Fighting for 70% of 3rd Graders to Read on Grade Level by 2025.
Education is the cornerstone of individual and community success. It is essential to getting and keeping a job with a livable wage and health benefits, and it is fundamental to a community’s economic prosperity: a well-educated workforce attracts world-class jobs.
United Way of Pickens County seeks to help children and youth achieve their potential through education and has established a bold goal that 70% of 3rd graders will be reading on grade level by 2025.
We partner with the local community to ensure that:
- Children begin school ready to learn.
- Young children achieve their academic potential.
- Parents and guardians are engaged in their child’s education and focus on their academic success.
- Parents and guardians are engaged in their child’s intellectual, emotional and social growth.
Camp iRock
United Way of Pickens County has partnered with the School District of Pickens County and the Pickens County YMCA to address summer learning loss through Camp iRock. Camp iRock is a summer program for struggling readers in rising 1st - 4th grades with a proven success record. Learn more.
Preschool Pages
Women United's signature program, Preschool Pages, is a partnership with local elementary schools to support the development of early literacy skills in preschoolers in the community. Young children and their caregivers participate in story time and related crafts and activities which helps these young learners develop important early literacy skills while learning that school is a safe and nurturing place. You can support children by donating books or funds for books, ensuring that each child can take a book home from the program to build their home library. Learn more.
Born Learning
United Way of Pickens County has joined the United Ways of the Upstate Born Learning partnership with other Upstate United Ways, in order to collaborate on increasing public awareness about the importance of early childhood development in the Upstate. The collaboration will provide resources for parents and caregivers and generate awareness among the public and public policy leaders. Learn more.
Bright By Text
Bright By Text is a free subscription based texting service, in partnership with Pickens County First Steps, which promotes the learning, development and health of children prenatal through eight years old. Bright By Text provides two to four text messages per week on topics such as brain development, games and activities, health and wellness, STEM, safety, and more. Parents and caregivers with children under 8 can text the word SCKIDS to 27448 to sign up. Learn more.
Contact
For more information about the Education programs offered through United Way of Pickens County, contact Karen Culley, 864-850-7094, ext. 102.