By Samantha Jones, PNC Regional President for Georgia
The recent opening of PNC PlaySpace at the Woodruff Arts Center represents a milestone in PNC’s longstanding commitment to early childhood education and equitable access to the arts. These priorities are deeply connected – and together, they impact Atlanta’s future.
For more than a decade, PNC Bank has been invested in the Atlanta region, and our collaboration with the Woodruff Arts Center has been one of our most meaningful. Through our work with the Alliance Theatre, we’ve helped deliver arts‑based education to every pre-K classroom in Atlanta Public Schools, reaching nearly 15,000 children. When young learners engage with storytelling, movement, music, performance and visual arts, they nurture cognitive, social and emotional skills that last a lifetime.
The Alliance Theatre’s Bernhardt Theatre for the Very Young, designed specifically for children from birth through age 5 and their caregivers, is a leading example of how the arts can meet young children exactly where they are, encouraging creativity, focus and early engagement. As part of our relationship, the Alliance Theatre and Fernbank Museum of Natural History bring both teaching artists and scientists into classrooms, ensuring children experience a rich blend of arts‑ and science‑based learning.
Our investment in PNC PlaySpace was a natural next step in our shared commitment to early learning. This dynamic new space ensures that families from all backgrounds can experience the power of the arts in a joyful, immersive environment. PNC PlaySpace offers arts and music programming, interactive performances and unstructured free play — key drivers of early childhood development. It is open six days a week and free of charge, eliminating barriers and making the arts accessible to all families in metro Atlanta. Our belief is simple: the arts are for everyone, regardless of income, neighborhood or background.
Research reinforces this approach. A multi‑year study conducted by the Woodruff Arts Center and the University of Arkansas found that children who participate in early arts experiences show stronger academic performance, higher rates of school attendance, greater optimism about their futures and higher engagement in science and math activities. These findings echo what educators and families have long understood: the arts inspire curiosity, strengthen confidence and support deeper learning.
As a parent of three young men, I know firsthand how the arts shape a child’s sense of creativity, curiosity and self‑expression. My sons would have delighted in an environment like PNC PlaySpace during their early years. PNC PlaySpace reflects that magical intersection of imagination and learning, giving children a place to explore, pretend and discover while building essential skills and creating joyful memories.
PNC PlaySpace is also a meaningful extension of PNC Grow Up Great®, our signature philanthropic $500 million initiative dedicated to early childhood education. Since 2004, PNC has helped support more than 11.5 million children through grants and educational programs. In Atlanta, PNC Grow Up Great grants have funded programs and resources with Easterseals North Georgia, Sheltering Arms Early Childhood Education Centers and the YMCA of Metro Atlanta, the region’s largest Head Start providers. Together, these collaborations reflect our belief that when children have strong early learning experiences, they are better equipped for long‑term success.
PNC PlaySpace builds on these efforts by bringing accessible, innovative, educational experiences directly into the heart of the community. The space is rooted in the idea that learning thrives when children are free to imagine, move and play.
None of this would have been possible without the relationships that strengthen our community. We deeply appreciate the Woodruff Arts Center team, led by President and CEO Hala Moddelmog, whose vision brought a reimagined campus — and PNC PlaySpace — to life. We also commend the corporate and community partners who contributed to this effort. Their commitment underscores a shared belief that Atlanta’s youngest learners deserve high‑quality experiences that will shape their futures.
As Atlanta continues to grow and evolve, we must stay focused on investing in the next generation. PNC PlaySpace represents far more than a physical environment. It symbolizes what is possible when businesses, community organizations and educational leaders come together with a shared purpose. It is a place where creativity blossoms, families connect and children learn through joy.
At PNC, we are committed to helping build a strong future for all of Atlanta’s children. We look forward to all the discoveries and dreams that will take shape inside this inspiring new space.
Because when we invest in our children, we invest in Atlanta’s tomorrow.
Samantha Jones is executive vice president and regional president of PNC Bank, Georgia, responsible for all banking operations within the state. Jones brings nearly 30 years of experience and impact as a successful financial service executive.
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