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March is National Reading Month! 

United Ways in Pennsylvania are celebrating literacy skills across all ages with the Start Strong campaign. Start Strong PA is dedicated to increasing access to high-quality, affordable child care, which includes teaching infants and toddlers literacy skills from a young age in order to help them grow and succeed later in life. 

During National Reading Month, Start Strong PA and United Way have teamed up to celebrate literacy with several fun initiatives. To show your support for the campaign, feel free to try these ideas and share them with your local legislators:
  • Record & Share Toddler Stories - we all have heard the tall tales small children can tell. Ask a toddler to tell you a story (give them a specific topic) and write down or video what they say.
  • Create your own reading materials using photographs of family and friends, or other print materials. Ask your child to narrate captions for each page (or give suggestions for them to choose from, if they are not verbal)
  • Use a series of photos to tell the story of an infant/toddler reaching a developmental milestone as supported by high-quality child care, i.e. child now eats with a spoon thanks to the support of her teachers in HQ child care.
  • Visit Libraries and bookstores to browse reading materials-then post a "CHILD's NAME recommended reading list" with the books that catch your child's attention/ get pulled off the shelves.
  • Take pictures or record videos of staff and/or families engaging in literacy activities with infants and toddlers.
Local United Way's are also working to develop reading skills across PA through a variety of programs.
  • United Way of Erie County recently held a fundraiser for the Summer Slide Book Drive to purchase books for low-income children, ultimately raising $4,650 to purchase over 1,000 books for nearly 200 Erie children!
  • UW of Susquehanna County, UW of Wyoming Valley, and more are involved with REAL Men Read, a volunteer reading program that brings in MENtors and MENtor Assistants from the community to read to kindergarten students for one hour each month to help foster early literacy.
  • Greater Susquehanna Valley United Way is accepting donations for the Wee Read program, an early literacy program that allows volunteers to read and give books to children.
  • UW of Berks County is engaged with Ready.Set.Read!,  a community-wide initiative that brings together schools, businesses, organizations and individuals to improve early grade reading success.
  • UW of Lebanon County is hosting the Spring Into Reading Fest on April 27th, a literacy initiative focused on supporting literacy and reading among families and children.
  • Clearfield Area United Way's Reading Ripples program recently benefited from a book collection. To date,  the United Way has processed and distributed over 6,000 books.
PA United Ways in the News 

Pennsylvania Announces Composition of Census 2020 Complete Count Commission

United Way hosts food drive supported by NestFresh

"Senior Day of Action" Held in Lehigh Valley

Erie County United Way Recognizes Poverty Fight's 'Superheroes'

Local Organization Offering Free Financial Classes

United Way's Reading Ripples Program Benefits from Book Collection

Glass Slipper Project to be Held at Logan Valley Mall

Wegmans announces temporary price reduction on select items
Read Across America Day

Read Across America Day is an annual event led by the National Education Association on March 2 to get kids excited about reading! United Ways use this time to mobilize volunteers to celebrate Dr. Seuss' birthday and advance education by reading with young children
UPCOMING UNITED WAY EVENTS

UWP 2019 Board Meetings 
March 21, Harrisburg
June 7, State College 
September 19, Harrisburg 
December 19, Harrisburg  
 
UWP Annual Statewide Conference: Hitting the Target
June 5-7, State College  

Check Out What Your Local United Way has Going On
LIVING UNITED IN PENNSYLVANIA
United Way of Pennsylvania (UWP) is a state association representing our 48 member United Ways and United Funds across the Commonwealth. 

UWP's mission is to assist and champion the efforts of local United Ways in advancing the common good

Primarily UWP's work consists of government relations work on the policy issues affecting PA's communities in the areas of health, education, and financial stability.  In addition, UWP works with our local United Way members to support their efforts and offer support to their mission.  

Visit United Way of Pennsylvania's website
to learn more about how local United Ways are working to advance the common good

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