In an ongoing effort to increase early childhood literacy across Winnebago County, United Way of Rock River Valley (UWRRV) has streamlined its 2025/26 funding approach to make support more accessible and impactful for local organizations. This year, UWRRV offered two distinct opportunities through its “United for Literacy” initiative: a Service Funding stream and a simplified Book Distribution Funding Partnership.
The change reflects both feedback from community partners and a sharper focus on delivering a measurable impact. “We want to support organizations that are doing transformative work in literacy,” said Jessica Iasparro, Director of Community Impact. “By splitting the funding process, we’re giving groups a clearer path that matches their capacity and mission.”
The New Approach
The Service Funding stream is designed for organizations receiving more than $5,000 and committed to deeply integrating literacy into their services. These partners participate in site visits, collaborate on outcome tracking, and align with UWRRV’s overarching goal—ensuring that 75% of third-grade students in Winnebago County read at or above grade level by 2034.
Meanwhile, the Book Distribution Funding Partnership provides grants of up to $5,000 for programs that enrich family literacy through book giveaways, read-alouds, and other community-based events. Reporting requirements are more flexible, and grantees can work with United Way to purchase books at discounted rates, maximizing the reach and value of their efforts.
Both streams emphasize three high-impact literacy practices: interactive read-alouds, independent reading/time with books, and increased access to books at home. Additionally, there is a strong focus on empowering parents as their children’s first teachers, especially in underserved areas.
“This isn’t just about giving out books or funding one-time events,” said Iasparro. “It’s about building a culture of literacy where families, educators, and community leaders are all working together.”
Through United for Literacy, more than 30 community partners are working side by side to tackle the literacy crisis. The approach combines grassroots engagement, strategic funding, and a shared commitment to long-term change—laying the foundation for a more literate, equitable future across the Rock River Valley.
2025-26 Funded Partners
Service Grants
- Boys & Girls Club of Rockford: Expanding book clubs, storytimes, and independent reading. Staff will facilitate gathering data on children’s progression.
- Brightpoint: Supporting literacy work and events within the Crisis Nursery.
- Easterseals: Onsite Literacy Specialist to work with parents as well as provide literacy kits.
- Harlem School District:
1. Preschool for All: Partner with families and community members to foster academic and social-emotional learning success in preschoolers
2. Prenatal to 3 Prevention Initiative: In-home support for families before their children enter school - Regional Office of Education: Science of Reading training for K-3rd grade teachers.
- Rockford Public Library: Provide training for other partners, parents, and volunteers for United for Literacy programming.
- Rockford Public Schools (RPS 205): Literacy events through RPS’s Prevention Initiative program to involve dads in literacy.
- YMCA of Rock River Valley: Five site pilots revising Kids Care afterschool program to include intentional literacy instruction from certified teachers.
- YWCA of Northwestern Illinois: Supporting 86 childcare facilities with interactive reading modeling, books, and literacy kits for over 1,000 kids monthly.
Book Distribution Grants
- Alignment Rockford
1. Newborn Basics Kits: given to new moms and incorporates
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library
2. Ready to Learn Book Spaces: books to sustain current spaces - Brooke Road United Methodist Church: Books to continue Reader’s Night In and Reader’s Weekend (family)
at Brooke Road Community Center. - Durand Charm: Incorporating literacy into numerous community events, supporting classrooms with books.
- Junior League of Rockford: Books for existing vending machines and family literacy nights.
- Severson Dells: Books to supplement year-round STEM & science programs.
- South Beloit School District: Books to support early childhood and elementary classrooms.
- Trinity Day Care
1. Books and activities
2. Books for all to build home libraries
3. Preschool to age 8 family literacy nights
4. Toddler to 2 family literacy nights - Jackson Charter School: Books for supporting classrooms.
- YMCA of Rock River Valley: Books for Childrens’ Learning Center classrooms.