Every child in Pickens County deserves to walk into kindergarten ready to learn and leave third grade ready for the rest of their life. United Way of Pickens County invests in education programs that make that possible.
Education Programs That Change Lives in Pickens County
We believe that reading is the foundation of everything. When a child learns to read, doors open. When they struggle, doors close- often before anyone realizes it. That's why we invest in education programs that reach children at every stage, from their very first book to the moment they cross the third grade finish line as confident readers.
CAMP iROCK
Pickens County's summer reading program helps struggling readers build skills, confidence, and connections that last a lifetime.
PRESCHOOL PAGES
Women United's signature program gives Pickens County toddlers and their caregivers the tools to walk into kindergarten confident, curious, and ready to learn.
BORN LEARNING
Simple, research-based activities delivered to parents and caregivers help young children learn and grow every day, building the foundation for lifelong success.
LANTERN
Free, research-based text messages delivered weekly give parents and caregivers of children prenatal through age eight practical tips on brain development, health, STEM, and more. Text SCKIDS to 27448 to sign up.
INVESTING IN WHAT WORKS
Your gift also empowers our volunteer-led Education Impact Council to award grants to high-quality community programs that further our shared goal of 3rd grade reading proficiency in Pickens County. Each year, trained community volunteers review grant applications and fund programs with proven results. Learn more about our community investment process.
READ AND RISE IN PARTNERSHIP
Read and Rise in Partnership is a family-centered early literacy program being implemented at East End Elementary and McKissick Academy of Science and Technology. The program strengthens the connection between classroom instruction and literacy learning at home through monthly, hands-on family literacy workshops, researched-based strategies aligned with the Science of Reading, take-home books and literacy materials, and targeted support for students with identified literacy needs. East End will primarily focus on K-2 students, addressing needs such as phonics, word recognition, fluency, vocabulary, and informational-text comprehension, while McKissick will focus primarily on 2nd grade students, with an emphasis on phonemic awareness and phonics, particularly for multilingual learners.
PICKENS COUNTY FIRST STEPS: REACH OUT AND READ
Working through pediatric care visits, Reach Out and Read helps families build early literacy habits from birth to age five. At every well-child visit, doctors provide an age-appropriate book, model reading techniques, and encourage parents to read aloud daily. This program supports brain development, strong parent-child bonds, and early kindergarten readiness- all critical for later success in reading. The program reaches approximately 1,750 Pickens County children each year.
PICKENS COUNTY LIBRARY SYSTEM: ACTIVE READING WORKSHOPS FOR CAREGIVERS
The library's Active Reading Workshops teach parents how to read with their children, not just to them. Using the ABC's of Active Reading- Ask questions, Build vocabulary, and Connect to their world- caregivers learn practical strategies to strengthen comprehension and vocabulary. Families also receive free books to take home, along with resources to keep practicing. Workshops are held monthly in person and every other month virtually, serving up to 150 households each year.
HAVE A QUESTION?
For more information about the Education programs offered through United Way of Pickens County, contact Anna Spatafora.