United Way of the Brazos Valley’s Day of Action efforts successfully resulted in more than 150 volunteers assembling 3,000 Baby Bundles - a tote packed with a book, handheld toy, and helpful community resources. United Way partners with the labor and delivery departments of local hospitals and delivery centers in the region to distribute Baby Bundles just after the baby is born. Day of Action is an opportunity for communities to come together and tackle the issues that matter most to them.
“What we’re doing here is encouraging the love of reading starting at birth and all the way throughout childhood,” said Peggi Goss, vice president of Community Impact.
Two-thirds of children living in poverty grow up with no books at home. Studies show that the number of books in the home is directly linked to reading achievement. Children who grow up with access to books in their homes reach a higher level of education. Through the Baby Bundles Program, parents of newborns are provided with the resources they need to begin their child's love of reading early.
United Way of the Brazos Valley is fighting for early literacy for all children. As part of the organization’s 2020 Regional Bold Goals, United Way of the Brazos Valley has committed to ensuring that every baby born in the Brazos Valley has a book in their home by their first birthday. United Way of the Brazos Valley strives to prepare children, teens, and young adults for career achievement through educational success. Today’s Day of Action is only a small part of this effort as United Way of the Brazos Valley also works to encourage the love of reading and provide access to books through free Book Bash giveaways throughout the year.
The Baby Bundles program provides every newborn in the Brazos Valley with their first book regardless of race, religion, or socio-economic status. Baby Bundles are designed to give parents everything they need to begin their child's love of reading early. United Way of the Brazos Valley would like to thank this year’s supporters of Day of Action; The Dansby Grant Foundation, Wells Fargo Bank, Junior League of Bryan College Station, Texas A&M Mays Business School, and the Bryan Independent School District.
United Way of the Brazos Valley fights for the health, education, and financial stability of every person in the Brazos Valley. They strengthen the community by identifying the Brazos Valley’s greatest issues, engaging individuals to build strategies, and investing in change. United Way of the Brazos Valley invests through Community Impact Grants to local nonprofit organizations and Investment Initiatives including 2-1-1 Texas, Youth Leadership Cabinet, VolunteerBrazosValley.org, and the Financial Stability Innovation Fund, to impact more than 60,000 people per year.
To support the work of United Way of the Brazos Valley and learn more about how you can become involved, visit at www.uwbv.org.
