The PNC Foundation, charitable arm of the Pittsburgh-based bank, has donated $10 million to Birmingham Promise, which will help pay for public college scholarships in Alabama for students who graduate from Birmingham City Schools.

It’s the largest donation to the program since it was founded in 2019.

“This is an enormous day for Birmingham Promise,” said Samantha Williams, executive director of Birmingham Promise.

“Birmingham Promise depends on support from our corporate community,” Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin said. “PNC just raised the bar.”

Three Birmingham Promise students joined Williams, Woodfin and PNC Bank CEO Bill Demchak and other PNC officials for the announcement.

“This is the future of Birmingham,” Williams said.

“It enriches out community by providing students with the chanc to filfull their dreams, along with the generational impact of graduating without a high burden of tuition debt,” said Nick Willis, PNC regional president for North and Central Alabama.

Demchak met and spoke with the Birmingham Promise students.

“I would say thank you a million times to PNC Bank,” said Damiuna Dawson, a UAB senior and Carver High School graduate who received scholarships through Birmingham Promise.