Friday Report No. 5
October 20, 2017

Recent Campaigns

Baptist Memorial Hospital-Booneville
CATCH Kids, Inc.
Franks, Franks, Jarrell & Wilemon, PA
Hunter Douglas, Inc.
North Mississippi State Hospital
OB-GYN Associates
Reed Manufacturing Company
Renasant Insurance
Sprint Print/Harden Enterprises, Inc.
Toyota Boshoku Mississippi, LLC

Recent Corporate Gifts

Booneville Womans Club
Reed Manufacturing Company
Shannon & Graham Eye Clinic
Three Rivers Planning and Development District

Upcoming & Ongoing Campaigns

BancorpSouth Jackson Street Campus Buildings A & C
BancorpSouth Mantachie
Comfort Revolution
Eagle Capital
Heritage Memorial Funding
Magnolia Business Centre
North American Pipe
Pappi's Garage
Renasant Main Branch
Rite-Kem
Shannon Elementary School
Timberlake 
Tishomingo County Elementary

The READ First Coalition

You probably saw the new school rankings that were released today for our schools across Northeast Mississippi. You can read more about that at Djournal.com .

These rankings are important, but another very important metric is the 3rd grade reading assessment. And United Way is leading the charge to address grade-level reading in Northeast Mississippi.

Children who score poorly on the 3rd grade reading assessment are 4 times more likely not to earn a diploma and 3.5 times more likely to be incarcerated.

The coalition has identified 3 factors that affect children's ability to read on grade level:
1. kindergarten readiness
2. chronic absenteeism
3. summer learning loss (the summer slide)

All of these factors are exacerbated by poverty. 
The relationship-building that United Way and Excel By 5 have been doing between the school districts, Head Start, and childcare centers is a huge first step to addressing kindergarten readiness. Sharing information, resources, and training will help childcare centers and Head Start to better prepare their four-year-olds for kindergarten.

Next on the agenda is addressing chronic absenteeism and summer slide.

United Way is so excited to be leading the way with this initiative. We know that when our children succeed, we all benefit. Our communities are stronger, healthier, more stable, and economically sound.

We hope you will join with us in the fight to help all children read on grade level! You can learn more about the issues at www.gradelevelreading.net 

Want to get involved? You can join the coalition by contacting Shelly Brooks at shelly@unitedwaynems.org or 662-432-0170. Or make an investment in education at unitedwaynems.org/donate or by texting GIVEUW to 40403.

Enroll in Kroger Community Rewards to support the United Way Back 2 School Fairs!

Text UWNEMS to 50503 to join our text list. 
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