An Initiative is a Collaborative effort with 3 or more partners that addresses an identified United Way of Midland Community outcome in one of the three Focus Areas: education success, social health and well-being, and self-sufficiency.
Club Read:
As part of United Way of Midland’s Youth Opportunity Focus Area, the Club Read Initiative directly supports the goal of strengthening educational outcomes and career readiness for youth. By expanding literacy and after-school enrichment partnerships, United Way is investing in programs that build a foundation for lifelong learning and future success.
Since its inception in 2013, Club Read has served as a cornerstone initiative, designed to address the academic challenges faced by children during the summer months. In collaboration with local nonprofit partners, Club Read provides structured literacy support to low-income and high-risk youth, ensuring they remain engaged in learning and return to school better prepared for academic success.
The Impact of Club Read:
In Summer 2025, United Way of Midland partnered with the Boys & Girls Club of Midland, Casa De Amigos, and Opportunity Tribe – Fun Academy to deliver Club Read across multiple sites. Each agency contributed unique programming elements, including:
- Literacy-focused classes
- Guest speakers
- Field trips and camps
- Water activities, picnics, and games
- Free lunches and snacks
This collaborative approach created a dynamic and engaging environment that supported both academic and social-emotional growth.
2025 Outcomes:
- 302 Youth Club Read Participants (Includes 3 agency programs)
- 1,734 New books purchased and distributed across three partnering agencies.
- 4,596 Hours of total read time for Club Read/Fun Academy Youth
- 131 Volunteers (Includes 3 agency programs)
- 1,241 Total Volunteer Hours (Include 3 agency programs)
- 85% of the Club Read youth took a pre and post-test assessment.
- 98% of the 151 Club Read / Fun Academy youth who completed the pre and post-test assessment maintained or improved their grade-level reading scores.
- 15+ Average hours of reading time per youth (June- August)
Success Story:
At Casa de Amigos Literacy Camp, maintaining or improving reading skills over the summer is only part of our mission. Equally important is giving campers exposure to new life experiences. When planning camp activities, we ask ourselves: Is this something they’ve done before, or will it be a brand-new concept for them? If it’s familiar, we strive to present it from a fresh perspective—helping them gain new understanding and insight.
The United Way Club Read program plays a key role in making this possible. Through their support, our students end the summer knowing they have a place where they are cared for, challenged, and connected with community members who are invested in their lives. At Casa de Amigos, we are fortunate to have community volunteers involved with our campers on a daily basis.
The books, backpacks, and special end-of-summer activities provided through United Way reinforce
the importance of reading and the value of our summer literacy programs. Our students need moments
when the focus is entirely on them—and United Way makes that possible by providing the resources,
encouragement, and experiences that make summer learning both meaningful and memorable.
Acknowledgment of Support:
This impactful initiative was made possible by the generous support of our sponsors: ExxonMobil, the Helen Greathouse Charitable Trust, and The Warren Charitable Foundation. Their contributions have been vital in fostering a love for reading among our community’s youth and ensuring that our students have the resources they need to succeed.