satisfaction. Because our volunteerism is focused on such a compelling issue, involvement can be contagious. Recent employee testimonials speak to this:
“We have children who are struggling with language issues or who are a little bit more shy, and need that extra support... that one-on-one. That’s where the volunteers really come in and kind of enhance or give us that extra set of hands that are desperately needed in the classroom.”
Flo - PNC Employee
“Just to see them when you’re there [the classroom], and you walk in that room and how their faces just light up ... it’s a joy.”
Lori - PNC Employee
“I think once an employee gets that first volunteer interaction with the children and have their first volunteer activity under their belts, they’re sold.”
Rebecca - PNC Employee
Internally, PNC Grow Up Great volunteerism has been requested for use as a training tool. In a recent example, a departmental manager approached the PNC Grow Up Great team and asked for a special program to be constructed to help his new team build morale and trust.
Staffers are working to customize a program with several centers to meet their needs, which will include ongoing one-day event add-ons to help keep the new volunteers engaged.
Executive Volunteer Program Information
PNC CEO Jim Rohr has been a driving force behind encouraging senior executives to think strategically about how to make PNC’s impact on the community even greater and more focused. From reading to children at education centers to participating on influential boards to advance school readiness, Mr. Rohr has led by volunteering time and encouraging senior leadership to do the same. To facilitate greater senior-level participation, PNC created an Executive Volunteer Program with opportunities specifically built for busy executives. The program assembles opportunities to enable senior-level executives to visit a local center and to become engaged with the children through reading and other educational activities.
Grow Up Great volunteers team up for greater impact
In 2006, eight PNC employees teamed up to volunteer as a group, creating an opportunity to make an even greater impact. Everyone agreed the team atmosphere made it more fun and easier to organize transportation to the Head Start center. Rebecca Stauffer was one of the employees who helped out. For her, the one-on-one interaction with the children is one of the factors that sets PNC’s program apart. In her words, “I believe I can make a difference in a child’s life.” PNC offers eligible employees up to 40 paid hours a year to volunteer at early childhood education centers–40 hours to make a difference.
