Reading Matters.

By fourth grade, students should be reading to learn rather than learning to read. Reading below grade level makes the road ahead more difficult. United Way of the Wabash Valley funds programs that bring community volunteers into school classrooms to read aloud. We’re getting more books into kids’ hands through Real Men Read and Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. And we’re helping children build social and emotional skills through Reading Neighbors. 

Since 2011, male volunteers have been visiting kindergarten classrooms in United Way’s 6-county service area to read to students and distribute books for the children to add to their home collections. Each year, the volunteers read to 2,200 students in 115 kindergarten classrooms and distribute between 11,000 and 12,000 books. 

Real Men Read runs from October through March. If you’re interested in joining this enthusiastic group of men, please complete the volunteer survey below.

United Way of the Wabash Valley administers this beloved program in Vigo and Clay Counties. To enroll your child, please access the Imagination Library website below.

Since 2023, community volunteers have been visiting first- and second-grade classrooms to read preselected books that focus on children’s cognitive development, helping students understand and manage emotions, build relationships, and learn to get along with others. Each teacher receives a classroom set of books to incorporate into their teaching day.  

Reading Neighbors runs from January through May. If you’re interested in joining this dedicated group of community volunteers, please complete the volunteer survey below.