Initiatives

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, self-sufficiency and health.

Club Read:

The United Way of Midland has collaborated with area agencies for the past ten years in a Summer Reading Program called Club Read. Club Read is offered through agencies that work with low-income / high-risk children. Club Read began in 2013 to keep children engaged, reading during the summer, and preventing summer slide. 
 
In the summer of 2023, the United Way of Midland collaborated with the Boys and Girls Club of Midland, Casa De Amigos, and Opportunity Tribe - Fun Academy. Nearly 2,000 new books were ordered and delivered to 302 children participating in the summer reading programs. The United Way of Midland is delighted with the collaboration we have enjoyed throughout the years, most notably for its results.  
 
In 2023, the United Way of Midland hosted its second all-group End of Summer Club Read Summer Celebration. The event included carnival games, brisket, and chips provided by Half Acre Midland Meat Market, cotton candy provided by Complex Community Federal Credit Union, Snow Cones, and door prizes. The event was emceed by McKinley Evans (Midland Academy Charter School student) and Cadence Ware (Early College High School student). Volunteers joined us from Early College High School @ MC, Midland Academy Charter School, Midland College, Senior Life Midland, and the Young Women’s Leadership Academy. 
 
2023 Outcomes:
  • 302 – Youth Club Read Participants (Includes 3 agency programs)
  • 96 – Volunteers (Includes 3 agency programs)
  • 5,519 – Total Volunteer Hours (Include 3 agency programs)
  • 65% of the 253 Club Read youth took a pre and post-test (assessment).
  • 93% of the 164 Club Read / Fun Academy youth who completed the pre and post-test assessment maintained or improved their grade-level reading scores.
  • 4,469 - Hours of total read time for Club Read/Fun Academy Youth
  • 15.3 - Average hours of reading time per youth (June- August)