Winchester Star features United Way NSV and the Winchester Campaign for Grade-Level Reading
In an October 6 Open Forum published by The Winchester Star, United Way NSV President & CEO Andy Gail and Elena Foster, Program Director for the Winchester Campaign for Grade-Level Reading (WCGLR), underscored the importance of building a strong educational foundation for every child in our community.
The column shared how the John & Janice Wyatt Foundation (J2W) and WCGLR have joined forces with United Way NSV to ensure that children in low-income families are supported from birth through third grade. Research shows that when students reach third-grade reading proficiency, their chances of graduating on time, entering college or career-ready, and achieving long-term financial stability rise dramatically.
Since 2021, J2W has invested more than $1.3 million in Winchester, impacting over 11,000 children through projects such as:
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Launching the PreK3 classroom to expand early childhood access.
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Supporting the Bridge to School summer learning program.
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Funding broadband access and take-home learning kits during the pandemic.
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Supporting initiatives like Story Walk at Jim Barnett Park and Family Place Library accreditation with Handley Regional Library.
The Campaign for Grade-Level Reading’s goal is to raise the percentage of third graders reading at or above grade level to 75% by 2032, focusing on three key areas: school readiness, attendance, and summer and after-school learning. Local programs like Leyendo Juntos, Healthy Families’ Birth to 5 Initiative, and after-school enrichment opportunities help make this vision a reality.
United Way NSV is proud to serve as the backbone organization for WCGLR, coordinating community partners including Winchester Public Schools, Handley Library, Kids Clubs, Healthy Families, and the Top of Virginia Regional Chamber. Together, these partnerships are closing gaps, aligning systems, and creating measurable pathways for student success.
“Our children need a strong educational foundation to ensure their, and our, future success,” Gail and Foster wrote.