Education is the cornerstone of individual and community success. It is essential to getting and keeping a job with a livable wage and health benefits, and it is fundamental to a community’s economic prosperity: a well-educated workforce attracts world-class jobs.

United Way of Pickens County seeks to help children and youth achieve their potential through education and has established a bold goal that 70% of 3rd graders will be reading on grade level by 2025.

Your gift to support United Way's educational initiatives ensures that:

• Children begin school ready to learn.
• Young children achieve their academic potential.
• Parents and guardians are focused on their child's academic success and are engaged in their child’s intellectual, emotional and social growth.

Camp iRock

United Way of Pickens County has partnered with the School District of Pickens County, the Pickens County YMCA, and the Call Me MiSTER Program to address summer learning loss through Camp iRock. Camp iRock is a summer program for struggling readers in rising Kindergarten - 4th grades with a proven success record. Learn more.

Preschool Pages

Women United's signature program, Preschool Pages, is a partnership with local elementary schools to support the development of early literacy skills in preschoolers in the community. Young children and their caregivers participate in story time and related crafts and activities which helps these young learners develop important early literacy skills while learning that school is a safe and nurturing place. You can support children by donating books or funds for books, ensuring that each child can take a book home from the program to build their home library. Learn more.

Reading Buddies

In partnership with the School District of Pickens County, United Way Reading Buddy volunteers provide extra support to students who need it, both during Camp iRock and throughout the school year. Reading Buddy volunteers spend time with students on a regular basis to help them improve their literacy skills and inspire a love of reading and books. Reading Buddies provide encouragement as a child succeeds, and model through their own actions that reading is fun! Learn more.

Born Learning

United Way of Pickens County has joined the United Ways of the Upstate Born Learning partnership with other Upstate United Ways, in order to collaborate on increasing public awareness about the importance of early childhood development in the Upstate.  The collaboration will provide resources for parents and caregivers and generate awareness among the public and public policy leaders. Learn more.

Bright By Text

Bright By Text is a free subscription based texting service, in partnership with Pickens County First Steps, which promotes the learning, development and health of children prenatal through eight years old. Bright By Text provides two to four text messages per week on topics such as brain development, games and activities, health and wellness, STEM, safety, and more. Parents and caregivers with children under 8 can text the word SCKIDS to 27448 to sign up. Learn more.

2024-2025 COMMUNITY IMPACT GRANT AWARDS

The volunteer driven Education Impact Council received and reviewed grant requests from the community to fund high quality programs that further United Way's mission to improve 3rd grade reading. The following programs were approved for 2024-2025.

East End Elementary: Brilliant Bulldog Den

The Brilliant Bulldog Den program will kick off with a “One School, One Book” event, where families spend an evening learning about the book, The Wild Robot, and the theme of “Dive In and Explore.” Families will engage with Scaly Adventures, dinner, and literacy stations that relate to the book. The whole school will celebrate reading the book and compete in challenges for 30 days. This grant includes providing every student with a book, and literacy kits, along with follow up engagement nights to support literacy growth.

McKissick Academy: Parents as Learners

PALS program (Parents as Learners) will hold evening events for parents to address their child’s reading (family literacy, getting ready to read, growing readers, and reading and writing at home).  There will be incentives for parents to attend.  Parents with children K-3rd grade can attend.  The grant also will include after-school tutoring for struggling readers. 

Pickens County First Steps: Reach Out and Read

Expansion of Reach Out and Read program to two additional pediatric offices in Pickens County.  Reach Out and Read is an evidence-based national pediatric literacy program through which pediatricians, as part of routine primary care for young children, are trained to offer parents anticipatory guidance about the importance of reading aloud.  Free books are given to young patients to take home.

Six Mile Elementary: Flat Stanley and His Worldwide Adventures

The Flat Stanley Worldwide Adventures program offers an enriching opportunity for third-grade students to embark on literary journeys while virtually exploring the world. Students will immerse themselves in diverse cultures and traditions from around the globe through the power of reading, and gain experiences they might not otherwise encounter. The program includes guest speakers, souvenirs, culturally diverse food, clothing, traditions, virtual field trips, and other engaging activities to make the stories come alive for the students. Students also receive books from the series to take home to grow their home library and increase their love of reading.