The $1.3M award extends support for the series’ engagement activities in addition to the ‘Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood’ community outreach initiative ‘Be My Neighbor Days.’
Fred Rogers Productions has won a PNC Foundation grant to support Alma’s Way, its newest PBS KIDS series, through PNC Grow Up Great, the multi-year, bilingual early childhood education initiative. The $1.3 million grant supports the development of the show’s engagement activities as well as ongoing support for “Be My Neighbor Days,” the signature community outreach initiative for Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood.
Season 2 of Alma’s Way, created by actor and writer Sonia Manzano (“Maria” on Sesame Street), premieres September 18 on PBS KIDS.
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 every episode, Alma models life lessons while encouraging kids to develop critical thinking skills and value their own ideas and questions. Since the series’ premiere in 2021, the show has inspired successful educational digital games, a publishing program with Scholastic, and received a nomination for an Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Preschool Animated Series, among other notable and prestigious honors.
The PNC Foundation grant supports a range of Fred Rogers Productions programming and campaigns, including events that take the series’ educational and pro-social themes directly into local communities for hands-on activities and fun for young children and their families. The grant also affords a variety of educational awareness efforts, such as custom-branded video content, including the pbskids.org video player and the free PBS KIDS Video app.
Fred Rogers Productions produced Alma’s Way in association with Pipeline Studios (Elinor Wonders Why). Ellen Doherty and Manzano serve as executive producers. Jorge Aguirre (Goldie & Bear) is head writer and co-executive producer. Additional co-executive producers are Luis Lopez and Juan Lopez. Supervising Producer for Fred Rogers Productions is Olubunmi Mia Olufemi.
“PNC Foundation is a valued supporter of educational programs for young children, and this grant for Alma’s Way will enable us to continue to fulfill our goal to provide enriching content and experiences for children and their families,” said Paul Siefken, president and CEO, Fred Rogers Productions. “We and PNC Foundation share a common goal of meeting the needs of kids where they are, and we look forward to continuing to serve our communities together.”
Sally McCrady, Chair and President of PNC Foundation said, “When Fred Rogers Productions shared the Alma’s Way concept with us, we knew we wanted to play a role in bringing this important learning opportunity to young children. Investing in early education is a powerful way to create a meaningful difference in the communities we serve. That’s the driving force behind PNC Grow Up Great, which has been making an impact across our footprint for nearly 20 years.”
Source: Fred Rogers Productions
Whitney is a freelance writer focusing on VFX-driven fantasy film & TV as well as preschool animation.
