News & Photos
United Way meets “Board Books for Babies” goal
April 07, 2010NASHVILLE, Tenn., March 30, 2010 – United Way of Metropolitan Nashville’s March Day of Action benefited 1,200 at-risk children served through nine United Way-supported child care centers offering Read to Succeed, United Way’s early learning program. More than 170 volunteers helped United Way achieve its goal of putting together 1,200 backpacks full of new board books and parent resources to ensure that children in its Read to Succeed program have a strong start for learning. Studies show that having age-appropriate books in the home, even before a child enters pre-school, is one of the best ways to set children on the path for school success.
Volunteers came together on March 10 at United Way’s MetroCenter offices to sort books and materials into backpacks and to deliver the backpacks to the centers. More than 2,200 books were donated by individuals and companies; almost 60 Nashville-area companies were represented at the Day of Action.
The following United Way partner agencies benefited: Bethlehem Centers of Nashville, Eighteenth Avenue Family Enrichment Center, Fannie Battle Day Home for Children, Inc., First Steps, Inc., King’s Daughters Day Home, Martha O’Bryan Center, Inc., McNeilly Center for Children, St. Luke’s Community Center, St. Mary Villa.
Photo captions:
1. United Way’s president and CEO Eric Dewey (left) and 2009 campaign chair Gregg Morton (right) congratulate Dan Drop (center) of Publix, the recipient of United Way’s highest campaign award, The Iris Circle, during the March Day of Action.
2. Literacy coordinators Mia Brazelton and Gracie Kloutse helped volunteers understand how their students use activity centers in Read to Succeed classrooms.
3. Emani Murphy, one of 1,200 children served at nine United Way-funded child care centers, holds up her backpack.
4. Fifth Third Bank employees John Reynolds, Joyce Watts, Joe Dillingham and Emily Holly were among the more than 170 volunteers sorting and packing more than 2,200 children’s books at United Way’s Day of Action.
5. Volunteers Josh Guinn and Trey Abston, both of Caterpillar Financial Services, John Hayes of Ingram Industries and Joanna Lauer of Gaylord Entertainment represented a few of the nearly 60 companies participating in United Way’s “Board Books for Babies” Day of Action.
