United Way of Westchester and Putnam Promotes Reading with Book Drive

White Plains, N.Y, (April 17, 2017) - The United Way of Westchester and Putnam just completed a four-month book drive which delivered more than 1,000 books bags filled with reading materials to low-income children and families in Westchester and Putnam.

Part of the UWWP’s United2Read program, the book drive began on Martin Luther King Day when more than 100 volunteers including Girl Scouts from Troop 1033 gathered to build reading kits for low-income children. The reading kits included three books and activities and a bilingual learning tool that was designed by UWWP staff to inspire parents and children to interact in educational play.

“A child’s ability to read is a strong indicator for later success in school and in life,’’ said Alana Sweeny, President and CEO of United Way Westchester and Putnam. “ By promoting early reading, the United2Read program fights poverty through literacy.’’

Only 38 percent of children in Westchester and Putnam are reading on grade level by the end of 3rd grade.

Books were delivered to pre-schools, daycare and community centers and other non-profit agencies in Yonkers, New Rochelle, Mount Vernon, White Plains, Valhalla, Ossining, Brewster and Carmel. In addition to Sweeny, George Troyono, Publisher of the Journal News and Lohud.com; Fed Ex Regional Manager Rod Shnier and Ossining Schools Superintendent Raymond Sanchez helped deliver the books and met with parents and children.

Sweeny thanked IBM and The Journal News for their support in promoting the campaign, Fed Ex for helping to collect and transport the books and Girl Scouts Troop 1033 for helping to assemble the reading kits.

Photo caption: Alana Sweeny, President and CEO of United Way Westchester and Putnam helps distribute book bags at the Friday Program, an afterschool program run by the Ossining School District out of St. Ann’s Catholic Church in Ossining.

Local centers books were delivered:

Infant-Toddler Learning Center,489 South Broadway, Yonkers

Children's Center for Learning, 95 Lincoln Ave. New Rochelle

Careers for People w/ Disabilities, 401 Columbus Ave. Valhalla

First Steps Program, St. Ann's Church,25 Eastern Av. Ossining

West. Institute for Human Development, Valhalla

Putnam CAP, 121 Main St. Brewster

Coachman Family Center, 123 East Post Road, White Plains

Putnam Family & Community Services, 808 Route 6, Carmel

Ossining CAP, 50N. Malcom St. Ossining

Mt. Vernon CAG, 250 South 6th Av.Mt. Vernon

Mt. Vernon Day Care, 151 South 2nd Av. Mt. Vernon

WIC Prog, 9 Glober Johnson, New Rochelle

5 Steps to 5, White Plains Youth Bureau

About United Way of Westchester and Putnam

United Way of Westchester and Putnam (UWWP) helps local residents in Westchester and Putnam become self-sufficient and thrive in a stronger community by helping people in crisis through the 2-1-1 helpline, making sure children are reading on grade level by 3rd grade, providing job skills training and offering support programs for the nonprofit sector. UWWP works with agency partners, government, business and community leaders to solve complex problems. United Way’s 2-1-1, which covers Westchester, Putnam, Dutchess, Orange Rockland, Sullivan and Ulster counties, answers thousands of online inquiries and calls each week ranging from tax, heating, and mortgage questions to childcare, basic needs, natural disaster and crisis calls.

UWWP is located at 336 Central Park Ave., White Plains, NY 10606. Phone: 914-997-6700 Website: www.uwwp.org. Facebook: (www.facebook.com/UnitedWayWP) and Twitter (@UnitedWayWP)