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Community Impact Succeeding in School: Tonya - Tonya attended one of Nashville’s lowest-performing…

Community Work

United Way is making things happen… See the results for yourself.
99.4% of children participating in Read to Succeed, a United Way early literacy initiative, have the necessary skills to succeed in kindergarten. Why is this so important?

Children who have not developed some basic literacy skills by the time they enter school are 3 - 4 times more likely to drop out in later years
85% of all juveniles who interface with the court system are functionally illiterate
90% of welfare recipients are high school dropouts

By teaching these at-risk children early literacy skills they otherwise wouldn’t have, they have a greater chance to succeed in school and a lesser chance of getting into trouble. The Read to Succeed program currently reaches 1,400 children a year. For each additional 1,400 children we reach, we will not only increase their likelihood of succeeding in school, we will return $23.8 million to the community in long-term savings.

Since it’s inception in 2004, the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program (VITA) has returned over $44 million dollars into our economy. Last year more than 7,000 individuals and families had their taxes done for free, resulting in $11.4 million in refunds and Earned Income Tax Credits. Through this vital program every $1 invested returns $60 to the community.

United Way of Metropolitan Nashville is working with 63 local agencies to fund 133 programs. Over the past decade, we have invested $225.7 million dollars into the community. By focusing on the building blocks of a good life: Education, Income, Health, and Neighborhoods, United Way is advancing the common good. Learn more about our exciting results in these four areas by visiting the focus area pages: