Grants for summer reading programs available

The United Way of Berks County has announced grant opportunities available to Ready.Set.READ! partner schools, Summer Learning Coalition members and other organizations helping the county’s students meet state educational standards.

Ready.Set.READ! is a collaboration of the United Way of Berks County, the education and business communities, and area organizations working together to ensure reading proficiency for students by the end of third grade.

Grants of up to $5,000 per organization are available for summer learning programs that include a literacy component.

Last year, grants totaling $46,786 were awarded to 11 organizations.

“Summer learning and literacy programs are more important than ever based on the many disruptions to education caused by the pandemic,” Tammy White, president of United Way of Berks County, said in a news release. “It is especially critical this year to focus on lessening summer learning loss.”

Summer learning loss occurs when students lose academic skills over the summer months. It is considered a significant cause of the achievement gap between lower and higher income students, she said.

“Ready.Set.READ! and United Way are committed to helping kids achieve success,” White said.

Grants must be used to support summer literacy programs for educationally disadvantaged students through third grade.

Applications will be available on the United Way website and must be submitted via the site by 4 p.m. April 4.

For assistance with the application, contact Jennifer Tinsman at jennifert@ uwberks.org or 610-6854576.

For more information, contact Ashley Chambers at ashleyc@uwberks.org or 610-685-4586.