Press Release
March 8, 2021 – Ready.Set.READ! – – a community initiative focused on improving early grade reading proficiency and managed by United Way of Berks County — has announced a grant opportunity available to Ready.Set.READ! (RSR) partner schools, Summer Learning Coalition members and other organizations serving Berks County Title 1 students.
“Ready.Set.READ! and United Way are committed to helping kids achieve success, and summer learning and literacy programs are more important than ever based on the many disruptions to education caused by the pandemic. It is especially critical this year to focus on lessening summer learning loss,” says Tammy White, President, United Way of Berks County. Summer learning loss describes what happens when students lose academic skills over the summer months and is often one of the most significant causes of the achievement gap between lower and higher income students.
A summary of the grant opportunity follows, with full details available at United Way’s website at uwberks.org/SLGrants. Applicants should review the full detail regarding all grant eligibility requirements, as well as the application format, on the website. Applications will be accepted beginning Thursday March 11, 2021 through 4:00 PM on Sunday, April 4, 2021. Notice of funding will be conveyed at the end of May.
The Summer Learning Grant provides up to $5,000 to an organization in support of summer learning programming, including a literacy component. The funds are intended to help cover summer programming expenses. Last year, grants totaling $46,786 were awarded to 11 organizations. Additional grant criteria follows:
- Planned summer programming serves Berks County Title 1 students, Pre-K up to and including 3rd grade.
- A literacy component is required; the proposal may also include cross discipline activities (i.e. STEM).
- All proposed programs must articulate an evaluation element to measure the outcome success of the literacy component.
- One $5,000 maximum proposal per organization or grant partnership may be submitted.
- Project collaboration and creativity are encouraged.
- Proposals and final reports must be electronically submitted via e-CImpact, a software tool accessed via United Way’s website (www.uwberks.org).
- A final report, including data associated with the program outcome(s) and photos, must be submitted no later than September 24, 2021.
Grant proposals will be awarded through a competitive process. A committee of community volunteers, including representation of United Way and Ready.Set.READ! board and committee members, will review and evaluate applications, including programming plans.
For technical assistance with e-CImpact contact Jennifer Tinsman, Community Impact Associate, at jennifert@uwberks.org or 610.685.4576. Any questions related to the proposal should be directed to Ashley Chambers, Senior Vice President of Community Impact, at ashleyc@uwberks.org or 610.685.4586.