As funds for public broadcasting are being slashed in the US, Fred Rogers Productions has secured a US$1.4-million grant from PNC Foundation, the nonprofit arm of PNC Bank, to support its animated series Alma’s Way and community events. 

The production company received the money through the PNC Grow Up Great program, which funds projects that help kids up to age five develop a love of learning. 

The grant could be something of a lifeline for FRP’s content and events, since one of its key sources of funding in the US was axed recently. In May, the US Department of Education shut down the Ready to Learn, which helped fund the Fred Rogers/9 Story Media Group series Peg + Cat, as well as a long list of other PBS KIDS programming. 

A frequent Fred Rogers broadcasting partner, PBS KIDS also greenlit Alma’s Way and has remained one of the series’ main supporters. The US pubcaster was hit especially hard by the Ready to Learn grant shutdown—in addition to US President Donald Trump signing an executive order in May to slash its federal funding administered by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. It has since furloughed 25% of its PBS KIDS staff. 

The funding FRP is now getting from PNC’s Grow Up Great grant will go toward developing Alma’s Way and programs such as Be My Neighbor Day, a free Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood-inspired gathering that PBS stations run across the US every year. These events started in 2014 and typically include face painting, celebrity reading spaces, donation opportunities and resources for learning how to be a good neighbor.

The grant will also support four Alma’s Way Explore Your City events giving families an opportunity to learn about their local public transportation system and watch live performances.

“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,” said Sally McCrady, chair and president of the PNC Foundation. “We’re excited to see the Alma’s Way Explore Your City events take shape.”

PNC Foundation previously gave FRP US$1.3 million in 2023 through this grant.