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TOGETHER
WE ARE BUILDING UP
WHAT’S BEEN TORN DOWN
UNITED WAY’S STAR READERS PROJECT
We know that kids who don’t read at grade level by
the end of third grade are 70 percent more likely to
drop out of high school. That’s because through
third grade, kids are learning to read. From fourth
grade on, they’re reading to learn.
This past year: 693 K-3 students in our project were
struggling with reading. Now 40% are reading at
grade level.
UNITED WAY’S $EN$E-ABILITY PROJECT
Right now, 30% of local households can’t meet their
basic needs or plan for the future, and the outlook
is even worse for foster youth. A big reason is that
people lack financial education and tools like banking.
This past year: 88% of adults in our project are
showing better financial skills and have savings
accounts. 90% of foster youth are earning money
toward matched savings accounts.
UNITED WAY’S FIT KIDS PROJECT
A third of youth are overweight or obese, and nearly
a quarter of adults are too. That’s because many
families in underserved neighborhoods lack access
to healthy food and haven’t learned that exercise
can be fun.
This past year: 3,371 kids learned that healthy food
tastes good and exercise is fun, and 82% of them
improved in at least one area on the school test that
measures physical fitness.