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Press Release

United Way’s Day of Action Empowers Volunteers to Build Stronger Communities

Global event focuses on summer nutrition and learning

ALEXANDRIA, VA (June 13, 2016) – United Way is rallying thousands of people in more than 300 communities around the world to make a meaningful impact through Day of Action.

Volunteers of all ages will come together to create positive change for themselves, their families and their communities on or around June 21. Last year, more than 385 United Ways in 49 states and 21 countries mobilized tens of thousands of volunteers in their communities on Day of Action.

“Day of Action is an amazing snapshot of what our network United Ways do all year-long in each of their communities,” said Brian Gallagher, President and CEO, United Way Worldwide. “Whether by leading community-wide food drives, recruiting mentors or helping more children learn to read, this event serves as a tremendous opportunity to connect volunteers to further efforts aimed at addressing society’s most pressing social challenges and making our communities better places to live and work.” 

United Way and Kimberly-Clark’s Depend® brand are again coming together to promote volunteering as part of an active, healthy and independent lifestyle in more than 65 cities across North America. Last year their support helped United Way impact the lives of more than 310,000 people across 17 cities.

While each United Way creates meaningful activities centered on specific challenges in their communities, this year’s national focus is on summer learning and nutrition. Summer is a critical time for children’s academic and physical well-being, but in too many communities, kids are falling behind and going hungry during the summer months. Boosting summer learning – and working with schools, summer programs, employers and other non-profits – is part of United Way’s strategy to help kids succeed in school, work and life. United Ways across the country are helping kids succeed in school both during the academic year and in the summer. For example:

  • United Way of Massachusetts Bay and Merrimack Valley is helping more than 3,000 elementary students reverse summer learning loss by integrating literacy activities into summer camp programs in low-income communities. Because of their work, nearly 90 percent of at-risk children return in the fall without any learning loss.
  • United Way in Central and Northeastern Connecticut is hosting a block party to connect Hartford families to summer food resources and books so kids can keep reading all summer.
  • United Way Toronto & York Region is helping bring fresh and affordable food to low-income neighborhoods through the Mobile Good Food Market, a retrofitted bus stocked with fruits and vegetables.

Summer Learning Loss

Kids who don’t get academic enrichment during the summer often forget what they learned during the school year, experiencing what’s called the “summer slide.” Children from low-wage families slide a lot further, often starting school with a two-month lag in math and a three-month delay in reading. By middle school, these students have lost two full years of learning according to the National Summer Learning Association.

Summer Nutrition

Children lose more than academic knowledge over the summer. For some kids from low-wage families, summer often means the loss of regular breakfasts and lunches. According to a 2012 report from the Food Research and Action Center, six out of seven low-income kids who eat a free or reduced-price school lunch during the academic year do not get a free meal during the summer. Since nutrition and learning are linked, offering free, nutritious meals can boost the number of children participating in summer enrichment programs.

 

About United Way Worldwide

With 2.9 million volunteers and 10.3 million donors worldwide, and more than $5 billion raised every year, United Way is the world’s largest privately-funded nonprofit. We’re engaged in nearly 1,800 communities across more than 40 countries and territories worldwide to create community solutions that improve education, financial stability and health. United Way partners include global, national and local businesses, nonprofits, government, civic and faith-based organizations, along with educators, labor leaders, health providers, senior citizens, students and more. For more information about United Way, please visit UnitedWay.org<http://www.unitedway.org/>. Follow us on Twitter: @UnitedWay<http://www.twitter.com/unitedway> and #LiveUnited

 

Media Contact

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