Your Gift Gets Kids Ready to Succeed in Life

Ask any kindergarten teacher and you will hear that development prior to entering school is essential to a child’s success in the classroom. Research says that the same holds true for success later in life. Early learning is critical. In Pierce County, more than half of our children start school without the necessary social and emotional skills needed to thrive. We must change that.

To get started, United Way of Pierce County and a team of local partners collaborated to tackle the issue and the Pierce County Early Learning Consortium was born. In 2007, the Consortium developed a business plan to not only get our young kids ready to learn but to secure the financial support needed to sustain the effort. Helping parents be the first, best and most important teacher for their children is a primary focus of the work. Child care providers are also targeted for assistance.

To date, 13 organizations have made financial commitments totaling well over $1 million, many of which are multi-year commitments to this vital task. Parents, child care providers, nonprofits, businesses, educational institutions and governments have joined to improve our early learning system.

You LIVE UNITED by getting kids ready to succeed.