What we're doing
In Winnebago County, only 33% of our 3rd graders can read at grade level or above. United Way is working with 25 local agencies to change this staggering statistic. We are utilizing the power of collective impact to remove barriers to literacy, thereby lifting our whole community! A reading community decreases poverty, increases a viable workforce, reduces crime, and brings strong mental health.
Why does a low literacy rate matter?
- Health - The inability to read accounts for $282 billion per year nationally due to low use of preventative services and the misunderstanding of medical instructions. (American Journal of Public Health)
- Employment - Higher paying jobs are unattainable to those who are illiterate. (2019 Bureau of Labor Statistics)
- Crime - 60% of people in prison cannot read; 85% of youth offenders struggle to read. (The Literacy Project Foundation)
- Poverty - 43% of adults with the lowest literacy live in poverty. (National Institute of Literacy)
- Generational literacy - 68% of 4th graders read below proficient level, 82% are from low-income homes. (Annie E. Casey Foundation)
Help us prepare every child to enter kindergarten ready to succeed and to promote their reading ability through 3rd grade and beyond!
- A $20 donation provides six books to a child between the ages of 0-5
- A $100 donation provides six books to five children between the ages of 0-5
- A $200 donation provides six books to ten children between the ages of 0-5
Want more information on how to support literacy in our community? Email info@unitedwayrrv.org or call 815-968-5400.