United Way National Day of Action Launches Effort to Recruit One Million Volunteer Readers, Tutors and Mentors
ALEXANDRIA, Va., June 21, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- United Way Worldwide today officially launched an effort during the fourth annual United Way Day of Action to recruit one million volunteer readers, tutors and mentors.
(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110504/MM95810LOGO)
To kick off this initiative, United Way and Target, with additional support from the Annie E. Casey Foundation, are bringing together more than 1,000 volunteers on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. to assemble 50,000 summer reading backpacks for elementary school children. Research shows low-income students lose about two months of achievement in reading during the summer, while their middle-class counterparts actually make gains. Backpacks will include books for children and resources for parents, including tips on how to make reading more interesting and fun to keep kids reading through the summer.
Volunteers will be joined by Capitol Hill staff; elected officials; local broadcast personalities; Brian Gallagher, president and CEO of United Way Worldwide; Laysha Ward, president of Target Community Relations and Target Foundation; and Kyle Zimmer, president & CEO, First Book.
"We know that education is the cornerstone to a productive and successful life. This year's Day of Action combined with United Way's commitment to recruit one million volunteer readers, tutors and mentors underscores how much a community can do for the education of America's young people," said Brian Gallagher, president and CEO, United Way Worldwide.
United Way and Target have long-standing commitments to education. United Way is making this major volunteer pledge in response to its goal to cut by half the number of young people who drop out of high school and the findings from its recent report, Voices for the Common Good: America Speaks out on Education. This report is based on United Way's community listening tour, focus groups and a national survey which found that that 91 percent of respondents believe that communities must take a greater responsibility for what's happening with our children. Target is focusing a significant portion of its philanthropic giving to helping U.S. students read proficiently by the end of third grade through programs like Target School Library Makeovers and Read Across America.
"Education is at the heart of Target's giving and we are compelled to do more to ensure our students are reaching critical milestones on the path to graduation, including the ability to read proficiently by the end of third grade," said Laysha Ward, president of Target Community Relations and Target Foundation. "Target is proud to support United Way's Day of Action and its efforts to improve education outcomes for students."
Each June 21 – the longest day of the year – local United Ways across the country host Day of Action events that bring people together to volunteer in their communities. This year, more than 200 communities in all 50 states will mobilize volunteers for projects focused on education, income and health. At the national event, volunteers from Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maryland, New Jersey and Virginia will assemble the 50,000 backpacks after unpacking and sorting 150,000 books from nonprofit organization First Book.
To take part in United Way's effort to recruit one million volunteer readers, tutors and mentors, please visit liveunited.org/volunteer. To access the Voices for the Common Good: America Speaks Out on Education report, please visit liveunited.org/report. To see educational outcomes and how they affect other conditions in your community, see the Common Good Forecaster (TM), at http://liveunited.org/forecaster, a web-based tool created by United Way and the American Human Development Project (AHDP).
About United Way
United Way is a worldwide network in 40 countries and territories, including more than 1,200 local organizations in the U.S. It advances the common good, creating opportunities for a better life for all by focusing on the three key building blocks of education, income and health. United Way recruits people and organizations who bring the passion, expertise and resources needed to get things done. LIVE UNITED® is a call to action for everyone to become a part of the change. For more information about United Way, please visit: LIVEUNITED.org.
About Target
Minneapolis-based Target Corporation (NYSE: TGT) serves guests at 1,755 stores in 49 states nationwide and at Target.com. In addition, the company operates a credit card segment that offers branded proprietary credit card products. Since 1946, Target has given 5 percent of its income through community grants and programs; today, that giving equals more than $3 million a week. For more information about Target's commitment to corporate responsibility, visit Target.com/hereforgood.
Media Contacts: Sal Fabens
703-836-7112 ext. 401
[email protected]
Tess Alberts
202-326-1779
SOURCE United Way Worldwide
WANT YOUR COMPANY'S NEWS FEATURED ON PRNEWSWIRE.COM?
Newsrooms &
Influencers
Digital Media
Outlets
Journalists
Opted In
Share this article