Supporting childhood literacy changes lives, outcomes
According to the
Louisiana Department of Education, 57% of children in Northwest
Louisiana enter kindergarten below the kindergarten readiness threshold.
This latest snapshot highlights a long-standing literacy problem that
plays a significant role in our state’s education achievement. As a
result, illiteracy becomes the root of many of our societal problems,
including poverty and crime.
The
children of ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed)
families are especially affected when it comes to having a lack of books
in their homes. ALICE represents the growing number of individuals and
families who work hard but are still unable to afford their essential
needs. Books are often viewed as a luxury when many other family
necessities are going unmet.
At United Way of Northwest Louisiana, we believe success in life begins with quality education. And yet, millions of children
lack the support they need to strengthen their reading skills. This
makes it more likely for them to have low achievement throughout their
school experience, struggle with low self-esteem, have an increase
in-school discipline and low attendance, and increase their chances of
dropping out of school and never starting a career.
We
also believe it makes economic sense to invest in our children while
they are young so they can have the social and developmental tools
necessary for school and later in life. United Way’s investment in early
childhood literacy starts with Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. Each
month, we fund more than 5,000 new, age-appropriate books to be mailed
to children’s homes at zero cost to the children’s families. Children
can be enrolled in the program at birth and own a library of up to 60
books by the time they enter kindergarten.
Studies have shown that children enrolled in the
Imagination Library score 15% higher on average than their peers on
reading tests. When children are introduced to reading at a young age,
they can better understand the grade-level text; they can make sense of
what they see, hear and read; they can improve their cognitive and
vocabulary development and they have an increased chance of graduating
high school.
Today’s
children are tomorrow’s leaders, which is why we want to give every
child a chance at a brighter future. With the support of our community,
we have made strides to close the gaps between children and access to
books through the Imagination Library. However, while we are the largest
provider of the Imagination Library in the state, every day, we must
deny children, some from our most underserved areas, enrollment into the
program due to funding.
Recently,
we began offering the program in the 71103 zip code. According to the
2017 IRS tax return’s data, the most recent year for complete date, this
zip code is the poorest in Louisiana. Today, we are asking you to help
us in our efforts to expand the Imagination Library into more zip codes
like 71103 and keep the program available where it’s currently offered
by joining the United Way Book Club. A contribution of $50 has the power
to sponsor a child in the program for one year.
We
believe that a community filled with books is a community filled with
opportunity and possibilities. Will you help us achieve our vision of
ensuring there are books in every child’s home in our region?
LaToria W. Thomas is the president and CEO of United Way of Northwest Louisiana.
You can be a part of the
United Way Book Club today by giving at one of the levels listed below
before December 31. To show our gratitude, new book club members will
receive a limited-edition bookmark. No other obligations for the book club are required.
Book Worms ($250 or less)
sponsors up to five children
Page Turners ($251 - $499)
sponsors five to nine children
Storytellers ($500 - $999)
sponsors 10 - 19 children
Novelists ($1,000 - $4,999)
sponsors 20 - 100 children
Please consider giving the gift of books this holiday season by joining the United Way Book Club or becoming a United Way Book Club Sponsor.
Learn more and give today by visiting https://unitedwaynwla.org/united-way-book-club/.