Your gift to United Way really does make a difference.

We are committed to results, and we are committed to addressing the root causes of our most challenging issues.

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EDUCATION

ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE

STRENGTHENING NEIGHBORHOODS &
ORGANIZATIONS

STRENGTHENING YOUTH & FAMILIES

ASSISTING FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS
IN CRISIS

Education ranked #1 as the most critical issue in our community among hundreds of participants from 20 focus groups held in 2004.  As we dug deeper into the issue, 3 key areas were identified:

1.  Early Childhood Literacy - Research shows that children not reading at grade level by the 3rd grade are far less likely to graduate from high school.  This area is the foundation for our success in education.  Getting at the literacy problem early on is a long-term strategy, but absolutely critical for the future of our community.

2.  Middle-High School Boost - Making the leap from elementary school to middle school is daunting.  Students struggling in middle school can still be helped if we work hard together to give them the extra boost they need.

3.  Adult / Workforce Education - As our economy changes, so do our educational demands.  Currently, over 30% of the Danville-Pittsylvania County adults 25 and older have less than a high school education.  Over 20% have less than a 9th-grade education.  We are committed to doing our part to help address the growing need for GED training, workforce training, and higher education access.

With these early strategies as our guidepost, your 2006/07 United Way gift is working in the following programs:

Book Buddies Reading Mentors
Partners:  Danville and Pittsylvania County Public Schools, AmeriCorps, and the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research
Objective:  Improve reading skills of kids between 1st and 3rd grades who are not currently reading at grade level.

Born Learning
Partners:  Verizon Foundation, Little Life Pregnancy Center, Danville Regional Medical Center, Head Start, Healthy Families
Objective:  Teach parents (especially first-time parents) how to begin teaching their child from day one.   Every moment can become a teaching moment.  Learn more about this program at our Born Learning site.

After-School Tutoring
Partners:  Danville Church-Based Tutorial Program, The Institute for Advanced Learning and Research
Objective:  Improve the academic performance of kids who are currently struggling with one or more key school subjects by matching them with adult volunteer tutors at dozens of sites throughout the community.

Specialized Reading Instruction
Partner:  Danville Reading Center
Objective:  Assist citizens of all ages who are struggling with literacy to increase their reading and comprehension skills.

Workforce Adjustment Training
Partner:  Goodwill Industries
Objective:  Train/Retrain displaced and/or disabled workers through an on-the-job training environment.