July was all about reading by third grade

Part of United Way’s LIVE UNITED in 2009, July was focused on improving children’s literacy in the Twin Cities.

Did you know?
In Minneapolis and St. Paul, less than 50 percent of at-risk children are reading at grade level by third grade.

One of 10 goals in our Agenda for Lasting Change is to increase the number of third-graders reading at grade level to 80 percent by 2012 in partner school districts.  Ensuring educational success in the early years is one of the most important pathways out of poverty for at-risk populations. Learn more.

Give
Our partnership with the Minnesota Twins allowed us to provide discount tickets to a game against the Chicago White Sox. Each discounted ticket brought $5 back to United Way. 

Fans were also invited to donate children’s books as they entered the Dome.  Nearly 600 books and $600 were collected for our partner programs!

Advocate
We asked those who are social media savvy to tell their friends about United Way’s social networks: Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter.

Have you joined us yet?  We’re spreading news about United Way and what we’re up to through these channels.

Volunteer
A great group of 20 volunteers handed out giftbags and bracelets to kids and those who donated books or money.  While others held their own internal book drive to support the literacy of children in grades K-3.

We held a week-long book drive that brought in over 950 books–quite the success!  You could see the
excitement on the faces of the Community-University Health Care Center when we pulledup in an SUV,
packed full of boxes to replenish the empty shelves and cabinets for their Reach Out and Read program!
-Scott Shafer, Emerson Process Management