Ready to Read is a United Way project to encourage and increase reading to and with babies and young children.
Using funds from our project sponsors, United Way purchases age-appropriate books in bulk for children age birth to five. Books are the
n provided free to our partners at local agencies that are already serving families with young children, with an emphasis on agencies serving low-income families.
A family visiting an immunization clinic, for example, would receive a free book, and even more importantly, information on the benefits of reading to their baby or young child daily.
ADOPT A CLASSROOM PROJECT
This project connects local businesses with kindergarten classrooms in the Wausau, DC Everest, Marathon, Newman Catholic, Mosinee and Edgar school districts.
Companies adopt a classroom (or several), purchase materials and supplies, and assemble a literacy kit for each child in the class, reaching about 1,000 students in 2019. Volunteers deliver the kits and read the story to the class and then help with a gardening project focused on healthy eating. Each child receives a copy of the book, reading tips for their parents and a container garden of their very own.
Planting seeds for reading and healthy eating…watch us grow!
To learn more, watch our video.
