UNITED WAY OF GREATER CHARLOTTESVILLE

SCHOOL READINESS: RECOGNIZING THE CRUCIAL ROLE OF EDUCATION IN BUILDING ECONOMIC INDEPENDENCE TO BREAK THE CYCLE OF POVERTY, ENVISION FOCUSES ON STRENGTHENING SCHOOL READINESS AMONG ECONOMICALLY-DISADVANTAGED CHILDREN TO PREPARE FOR A LIFE OF ACADEMIC SUCCESS. AS SUCH, THIS INITIATIVE BUILDS SYSTEMS AT THE COMMUNITY LEVEL TO ENSURE EVERY CHILD AND FAMILY HAS ACCESS TO HIGH-QUALITY EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION. THE ORGANIZATION'S FIVE-YEAR STRATEGIC GOAL IS TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF KINDERGARTENERS FROM ECONOMICALLY-DISADVANTAGED FAMILIES WHO PASS DEVELOPMENTAL BENCHMARKS BY 10% BY 2027, AND INCREASE THE NUMBER OF BLACK KINDERGARTENERS WHO PASS THE BENCHMARKS BY 20% WITHIN THIS TIME PERIOD.STRATEGIES AND PROGRAMS INCLUDE:1. GRANTMAKING AND FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES TO PARTNERS FOCUSED ON DECREASING THE OPPORTUNITY GAP FOR AT-RISK CHILDREN UNDER AGE FIVE.2. EARLY EDUCATION: EXPANDS ACCESS AND HIGH-QUALITY SERVICES FOR ALL CHILDREN AGES ZERO TO FIVE. THE UNITED WAY, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE VIRGINIA EARLY CHILDHOOD FOUNDATION AS THE DESIGNATED LEAD AGENCY FOR READY REGIONS BLUE RIDGE, ADMINISTERS GRANTS FOR THE FOLLOWING PROGRAMS: MIXED DELIVERY, VIRGINIA QUALITY BIRTH-TO-FIVE (VQB5), AND COORDINATED ENROLLMENT.3. EARLY LEARNERS SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM: SUPPORTS FAMILIES WHO ARE WORKING TOWARD FINANCIAL STABILITY BY ELIMINATING THE BARRIER OF THE COST OF EARLY EDUCATION AND CARE AND PLACES CHILDREN IN HIGH-QUALITY SETTINGS TO MINIMIZE THE IMPACT OF POVERTY AND OTHER DETERMINANTS THAT IMPACT A CHILD'S ABILITY TO ARRIVE AT SCHOOL READY TO LEARN.

CONNECTED COMMUNITY: THE UNITED WAY PROVIDES ACCESS TO RELATIONSHIPS AND NETWORKS THAT CAN HELP FAMILIES SCALE ECONOMICALLY, AND CREATES OPPORTUNITIES FOR COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO EXPERIENCE IMPACT AND CONNECTION THROUGH VOLUNTEERISM, MEDIA, AND STORYTELLING. THE ORGANIZATION'S FIVE-YEAR STRATEGIC GOAL IS TO BUILD A MORE CONNECTED COMMUNITY THROUGH A DEEPENED UNDERSTANDING OF RACE AND EQUITY. STRATEGIES AND PROGRAMS INCLUDE:1. DAY OF CARING: A DAY OF COMMUNITY SERVICE IN SEPTEMBER THAT PROMOTES VOLUNTEERISM BY CONNECTING LOCAL BUSINESSES, CIVIC GROUPS, AND AREA CITIZENS TO NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS AND SCHOOLS.2. VOLUNTEER CENTER: CONNECTS POTENTIAL VOLUNTEERS WITH NONPROFIT AGENCIES AND SCHOOLS.3. DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION: IMPLEMENTS AND MANAGES THE INCLUSIVE EXCELLENCE FRAMEWORK TO SUPPORT AN ORGANIZATIONAL CULTURE OF EQUITY AND TO PROVIDE EQUITY GRANTS TO COMMUNITY AGENCIES.4. SOCIAL EQUITY INITIATIVES: ENVISION RADIO/PODCAST, ENVISION FORUM, BLACK BUSINESS GUIDE, AND LEVERAGING PARTNERSHIPS TO AMPLIFY COMMUNITY VOICES THAT SUPPORT THE ENVISION INITIATIVE.