LIVE UNITED

POP Members are moving the needle on early literacy in our community by working to get kids reading on grade level before they reach third grade. A child’s reading skills in elementary school dramatically influence the probability of high school graduation. An early investment in a child during these years is critically important. Throughout the year, POP members host a one-of-a-kind kickoff event and numerous Purse Parties at local businesses to raise awareness and money for UWBB’s Education Initiative. These events help fund and support evidence-based programs, ReadingPals, and READ UNITED.

ReadingPals focuses on intervention and reading readiness. Caring adults are matched one-to-one with a student in the after school setting who has been identified as a struggling reader. Using a developed curriculum, ReadingPals commit one hour a week for the school year to read to the same child and work on literacy skills. Each student takes home a brand new free book every week. During the 2012-2013 School year:

• 60% of ReadingPals students showed improvement in their reading scores

• 40% of ReadingPAls students are on track to read on grade level when they reach third grade

READ UNITED recruits volunteers to read to every public school 1st grade classroom during the course of one week and give each student a brand new FREE BOOK in the Big Bend area (Franklin, Gadsden, Jefferson, Leon, Liberty, Madison, Taylor, and Wakulla counties). ReadingPals and READ UNITED have a positive impact on our youngest students in the Big Bend. To date, our investment in early literacy has included:

• Donation of over 17,500 books

• Engagement of over 500 community volunteers

• Investment of 6,300 volunteer hours (reading to students)

• Total economic impact of $139,500