The United Way of Delaware has supported summer reading programs through community partners, including the Boys & Girls Club of Delaware, to help students stay engaged in learning over the summer. With the current federal grant program uncertain, Michele A. Taylor, Ed.D., President and CEO of United Way of Delaware, reached out to request assistance in funding the program.
“When school lets out, many Delaware children lose more than just a classroom; they lose access to books, support, and safe spaces to keep them learning,” Taylor said. “That’s where we step in. We provide books that engage, inspire, and promote confidence that prepare students for the next school year.”
Currently, all federal grants are under review, and many agencies have been told not to expect funding for the upcoming summer. Without federal funding, Taylor explained that hundreds of children, especially those in underserved communities, could lose access to a program that helped prevent the “summer slide,” a phenomenon teachers report occurs when children are not engaged in learning during their summer break, leading to them falling behind at the beginning of the school year.
“Your gift fills the gap as it puts books into young hands and supports trained reading tutors,” Taylor said. “It creates safe, enriching places where children grow and helps prevent them from falling behind. This program is designed to help children succeed when they return to school. You have the power to give every child in Delaware a summer full of stories, growth, and possibility. It may not only change lives this summer, but for a lifetime.”
Statistics show that children who are not reading on grade level by the end of third grade are four times more likely to drop out of high school. Literacy is a growing problem in the United States, with the number of adults achieving low reading scores increasing from 19 percent in 2017 to 28 percent in 2023. Low literacy skills also put adults at risk of lower earnings, higher poverty rates, and even an increase in healthcare costs. Low literacy skills can also lead to increased stress and trauma,a as well as lower self-esteem.
Research indicates that the best way to combat low literacy rates is to intervene in early childhood, reading aloud to children at a young age, providing access to rhymes, drawing, and fostering a love of reading. There also needs to be targeted support for underserved communities, such as providing books, technology, and materials in communities with higher levels of low literacy.
Donations can be made at the United Way website. The organization has a $5,000 goal to bring books and tutors to children who need them. Donations can be one-time or set up on a monthly basis. There is also an option to give in honor or in memory of a loved one
