Every child deserves to succeed in school.

You can help get kids on track in school and set them up to achieve now and in the future.
Registration is now open!

62% of students participating in Read United improved their reading skills.

Reading proficiency is one of the greatest predictors of a child’s success in school and life.

When kids fall behind in school, they can miss out on the opportunity to develop their full potential in life.

Currently, only 55% of our third-graders can read proficiently.

Students reading on grade level at third grade are five times more likely to graduate from high school — paving the way to higher education, better opportunities in the workforce, and improved health outcomes.

Jack Cullen – Director
Downtown Rock Island
Quad Cities Chamber of Commerce

Jack reading to a boy

Together, we can get our kids back on track.

At United Way, we’re rallying the generous, the dreamers, the changemakers – people like you – to help get our kids on track in school and set them up to achieve now and in the future. And we won’t stop until every third-grader is reading proficiently.

For the first time in human history, an entire generation of children has had their education upended. Students’ reading achievement has lagged prior to the pandemic — both nationally and in Scott and Rock Island counties. Now teachers are seeing students fall even further behind because of COVID-19.

The disruption has widened already existing disparities and gaps, impacting minority students and students from low-income families.

MORE THAN 3,000 CHILDREN in 3rd grade live in Scott and Rock Island Counties.

QC 3rd Grade Reading Proficiency

Change the story of one, change the lives of many.

Together we can be the community where every Quad Citizen, regardless of race or ZIP code, has the access and opportunity to develop their full potential.

Your support will bolster early education, out-of-school literacy programs, parenting classes and mentoring in low-income and marginalized neighborhoods.
Read one-on-one with a young student for 30 minutes, once a week throughout the school year or summer.
Young-man-reading-with-an-elementary-school-student

Already a Volunteer?

Download volunteer resources and help spread the word with the Read United toolkit.