Your Gift Helps Kids Read

Every Reader Gets Us Closer.

In Winnebago County, only 1 in 3 kids in 3rd grade are reading at grade level. This gap will not close on it's own.

Reading levels are a key indicator of long-term academic success, high school graduation rates, and future earning potential, with 3rd-grade reading proficiency being a critical milestone. United Way Rock River Valley is working toward a Bold Goal: 75% of Winnebago County third-graders reading at grade level by 2034. Your gift is how we get there.

Our Team

Our Team

At United Way Rock River Valley, our work is guided by both a dedicated internal team and an engaged Board of Directors who share a deep commitment to Winnebago County. 

Together, we bring a balance of professional expertise, community knowledge, and lived experience to everything we do. Our staff leads the day-to-day work—developing strategy, building partnerships, and mobilizing resources—while our Board is made up of local leaders who offer insight, perspective, and governance rooted in a strong understanding of our community’s needs. 

Childhood Literacy Programs

YOUTH OPPORTUNITY

We're Focused on Improving Childhood Literacy in Rockford and Winnebago County

If children are the future, their now matters.

Literacy is key. At United Way Rock River Valley, Youth Opportunity means helping children build the reading skills they need early, so they can succeed in school and in life.

United Way Rock River Valley

United is the Way We Thrive.

United Way of Rock River Valley is a nonprofit organization that has provided foundational support to the Winnebago County area for over 100 years - and has adapted to address the ever-changing needs of our beautiful community.

Continue reading to learn how we maximize the local impact of your investment and the steps we take to make it a reality.