United Way Rock River Valley

06/04/2026

We are thrilled to share some exciting literacy news! Reach Out & Read is now active at all Crusader Community Health clinics. This program launched in 2024 with one pilot location and has now expanded to all of Crusader’s Winnebago County-based clinics with support from United Way Rock River Valley and . Since launching the program, over 3,000 books have been distributed at well-child visits.

leverages the trusted medical setting to bring early literacy support to families, ensuring children across the region have access to age-appropriate books and reading guidance during the earliest, most critical years of development. This important touchpoint with medical providers supports families in establishing a daily reading routine. 95% of a child’s brain develops in the first six years. Studies show that children exposed to more books at home show greater brain activation in areas linked to imagination, understanding, and learning. This program is changing lives, and your support is helping make it happen!

06/04/2026

Our next "Celebrating Through Service" project is Blessing Boxes. This is part of the 250th Anniversary celebrations happening throughout our community. We invite you to collect these item during the month of June.

Once collected, items will be packed at Rockford City Market and distributed to unhoused individuals who visit Carpenter's Place, Shelter Care Ministries Rockford, and Rockford Rescue Mission. www.carpentersplace.org/blog/get-involved-with-blessing-boxes/

06/03/2026

Congratulations to our board member Deepshikha Shukla for being recognized in the Greater Rockford Chamber of Commerce's inaugural 40 Over 40 class! 🎉

She brings curiosity and a deep commitment to community to her role with United Way Rock River Valley, and this recognition reflects exactly who she is. So proud to have her leading alongside us. See the full list of honorees: www.rockfordchamber.com/2026/06/01/40-over-40/

05/27/2026

Literacy access starts with community partnerships and today was a great reminder of that. United Way Rock River Valley donated 350 books to Third Presbyterian, where Pastor Steve Bowie and his team are building a dedicated literacy lounge for families. The connection came through church and school partnerships, and the impact was immediate. When Anne Pritz-Hall started going through the titles, she said: "This is like a gold mine."

That's exactly what this work is about. When community organizations show up for each other, kids win. Thank you, Third Presbyterian, for making space for reading to happen.

05/26/2026

"Keep reading!" — we couldn't have said it better ourselves. 📚 Shoutout to Fairview Early Childhood Center for keeping the summer reading message front and center (literally). Every kid who drives past that sign gets a little nudge to keep reading this summer. United Way Rock River Valley is proud to champion literacy in our community, and it's even better when neighbors show up alongside us. Here's to a summer full of great reads. 🌞

05/21/2026

This morning, our team stopped by Eisenhower Middle School to congratulate Ginger Murphy, a middle school reading teacher, who recently received the Read 180 Educator Award. She is one of only 43 educators nationally to earn this distinction that recognizes excellence in literacy instruction. It's our pleasure to shine a light on teachers like Ginger Murphy who are doing important literacy work in our community. Congratulations!! 🎉

05/21/2026

We are beyond grateful for the team at OrthoIllinois - Rockford! 🎉 They truly lead our community by example. The funds raised through their 2026 Giving Campaign will help support the work we do all year long, from funding literacy programs and connecting residents to critical resources through 211, to mobilizing volunteers across our region. Help us acknowledge their generosity with a like or a comment for a job well done!!

A heartfelt thank you to our physicians and staff for your incredible generosity and support of our United Way Employee Giving Campaign. Because of your commitment to giving back, together we proudly raised $67,241.42 in support of United Way of Rock River Valley, United Way of Metro Chicago, and McHenry County United Way.

This achievement reflects the power of teamwork, compassion, and community across all of our locations. By coming together, we are helping ensure more individuals and families have access to essential resources that support education, financial stability, and health throughout our region.

We are incredibly proud of what we’ve accomplished together and grateful for everyone who contributed to making a meaningful difference in so many lives. Thank you for your generosity, dedication, and community spirit! 💙

05/20/2026

Volunteer Reading Buddies, staff, and first graders at Jackson Charter School gathered for the final session of the 2025-26 school year.

The impact? This winter, more than half of students in Jackson's top first-grade class hit end-of-year reading benchmarks months ahead of schedule. In past years, only 8% reached that milestone during winter testing.

To every volunteer who gave their time: thank you! See you next fall. www.unitedwayrrv.org/jackson-charter-school-progress

05/18/2026

Hononegah Student Council showed up for little ones in a big way. 📚 These high school students didn't just volunteer their time. They raised the money themselves through a school fundraiser to cover every single kit. Each one is packed with books, markers, chalk, and Play-Doh, and they're headed to families served by Brightpoint Northern Region. They are for older kids in home visiting and children who access the crisis nursery. This is what community looks like. We're grateful for every Hononegah Community High School student who showed up to volunteer their time!