United Way's Educational Funding Changes Lives Every Day
A car accident last year sent 7-year-old John’s world crashing down: his father was killed, and his mother now struggles to raise him alone while caring for his ill grandmother. The stressors on the family are immense.
John’s mother had applied for state tuition assistance so she could enroll him in a quality after-school program, but the applications are so backlogged that she still hasn’t heard if she qualifies. Through United Way funding, John was able to go to a local center after school while his mother works. When he first enrolled, John's literacy skills were two levels below what they should be for a second grader. After receiving personalized instruction, he is now reading at grade level. Thanks to United Way, he was able to get the type of individualized instruction he needed. Now, he can read with confidence, and his literacy skills are one less thing his family has to worry about.