United Way, Indiana's NewsCenter and area McDonald's are teaming up to provide local children in need with school supplies. Drop off new school supplies at local McDonald's and receive a free small coffee or beverage. All supplies will go to children living in the county in which the supplies are donated. Download the flyer for more information.

 

United Way of Allen County’s Learn United initiative is in search of volunteers to help elementary students improve their literacy skills over the summer. “Summer Reading Buddies” are needed June 14 through August 13 at a variety of times and locations. Volunteers may sign up for as little as one hour a week for two weeks, and as much as several hours a week read more...

Volunteer just 30 minutes of your time and be a Preschool Story Friend!  As a Story Friend you will be reading books with young children, in a small group, or one-on-one, in an early childhood setting. You will be helping the children develop their early literacy skills as you share your time and love of books and reading with them.

To find Preschool opportunities, click on the Volunteer button, then click SEARCH.  Choose to search read more...

In March, 3rd graders will take the writing portion of ISTEP. Students who struggle with reading, struggle with writing. This 7 week volunteer opportunity will help prepare 3rd graders for ISTEP and improve the writing skills of younger children.

Register here to be a Writing Coach!

If you've already registered as a Learn United volunteer, just sign in and select the Writing Coach opportunity, or contact 469-4030.

A volunteer coordinator will assist you in read more...

If your company hosts a Study Connection site, you can help by growing your site!  Use the link below and recruit more employees to volunteer. It's just 1 hour a week and the students come to you! It can't get any easier.

Study Connection is an after school program through Fort Wayne Community Schools.

Register Here

Join community partners for a the 5th annual Rally to Read from 11a-2p on September 26th

This family event takes place on the Hanna-Creighton campus, located around the Fort Wayne Urban League and Pontiac Library.

Lots of activities for kids and families! Free books, free food, entertainment and lots of fun!

At the end of the day, there will be drawings for complete reading rooms, including books and furniture.

On October 8th, Real Men Read volunteers will go back to school!  The men visit 2nd and 3rd grade classrooms on the second Thursday of October, November, January, February and March.  Volunteers read with students and model the importance of literacy.  They help students build important literacy skills in a fun way. 

Real Men Read was designed to address the fact that less than half of low-income boys are passing 3rd grade reading.  read more...

Register today to volunteer at Learn United sites throughout our community.  Be part of the 1000 volunteers needed this year to help close the 3rd grade reading gap.

Volunteers are trained to work with small groups of struggling readers, 2-3 students at a time, on specific literacy skills.  Anyone can do this!  You don't need any special education, just a willingness to help kids learn to read.

Sites include volunteering during the school day at read more...

Staff members from Barnes & Noble Glenbrook and United Way of Allen County celebrated the holidays with more than 45 children from the Urban League’s after-school program, and about 15 participants from another Urban League program that helps children who have lost a loved one. Each child received several free books donated to United Way through Barnes & Noble's book drive.

Donations can still be made at Barnes & Noble Glenbrook through the end of read more...

FORT WAYNE (November 21, 2008) – United Way of Allen County, joined by representatives of the Allen County Education Partnership, Fort Wayne Community Schools, East Allen County Schools and many local organizations, today launched a ten-year reading initiative called Learn United.

Learn United is an effort to close the third grade reading achievement gap in Allen County within the next decade. United Way defines the reading gap as the difference between the read more...