United Way believes that everyone can play a role in ensuring that children grow up to be productive citizens and members of our community. This begins with a good education that is the foundation for a child’s success in work and life, along with providing supportive programming that helps youth develop necessary skills for their futures. To meet this goal, key issues addressed by UWBC and its supported programs in this focus area include early care and school readiness, school success and positive youth development. United Way works toward this goal by funding programs at agency partners, as well as grants and collaborative partnerships. Agency Partners and their supported programs in the area of Education are listed below.
Community Initiatives and Collaborations
Ready.Set.READ!: RSR is a collaboration among United Way of Berks County, the education and business communities and community organizations that seek to improve reading proficiency in students by the end of third grade. The collective work focuses on four key strategies: implement school-readiness activities for pre-school children to support language and per-literacy development in young children, connect tutors with early grade students needing supplemental instruction, engage parents to promote literacy, and mobilize the community around this work. To learn more, visit readysetreadberks.org.
United Way Grants
Visit the Grants Overview page to learn about the local community organizations and agencies that have received United Way grants.
United Way Agency Partners and Supported Programs
| Agency Partner | Supported Programs |
|---|---|
| Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Berks County | One-to-one or group mentoring programs for at-risk youth to improve their lives. |
| Birdsboro Community Memorial Center | Out of school education programs for youth of Birdsboro and vicinity to assist students with achieving academic success and grade-level proficiency. |
| Centro Hispano Daniel Torres, Inc. | Parental education and support to improve children’s school readiness through “Abriendo Puertas”. |
| Communities In Schools of Eastern PA | Integrated student support and services to improve attendance, behavior and academic performance for students in the Reading School District. |
| Girl Scouts of Eastern Pennsylvania | Outcomes-based programs for girls 5-17, in the City of Reading, to acquire and develop assets and skills for a positive adolescence and future. |
| Hawk Mountain Council: Boy Scouts of America | Character development, citizenship training, and personal fitness for boys 6-18 and young men and women 14-20. |
| Olivet Boys & Girls Club of Reading and Berks County | Comprehensive, outcome driven, youth after-school and summer program focusing on education, good character and citizenship and healthy lifestyles. |
| Opportunity House | Child care at Second Street Learning Center provides early care and education services for infants, preschoolers and school-age children. Services to reduce trauma for child sexual abuse victims at the Children’s Alliance Center. |
| The Salvation Army: Reading Corps | Educational programming for youth and adults through Learning Center. |
| YMCA of Reading & Berks County | Day and evening child care services. Parenting Pathways provides parents, parents-to-be and caregivers knowledge and skills needed to establish strong families and help their children reach their potential. |