BENSUR HELPS LOCAL AGENCY BEGIN A NEW CHAPTER OF SUCCESS

Thursday July 26, 2007

Partners with local businesses to continue awareness campaign
United Way of Erie County has enlisted the help of local businesses to gather new and gently used children’s books for their Success By 6 initiative administered by Early Connections, a United Way Member Agency. Collection areas have been set up at Wegmans on Peach Street and at the Millcreek Mall office in the Mall Bazaar Court.

United Way recently launched an awareness campaign to highlight several of its initiatives. The first phase of this campaign has focused on Success By 6, which aims to ensure that every child in Erie County has the basic skills necessary to succeed in school and in life.

“The donation of only one book can have a profound effect on a child and his/her family,” said Jodi Askins, Vice President of Community Outreach at Early Connections. “Research shows that reading to children is the single most important thing an adult can do to prepare a child for future academic success.”

United Way is also reinforcing its awareness campaign by providing free bookmarks and fact cards that focus on Success By 6. The bookmarks and cards will be given out at Erie County Public Library branches, as well as at Wegmans and the Millcreek Mall.

Success By 6, started in 2002, is the early care and education initiative for Erie County which is primarily funded by United Way of Erie County, grants from the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare and the Erie Community Foundation. The goal of Success By 6 is that all children in Erie County are adequately prepared to enter the education system.

Initiatives like these are the building blocks to a brighter, more enriched and successful future. United Way of Erie County and its member agencies have been implementing efforts like these for years and will continue to do so with the continued support of the community.

For more information, contact the United Way of Erie County.