SAVANNAH-- United Way of the Coastal Empire hosted Read United Day across the five-county region — including Bryan, Chatham, Effingham, Liberty and Long counties — on Jan. 30. More than 1,000 volunteers read aloud to more than 20,000 students in pre-K through second grade and provided each classroom with a new book to add to its library.
Read United Day is part of Read United, a year-round series of programs designed to improve early language and literacy for all children in United Way’s service area.
“Read United Day is about more than a single moment in the classroom. It is about setting children up for long-term success,” said Cheri Dean, vice president of direct services and impact at United Way of the Coastal Empire. “The National School Boards Association reminds us that by the end of third grade, children should shift from learning to read to reading to learn. When we invest in literacy early, we are helping build stronger outcomes for students and stronger communities for all of us.”
“When children are supported early with strong literacy experiences, they are better prepared to succeed in school and beyond,” said Kimberly Waller, president and CEO of United Way of the Coastal Empire. “Thanks to our volunteers and partners, we are helping build a stronger future for our children and our community, one story at a time.”
This year’s Read United Day was made possible through the generous support of sponsors, led by premier partner WTOC and platinum sponsors Gateway Terminals, Liberty County School System and Nestlé Health Science. Gold sponsors include Colonial Group, Georgia Ports Authority, Gulfstream and Publix, with additional support from silver sponsors EOM, Georgia Power and Rotary Club of Savannah. Bronze sponsors include GAF, Great Dane, Port City Logistics and VyStar Credit Union. Friends sponsors include Rotary Club of Metropolitan Savannah and Rotary Club of Savannah East, and Live Oak Fiber is a Readers sponsor. Special thanks to Dollar General Literacy Foundation for its grant support.
For more information about Read United, visit uwce.org/read-united.
