Initiatives

United Way Success By 6 enables communities to provide their children with the best opportunity to succeed by the time they begin school.

Years of research prove that attention to children's physical, mental and emotional development in early childhood is vital to their success. Working with public and private decision-makers, UWSB6 focuses on the needs of the whole child by addressing environmental and systemic issues that can influence development.

Over the past 15 years, this community-based, partnership approach has helped hundreds of thousands of children getting them ready for school, and ready for life. Ultimately, this directly contributes to the nation's educational success, economic strength and a qualified workforce.

IMAGINATION LIBRARY

The United Way board of trustees approved a new partner agency, Education First. The partnership will bring Imagination Library to Macon/Bibb County.  This program was created by Dolly Parton in Tennessee promoting early literacy and is now in most states. http://www.dollysimaginationlibrary.com/howworks.php

The Ferst Foundation presents Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library as the Georgia Champion of the program. Every child that is registered receives a book in the mail each month from birth to age 5. The mailing includes a localized newsletter and activities that coincide with the book. The fist book sent out is The Little Engine That Could. The last book at the child’s fifth birthday is Look Out Kindergarten Here I Come. The program facilitates early childhood and family literacy at a very low cost per child of $40 per year or $200 for all five years. The program fits well with two of our priority areas; parental involvement and early childhood development/early literacy.

http://www.ferstfoundation.org/default.htm