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United Way is pleased to announce the availability of Kindergarten Readiness Toolkits for organizations and groups located in Erie County who serve families with children under 5.

The Toolkits include Alphabet Cards, Number Cards, Wooden Blocks, Crayons, Activity Pad, Kindergarten, Here I Come! Book, Building Blocks for Babies and a variety of resources. They are free of charge to those interested and available upon request while supplies last.

A completed form emailed to Stephanie King, Director of Education is required. If you need additional information please contact Stephanie at (814) 456-2937 ext. 231.

Download and complete Toolkit Request Form

Family stability is vital to children’s success in school. A child is affected not only by their school environment, but also by what happens out of school, especially at home. Here’s how United Way of Erie County provides resources to help families become and stay stable.

United Way of Erie County understands that education is the key to breaking the cycle of poverty. That’s why we focus on student success, from birth, providing the resources and supports so all local children have the opportunity to succeed in school… and in life.

United Way of Erie County has transitioned from the isolated impact approach to the collective impact framework to address the complex challenge of breaking the cycle of poverty in our community.

THEN.

For more than 100 years, United Way of Erie County operated in what is often referred to as a “transaction” based model. That is, we raised monies from the community and allocated it to a relatively small number of programs run by partner organizations.

The Emergency Food and Shelter Program began in 1983 with a $50 million federal appropriation. The program was created by Congress to help meet the needs of hungry and homeless people throughout the United States and its territories by allocating federal funds for the provision of food and shelter.

Chronic Absenteeism is missing 10% or more of the school year – including both excused and unexcused absences. This equates to 18 days per school year, or just 2 days per month.

Thanks to the nearly 200 volunteers who helped United Way pack 1,500 backpacks with supplies during the 2019 School Supply Pack-A-Thon! Thanks to the generosity of those who participated in the event, more students in Erie County will have the tools they need to succeed this school year! That's LIVING UNITED!

The Community Impact Coordinator is an organized, detail-oriented individual. They work with the Vice President, Community Impact; Manager, Community Impact and Director of Education to coordinate all aspects of United Way’s community impact work.

United Way of Erie County has announced that Gwendolyn White is the 2019 Tocqueville Award recipient. The award will be presented during the organization’s Leadership Recognition Reception at the Warner Theatre on Thursday, June 20 made possible by Northwest Bank and through a grant from the William M.

United Way unveiled a pair of recycled newspaper boxes as their Little Free Library during at Ribbon Cutting Ceremony on May 21. United Way is SO happy to bring another location where children and their families can get FREE books to read in our neighborhood.

United Way and Erie’s Public Schools announce Harding and Perry Elementary as newest community schools; name corporate partner

Officials from United Way of Erie County in partnership with Erie’s Public Schools have announced Harding Elementary and Perry Elementary will be transformed into community schools, bringing the total number of schools included in the partnership to ten countywide....

United Way of Erie County announced the winners of the 2018 Campaign Incentive Prizes.

NEW BOOKS ONLY, PLEASE! 

Achievement Center
4950 W 23rd St. Erie, PA 16506
M-F 8 am-5 pm
Allstate Insurance - Matt Barczyk Agency
3309 Liberty St. Erie, PA 16508
M-F 9 am-5 pm
Ambridge Rose Spa and Salon
3344 W 26th St.

Do you still need to file your 2018 tax returns? Erie FREE Taxes has a limited number of free tax prep sites available that can help you meet the April 15, 2019 tax filing deadline. Locations:

Horan Garden Apartments, 730 Tacoma Rd. , Erie

GECAC, 18 W. 9 St.

Do you want to help crush poverty in Erie County? Do you want to play an integral role in United Way of Erie County’s Community Schools and Raising Readers initiatives?

If so, apply for our Lake Effect Leaders AmeriCorps VISTA project! Program benefits include: Relocation Allowance, Education award upon successful completion of service, Training, Childcare assistance if...

UNITED WAY AND ERIE’S PUBLIC SCHOOLS ANNOUNCE LEAD PARTNER AT DIEHL ELEMENTARY 
WITH PLANS TO HIRE SCHOOL DIRECTOROfficials from United Way of Erie County in partnership with Erie’s Public Schools are moving ahead with the transformational student success initiative known as community schools at Diehl Elementary, the organization’s eighth school countywide....

United Way of Erie County continues to facilitate the implementation of a $250,000 Erie Community Foundation Shaping Tomorrow grant focused on increasing school attendance at Community Schools in the City of Erie.

Monday, February 11 is PA 2-1-1 Day. This is a day to celebrate all of the life-changing ways United Way’s 2-1-1 helpline services the residents of Northwest Pennsylvania, and to encourage more to utilize the service available to them.

A recently published research study titled “'Dream More, Care More, Learn More, and Be More’: The Imagination Library Influencing Storybook Reading and Early Literacy,” in Reading Psychology confirms the positive impact the Imagination Library program has on kindergarten literacy.