UNITED �IS THE WAY.
TOGETHER WE �CAN THRIVE.
Community is where we draw our strength and share our hope. We believe in the power of people — united through a common purpose — to accomplish anything we set our minds to. �United is the Way we come together so everyone thrives.
LOCAL. EFFICIENT. IMPACT-DRIVEN. RESULTS-BASED.
WHY SUPPORT UNITED WAY?
When it comes to supporting an organization, you have a lot of choices. So why support United Way? IMPACT. Our superpower is our ability to inspire neighbors, donors, volunteers and partners from all backgrounds to help create innovative solutions to community problems.
TOGETHER = BETTER
WHAT DO WE DO?
We bring people together to identify needs. We invest. And we work together to solve problems.
OUR IMPACT AREAS
Youth Opportunity – Community Resiliency
YOUTH OPPORTUNITY
Children are the future, so their
NOW matters.
TAKING A STAND IN EARLY LITERACY
�Our initiative, United for Literacy (U4L), is a �comprehensive approach to address the literacy crisis in Winnebago County.
We want all kids to enter kindergarten ready to read so our schools can guide them to success.
WHY WE UNITE FOR EARLY LITERACY
32%
WHEN U4L STARTED, ONLY
OF 3RD GRADE STUDENTS WERE READING AT
(OR ABOVE) GRADE LEVEL.
75%
OUR BOLD GOAL:
OF 3RD GRADERS READING PROFICIENTLY BY 2034
IT ALL STARTS AT THE BEGINNING
LIFELONG CONSEQUENCES OF FALLING BEHIND
85% of kids in the juvenile justice system are low readers or functionally illiterate
THE UNITED FOR LITERACY APPROACH
How we support children and families to set them up �for school success.
PAVING THE WAY FOR SCHOOL READINESS
Reading Volunteers
Childcare literacy efforts
LOCAL SYSTEMIC CHANGE: REACH OUT & READ EXAMPLE
United Way brings Reach Out & Read to Winnebago County, and
the ROR model infuses literacy into our children’s healthcare.
2024-25 RESULTS: UNITED FOR LITERACY
12,000+
�Child Interactions
18
�Partner Agencies
250
�Volunteer Tutors Trained
115,000
�Books Distributed
105
�Literacy Events
LOOKING AHEAD: 2025-26 FUNDED PROGRAMS
Dolly Parton Imagination Library
Tiny Turners
Page Turners
Reach Out & Read
Winnebago County Health Department WIC Literacy Program
LOOKING AHEAD: 2025-26 FUNDED PARTNERS
SERVICE GRANTS
BOOK DISTRIBUTION GRANTS
COMMUNITY RESILIENCY
Connecting people to resources �and help.
EMPOWERING COMMUNITIES
�United Way is working to create well-connected, supportive communities by providing programs like the 211 Helpline and Strong Neighborhood Houses.
211 HELPLINE – POWERED BY UNITED WAY OF ROCK RIVER VALLEY!
Get Connected. Get Help.
Whether facing personal uncertainty or crisis, Winnebago County’s 211 Helpline connects people to trained specialists who can offer information about local resources and services.
Call 211 to find:
NEED HELP?
DIAL 2-1-1 OR TEXT YOUR ZIP CODE TO 898211.
AVAILABLE ONLINE AT IL211.ORG
STRONG NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSE – IRVING AVENUE
United Way is leading a place-based strategy to dramatically improve the quality of life for our children and families because strong neighborhoods make a strong community.
Irving Avenue House – 312 Irving Ave, Rockford
Managed by Youth Services Network (YSN), this house provides a safe place for neighborhood youth to gather and find resources.
JOIN US.
GIVE
BACK.
GET � INVOLVED.
TAKE � ACTION.
GIVE BACK.
Give back though a recurring or one-time financial gift. Your generous donation will be directed where it is needed most to create real, lasting change in our community.
GET INVOLVED.
Real change is possible when people unite to take action. We make it easy and fun for individuals and groups to help build a more resilient future for all.
TAKE ACTION.
Help us ensure our state resources and policies are giving families the support they need to thrive. Your voice is powerful. Use the power of your network to spread the word about the work that United Way of Rock River Valley is doing in our community.
THANK �YOU!