United Way of Pennsylvania Launches Cohort 2 of Too Small To Fail with Partners
A simple conversation in the grocery store. Singing in the car. Reading a favorite book before bed. These everyday moments help children build language skills and prepare for school.
United Way of Pennsylvania is proud to continue investing in those moments through our partnership with the Clinton Foundation and the Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy as together we launch Cohort 2 of Too Small To Fail.
The Clinton Foundation’s Too Small to Fail initiative focuses on making early learning part of daily life. It focuses on “People” by training trusted messengers across communities to encourage families to talk, read, and sing with their children. “Places” by transforming everyday places like laundromats, grocery stores, health clinics, libraries, and playgrounds into spaces that promote language and literacy. And “Resources” by putting high-quality books and early learning resources directly into the hands of families.
United Way of Pennsylvania is thrilled to partner in this work by engaging our network of local United Ways to create activations in their own communities. From 2025 through 2027, the campaign aims to reach 250 activations statewide by the end of 2026, aligning with the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
For the first year, the campaign piloted in six local United Way regions including Titusville Region; Lycoming County; Wyoming Valley; Southern Alleghenies; Capital Region; and Bucks County. Together, over 480 trusted messengers were trained across the Commonwealth, more than 22 public spaces were transformed into early learning environments, and more than 36,000 books and resources were distributed to children and families.
Now, Cohort 2 will expand the effort in six footprints through United Ways in Clarion County; Pocono Mountains; Susquehanna Valley; Southern Chester County; Southwestern Pennsylvania; and Carlisle and Cumberland Counties.
Together with our partners and local United Ways, we are strengthening youth literacy and helping ensure more children enter school ready to learn.