Now more than ever, your neighbors need you.
And by giving through your child's school's United Way Campaign, you can help them.
Many of your neighbors are hurting, and they’re looking for a way out.
They need YOU to help them.
The neighbor you help could be someone you pass on the street, at the grocery story, or in the carline at school. They may even be a child in your school.
For the child you pass in the hallway, shoulders slumped and eyes cast downward, who is falling behind in school and feels like a failure… you can restore her confidence and save her from falling farther behind.
For the hardworking husband you pass in the grocery store who works multiple jobs but still struggles to keep food on the table and a roof over his family’s heads… you can equip him with the tools, skills, and resources he needs to get back on his feet and live a financially stable life.
For the neighbor next door who has endured tragedy and trauma and doesn’t know if there’s a way out… you can give her resources to cope, heal, and thrive.
Through your gift to the United Way campaign, you will provide your neighbors with education, financial stability, and basic needs… three building blocks to a good quality of life.
Please make your pledge today to help your neighbors. They are counting on you.
For more information, about your school's campaign, contact:
Your school's Team Captain
Lyndy Schonhar, United Way of Pickens County
Darian Byrd, School District of Pickens County
Learn more about United Way below.
Pathways: Manage Your Money. Change Your Future.
In an effort to achieve our financial stability goal of ensuring that 3,000 families and individuals will find a pathway out of poverty by 2030, United Way of Pickens County established the Pathways program.
Pathways is a 6-18 month intensive, one-on-one financial coaching program designed to equip hardworking, low-income individuals and families with the skills, assistance, knowledge, and resources necessary to achieve freedom over their finances. Financial coaching sessions focus on budgeting, debt management, asset-building, credit and more.
Participants are Pickens County residents who have transitioned out of crisis assistance and are willing to commit time and effort to improve their finances. Program participants are primarily accepted through a referral process, in partnership with local human service agencies.
For more information or to volunteer with the Pathways program, please contact Teresa Nash, 864-850-7094 x106.
Camp iRock: A 3rd Grade Reading Program that Works
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.
Camp iRock is a proven program designed to help meet this bold goal.
A partnership between United Way of Pickens County, the School District of Pickens County, the YMCA of Easley, Pickens and Powdersville, and the Clemson University Call Me MiSTER Program, Camp iRock is an innovative and award winning summer program which helps children improve their reading abilities in an enriching summer camp environment. In the spring, the School District of Pickens County identifies students who could use a boost in their reading abilities and sends their families an invitation to attend Camp iRock.
Like so many other programs, Camp iRock looked very different last summer. But through the incredible support of donors in this community, and the amazing creativity, flexibility and expertise of Camp iRock teachers and staff, Camp iRock continued to be a program that works. You can read the 2021 report here to learn more:
You Can Do Something BIG
3rd grade reading levels predict nearly every societal problem you can imagine. Reading on grade level is so critical to our community's future that United Way of Pickens County has set a bold goal of ensuring that at least 70% of Pickens County 3rd graders will read at grade level by 2025. We know this is achievable because you have proven that you are willing to invest in programs that work. Camp iRock is one of those programs that work. Will you make sure that one struggling reader is able to benefit from the Camp iRock experience next summer?
- $27 provides one child's home library of their favorite books
- $52 provides one magical day of Camp iRock for one child
- $260 provides one spectacular week of Camp iRock for one child
- $520 provides two amazing weeks of Camp iRock for one child
- $2,080 provides a full life-changing summer at Camp iRock for one child
"Camp iRock is the best thing for a struggling kid."
As a baby, Dottie would crawl away from her parents when they tried to read books to her. Reading was never something she enjoyed, and was never something she thought she could do well. Camp iRock changed all of that, and it nearly brought her father to tears to talk about the transformation. Hear Dottie and her parents tell their story by clicking on the video below.
What Others are Saying
We are in the process of adopting two children through the foster care system. When we first met the children, they had been living in cars and motels. Reading was a tremendous struggle because they had very little knowledge. Thank God they got into Camp iRock. They are ready and waiting for the bus at least 30 minutes before it is due. Both children have made tremendous progress at Camp iRock.
-Camp iRock parent
I cannot think of a better team of dedicated professionals. They have transformed the way our school district addresses this dire need in our community. They have developed a model that helps our students in ways we could have never thought possible. I am very proud.
-Dr. Brian Swords, Director, member of the School District of Pickens County Board of Trustees
The Camp iRock model illustrates how a community can collaborate to improve reading achievement for struggling students. The collaboration between the School District of Pickens County, United Way of Pickens County, the local YMCA and Clemson University's Call Me Mister Program maximizes the resources and assets of the community. The state needs more examples of such collaboration to help struggling learners get back on the path to academic success. Camp iRock is unlocking a child's ability to learn and read, and thus helping to ensure that one day, they will be graduating college and career ready.
-South Carolina Education Oversight Committee
We took our granddaughter into our home because her mother couldn't care for her. She barely passed 1st grade and most likely would be held back in 2nd grade. Then she went to Camp iRock. Honestly, in the beginning she really struggled with the reading and wanted to quit. But she LOVED the camp part. That is what kept her going. By the end of the summer she was a different kid. Her first report card arrived today. All A's and B's for the first time in her life. There are no words to describe how excited she was.
-Camp iRock grandparent
What I love most about Camp iRock is the reading. The Y counselors are really cool. When I don't know a hard word, everybody helps me figure it out. It's awesome. I've really improved my reading a lot. My favorite field trip was the Clemson Botanical Garden. I learned all about this black and white butterfly.
-Camp iRock camper
It's exciting to me to see how much the children have accomplished. They have made so much progress in listening, comprehension and sharing what they've learned. Now they can't wait to read!
-Camp iRock teacher
FINANCIAL STABILITY PROGRAMS
UNITED WAY BOLD GOAL: Fight for 3,000 neighbors to develop a pathway out of poverty by 2030.
Pathways
Providing long term, intensive one-on-one financial coaching for hardworking people who are eager to work hard to learn to manage their money and end generational poverty. Learn more.
Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program
Providing free, in-person tax preparation services for individuals and households with an annual incomne of approximately $60,000 or less. Learn more.
Workforce Development
Removing the gaps and barriers that exist for low-income individuals to enter the workforce and attain and retain family-sustaining employment. Learn more.
AmeriCorps
Impacting low-wage earners who need financial literacy instruction and assistance with increasing their personal incomes, building savings, and gaining assets through the Dollars and Sense Initiative. Learn more.
EDUCATION PROGRAMS
UNITED WAY BOLD GOAL: Fight for 70% of 3rd graders to read on grade level by 2025.
Camp iRock
Impacting below grade level readers in rising 1st – 4th grade identified by their teachers based on reading test scores, socio-economic status and other factors. Learn more.
Preschool Pages
Women United's signature program supports elementary schools providing early literacy programs for toddlers and their caregivers, impacting kindergarten readiness. Learn more.
Upstate Born Learning Partnership
Encouraging caregivers to take advantage of everyday learning opportunities through outdoor Born Learning trails and early childhood education promotion. Learn more.
BASIC SERVICES PROGRAMS
2-1-1 Information and Referral Help Line
Impacting all residents of Pickens County who need information about and referral to community social services. Learn more.
Get Connected
Impacting Pickens County residents who want to volunteer, and agencies that are searching for volunteers. Learn more.
Ron Webber Fund
Supporting homeless and impoverished children through the School District of Pickens County. Learn more.