Who We Are

ReadingPals Inactive 2021-2022 School Year

United Way of Northeast Florida is not participating in ReadingPals this school year. Given the ongoing challenges of COVID-19, we feel it is the best option at this time.

 Thank you for your interest in supporting early education. United Way believes high-quality early learning is a critical component to the success of our community. If you’re interested in other early-childhood-education volunteer opportunities, please reach out to Jordan Mullens.

 

About The Program

ReadingPals is a statewide early literacy initiative that provides volunteer mentors for voluntary prekindergarten (VPK) to third grade students who need extra help, utilizing one-on-one or small group settings. In Northeast Florida, ReadingPals is only offered to prekindergarten students. ReadingPals offers volunteers an opportunity to build meaningful relationships with young children in Florida, while helping them improve their social-emotional development and early literacy skills. ReadingPals is managed by The Children’s Movement of Florida and administered through 17 United Ways across the state with the help of numerous community partners.

45% of children in Florida are not ready for Kindergarten and 43% of Florida students cannot read at a minimally proficient level by the end of third grade. Additionally, studies show that children with mentors are more confident and have fewer behavioral problems. Early intervention and individualized attention gives students the best likelihood of success.

What We Will Achieve Together

  • MENTORING: Build genuine, impactful relationships between students and volunteer mentors

  • EARLY LITERACY: Improve students’ fundamental building blocks of early literacy

  • SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT: Help students build a strong social-emotional foundation
    through self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills and
    responsible decision-making.

What We Do

For 30 minutes to 1-hour each week, a ReadingPals volunteer spends time with a preschooler, reading a book, completing activities, and developing skills that the student will need for success in school. Each child participating in the ReadingPals initiative also receives at least ten books to help build their home library. Volunteers must be 18 years old or older in order to participate as a ReadingPals Volunteer.