More than 1,000 children and their families enjoyed an admission-free day of pretend play on October 17 at Pretend City Children’s Museum. The second-annual event with First 5 Orange County and presenting sponsor PNC Bank featured Kid Builders activities, which are research-based tools that support young children’s growth.
“This event was a powerful example of how children can thrive when organizations and communities come together,” said Kimberly Goll, President and CEO of First 5 Orange County. “Every parent and caregiver deserves access to resources that support child development, such as our free Kid Builders activities. It was a joy to see so many families learning and playing together at Pretend City.”
First 5 Orange County manned five Kid Builders activity stations for children and families to enjoy. While exploring the children’s museum, parents and caregivers also received information about accessing First 5 Orange County’s library of free activities to support healthy growth and strengthen bonds with caregivers. The activities were developed by early childhood experts with input from Orange County parents. Kid Builders is available at first5oc.org/kid-builders.
“We are proud to host events like Kid Builders, which are central to our mission by ensuring all families, regardless of circumstance, can experience the power of play-based learning,” said Ellen Pais, Executive Director of Pretend City Children’s Museum. “We hope that all families can experience the profound impact of play-based learning that builds a strong foundation for school readiness and lifelong success.”
PNC Bank is the exclusive presenting sponsor of Kid Builders. For 20 years, PNC – through its signature philanthropic initiative PNC Grow Up Great® – has supported programs that help prepare children from birth through age 5 for success in school and life. Since it began in 2004, PNC Grow Up Great has supported more than 10 million children, with PNC Bank employees logging more than 1.2 million volunteer hours in support of high-quality early childhood education. Nationwide, PNC Grow Up Great has collaborated with the TMW Center for Early Learning + Public Health, Sesame Street, Fred Rogers Productions, and more.
