Literacy Coalition, with Support from PNC Grow Up Great®, to Host Feb. 26 Read for the Record Event
BOYNTON BEACH, Fla., Feb. 18, 2026 – The Literacy Coalition of Palm Beach County, with support from PNC Grow Up Great, will host this year’s 20th Read for the Record focal event Feb. 26.
Preschool students from Atkins Tender Loving Care Childcare in Riviera Beach and the Coalition’s Glades Family Education program in Belle Glade will participate at Mounts Botanical Garden in West Palm Beach. Special guests will read this year’s Read for the Record book, See Marcus Grow, to the children.
The vibrant picture book, written by Marcus Bridgewater and illustrated by Reggie Brown, introduces young readers to the wonders of gardening while exploring themes of curiosity, discovery, nurturing and growth. Bridgewater, also known as the social media sensation “Garden Marcus,” tells the story through his eyes as a child, sharing lessons he learned while helping in his grandmother’s garden. The book beautifully illustrates the parallel between plant care and human development, sharing the wisdom that both children and seedlings need “water and air and sunshine. And space to grow.”
With support from the PNC Foundation through its signature philanthropic initiative, PNC Grow Up Great, the Literacy Coalition is working with municipal leaders, businesses and individual volunteers to organize thousands of adults to read the chosen book to children across the county on a single day.
“Developing a love of reading is one of the most powerful gifts we can give our youngest learners,” said Cressman Bronson, PNC regional president for Southeast Florida. “Through PNC Grow Up Great, we’re proud to collaborate with the Literacy Coalition to help more children across our community grow, thrive and build a strong start for their futures.”
For more than 20 years, PNC Grow Up Great has helped prepare children from birth through age 5 for success in school and in life, with a particular emphasis on underserved communities.
WHEN: Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026
10:15 to 11 a.m. – Story Time
11 a.m. – Children will visit the Mounts Botanical Garden Nursery and participate in garden activities inspired by See Marcus Grow.
WHERE: Mounts Botanical Garden, 531 N Military Trl, West Palm Beach, FL 33415
WHY: In Palm Beach County, 43% of third-grade students are reading below grade level. The goal behind Read for the Record is to highlight the importance of building early literacy and language skills for every child so that all children can enter kindergarten prepared to succeed.
CONTACT: Kristin Calder, CEO, Literacy Coalition of PBC; Kcalder@LiteracyPBC.org; 561-635-8423
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About the Literacy Coalition of Palm Beach County
Founded in 1989, the Literacy Coalition of Palm Beach County is a recipient of the coveted 4 out of 4-stars Charity Navigator rating for 16 consecutive years. Partnering with schools, libraries and community organizations, the Coalition staff, volunteers and AmeriCorps members work to improve the quality of life in our community by promoting and achieving literacy. Through literacy programs for children and adults whose limited literacy affects their quality of life, the Coalition served more than 64,000 people last year.
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About the PNC Foundation
The PNC Foundation, which receives its principal funding from The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. (NYSE: PNC), actively supports organizations that provide services for the benefit of communities in which it has a significant presence. The Foundation focuses its philanthropic mission on early childhood education and community and economic development, which includes the arts and culture. Through PNC Grow Up Great®, its signature cause that began in 2004, PNC has created a bilingual $500 million, multi-year initiative to help prepare children from birth to age 5 for success in school and life. For more information, visit http://www.pncgrowupgreat.com.
