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 then 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, 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 1000 students in 2018. 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.
