Infants from 37 cities across America recently helped PNC Financial Services Group set a Guinness World Records title for the largest group vocabulary lesson (multiple venues).
A grand total of 2,845 pre-schoolers from 15 different states took part in the simultaneous lesson back in October.
 
The attempt was hosted by PNC in support of its Grow Up Great program – a $350 million, multi-year bilingual initiative supporting early childhood education. 
 
The event centred on "Mr. Tiger Goes Wild" a picture book by author Peter Brown that tells the story of a civilized tiger who, bored with his prim and proper lifestyle, runs away to the jungle to discover what makes him happy.
 
Among the many institutions taking part in the attempt were Pittsburgh Public Schools, which had 233 local students taking part in the event. 
 
 “Vocabulary is central to a child’s development. The pursuit of this world record is a great way to bring attention to a serious issue – the importance of preparing children for success in school and life,” said Eva Tansky Blum, director of community affairs, PNC Bank, and chair and president of the PNC Foundation. “When we make an investment in quality early education, we help at-risk children acquire the tools needed to succeed in school, obtain meaningful employment and do well over time.”
 
Following the attempt, Kimberly Russo, program officer, Pittsburgh Public Schools Early Childhood Education Programs declared the record attempt a great success.
 
“Everyone knows that the best thing you can do for young children is to read to them”, she explained. “By taking part in a fun and engaging activity like this, we take reading to the next level by increasing vocabulary”. PNC presentation
“We appreciate PNC’s support of the event, which taught the children new words and added to the excitement we’re building for vocabulary in the classroom.” 
 
The event was one of PNC’s initiatives to encourage parents and caregivers to talk and read to their children as a means to build vocabulary and help them gain the skills they need to succeed in school.
 
The success of the record attempt was made possible in part through the volunteering efforts by employees of financial services company EY, who served both as observers and stewards tracking student participation in approximately 20 locations.
 
In addition, hundreds of PNC Bank employees worked with teachers and students to help present the event as part of a progressive policy that permits up to 40 hours a year of paid time off for volunteerism.