Youth Opportunity

When young children get off to a strong start, it lays the foundation and sets the tone for future education success, health and well-being, and economic opportunity.

Healthy development and quality early learning experiences between birth to age 8, whether in formal or informal learning environments, prepare children to enter kindergarten ready to learn and reach reading proficiency by the end of third grade, a critical benchmark in assuring student success. Reading is the most crucial academic skill because it is the foundation for learning.

Through third grade children are learning to read; after third grade students read to learn. Without a strong foundation in reading, children are left behind at the beginning of their education and are 4 times more likely not to graduate from high school than children who read at grade level at the end of third grade.

The entire community plays a role in and benefits from transforming children into educated, healthy, independent adults and UWSM unites schools, businesses, community organizations, and individuals to support school readiness and reading and reduce barriers for historically disadvantaged children.

Healthy development and quality early learning experiences between birth to age 8, whether in formal or informal learning environments, prepare children to enter kindergarten ready to learn and reach reading proficiency by the end of third grade, a critical benchmark in assuring student success. Reading is the most crucial academic skill because it is the foundation for learning.

Through third grade children are learning to read; after third grade students read to learn. Without a strong foundation in reading, children are left behind at the beginning of their education and are 4 times more likely not to graduate from high school than children who read at grade level at the end of third grade.

The entire community plays a role in and benefits from transforming children into educated, healthy, independent adults and UWSM unites schools, businesses, community organizations, and individuals to support school readiness and reading and reduce barriers for historically disadvantaged children.

What UWSM is doing

hours spent reading with children through UWSM's Volunteer Reader Program.
200 +
invested in community schools with wraparound services, and high quality before/after school programming.
$ 10010
new child care entrepreneurs graduated from the Child Care Incubator Program, and a cohort will launch in 2024.
0
invested in preschool and early childhood education programs.
$ 1
Funded Partners
From supporting children’s healthy development and increasing literacy to address families’ basic needs to strengthening systems of support, United Way invests in community partners to ensure kids have a strong start and thrive.
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Community Initiatives + Partnerships
United Way provides staff support in child care workforce development initiatives including GPWI's ELL Childhood Development Associate Certification and Child Care Business Lab, in collaborative efforts like Biddeford Ready! to help kids from birth to 5 get the resources they need.
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Basic Needs + Emergency Response
United Way provides funding and staff support to 211 Maine, Keep ME Warm emergency heating fund, Emergency Food and Shelter Program (EFSP), and two Homeless Response Service Hubs to ensure families with children have access to critical items they need to thrive, like healthy food, housing, and heat.
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Advocacy
United Way advocates for systems and programs that strengthen the safety net for critical needs programs and increase access to affordable early childhood care and resources to ensure our kids have a strong start and life-long success.
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Giving Circles
Emerging Leaders United, a Giving Circle of UWSM, is a community of established and emerging professionals supporting STEM and early literacy for children in Southern Maine.
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Get Involved

Your contribution to United Way is an investment in ensuring tomorrow’s leaders can build a better foundation today.

Volunteer Leadership

UWSM’s Youth Opportunity work is driven by a dedicated and diverse team of volunteers that represent community voices across Southern Maine.