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Press Release

UNITED WAY OF CENTRAL INDIANA AND LOCAL AGENCY PARTNERS TO BE FEATURED ON AMERICAN GRADUATE DAY

13-hour nationwide education program September 28 will highlight Indy family's quality early learning experience at local day care

INDIANAPOLIS - An Indianapolis mother, child and United Way early learning professional will  be one of the featured segments nationally in American Graduate Day 2013, a public television broadcast Saturday, September 28, airing on WFYI FM 90.1 or TV 20, 11:00 am to 12 am (CT). Angi Parks and her 5-year-old daughter, Margaret Piñero, will travel to New York City for an interview on WNET New York Public Media. Their interview will be a direct feed to all participating stations as part of the second annual full-day, multi-platform event focusing on solutions to the nation's high school dropout crisis.

Parks will describe how her three children have flourished at  Little Dove Daycare, a childcare ministry of East Tenth United Methodist Children and Youth Center that United Way has helped achieve high quality in the state's Paths to QUALITY rating system. She chose the center after moving to Indianapolis from New York, and will talk about the changes she's seen in the learning environment since making what she thought was a "stop gap" choice for her oldest child.

United Way's early childhood manager Mike Bachman will join them to tell how United Way is helping expand both the supply of and demand for high quality child care  by working with providers like Little Dove. So far, United Way and its partners have made quality child care available to more than 4,300 children by helping providers upgrade facilities so they are healthy and safe and enhancing the learning and play environments so more children will be ready  to learn when they start school.

Featured on WFYI as part of  the 14 locally produced segments will be: United Way's President and CEO Ann Murtlow; Senior Vice President of Community Planning and Strategic Initiatives Jay Geshay; Director of Bridges to Success Elizabeth Odle; and Chair of United Way's Ready to Learn Ready to Earn Committee Connie Bond Stuart, PNC Bank Regional President.

Also participating will be United Way agency partners including  Boys and Girls Clubs of Indianapolis, Connected By 25, Day Nursery Association, Fathers and Families Center, Forest Manor Multi-Service Center, Girl Scouts of Central Indiana Inc., Girls Inc. of Greater Indianapolis, Goodwill Industries of Central Indiana Inc., Hawthorn Community Center, Jameson Camp, Mary Rigg  Neighborhood Center, MCCOY, Inc. and St. Mary's Child Center.

American Graduate Day 2013
uses the same format as last fall with a seven-hour “call to action” around education themes. Hosted by on-air personalities from PBS  and other media organizations, the broadcast and online event will feature a mix of live breaks and pre-taped seven-minute segments.

Viewers and online users will be invited to become American Graduate Champions by connecting with their local public television station and with United Way. Viewers will be encouraged to participate on Twitter using the hashtag #AmGrad and on Facebook. Those interested in becoming an American Graduate Champion can also call the toll free number on the day of broadcast or log on to AmericanGraduate.org to find out how to help in their hometowns.

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United Way of Central Indiana
helps people learn more, earn more and lead safe and healthy lives. United Way gets things done by mobilizing people and community partners in six Central Indiana counties to identify, advance and advocate the best solutions. LIVE UNITED is a call to action for everyone to be part of the change. Visit uwci.org to learn more.

About WFYI Public Media:
For more than four decades, WFYI Public Media has served as a center of discovery for all ages. WFYI’s diverse public radio and television programs and services provide a foundation for early learning, inspire curiosity and serve as a catalyst for lifelong learning. To learn more about WFYI Public Media’s programs and educational services, visit the station’s Website — www.wfyi.org, “like” us on Facebook, or follow along on Twitter (via @wfyi and @wfyinews).