United Way of the Midlands Awards Over $1 million to Address Early Education Needs in the Midlands
July 21, 2014
COLUMBIA, SC – United Way of the Midlands has awarded Community Impact grants totaling $1.3 million to partner agencies serving the Midlands.
The grants will target educational programs that focus on early childhood through elementary school. United Way is working to make sure children and their families are supported so that they are ready to learn when they enter kindergarten, reading on grade level by third grade and staying on the path to graduation. The funding will assist families so that they can support their children’s learning and prepare them for educational and life success.
“United Way’s goal is to positively impact children in the Midlands from a very young age,” said Mac Bennett, President and CEO of United Way of the Midlands. “It’s important for the community to know that the transition to kindergarten, reading on grade level and the transition to middle school are all crucial points in a child’s development, and all three are huge indicators of their success later in life. If a child is not reading on grade level by the third grade, that child is four times more likely to drop out of high school.”
A total of 19 education-related programs will receive the $1.3 million. Six of those programs will receive over $550,000 to work with United Way and other partners to improve childhood literacy rates and third grade reading levels. Some of these will also seek to improve literacy in community settings including reaching out to families through doctors’ offices, public housing and shelters. These programs also involve working toward improving families’ understanding and involvement in their child’s learning and success. The agencies receiving funds are: Boys and Girls Clubs of the Midlands, Newberry County Literacy Council, Reach Out and Read – Carolinas and Trinity Housing Corporation.
Over $445,000 will go to seven programs that are focused on school readiness and the transition to kindergarten to address the critical importance of a child entering school ready to learn. Some of the programs include Calhoun, Fairfield, Lexington and Orangeburg County’s “Countdown and Transition to Kindergarten” initiatives and Richland Library’s “Here Comes Kindergarten” program, which are designed to create awareness and knowledge for families about the significance of their engagement relating to literacy and hands-on learning leading up to kindergarten. Funding will also be awarded to Vital Connections of the Midlands for high impact child care that also engages families in their children’s healthy development and learning.
Finally, $335,000 will go to initiatives that support after school programs, mentoring and initiatives involving staying on the path to graduation. The agencies receiving funding include: Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Columbia, Boy Scouts of America – Indian Waters Council, Communities in Schools of the Midlands, EdVenture Children’s Museum and Girl Scouts of South Carolina – Mountains to Midlands.
“United Way with the support of the community is working together harder than ever to improve the Midlands,” said Bennett. “We thank our established and upcoming leaders in the community for continuing to support us by giving, advocating and volunteering as we strive to create lasting change for our friends, neighbors and strangers alike to live better lives.”
The full list of grant awards is available at the United Way of the Midlands website, www.uway.org. For more information on these and other grants funded by United Way of the Midlands, please contact Joey Wallace at 803.748.7282 or [email protected].
About United Way of the Midlands
United Way of the Midlands is the most organized, efficient and accountable system for investing in the community. With more than 85 certified partner agencies, United Way works to identify and respond to the critical human service needs of Calhoun, Fairfield, Lexington, Newberry, Orangeburg and Richland counties. Funds are raised through workplace campaigns, grant writing and individual donations. For more information, please visit www.uway.org.
