21-05-2025
United Way of Champaign Co. raises thousands, starts literacy grant for teachers and non-profits
SAVOY, Ill. (WCIA) — New literacy grant applications are now open in Champaign County, and organizers hope the grants will increase access to books and ultimately improve literacy rates.
The reality is, some test scores show many students across Central Illinois are struggling to meet English Language Arts (ELA) expectations. The United Way of Champaign County Women United group wanted to make a change, raise money at this year's 'Power of the Purse' event, and started to write a grant based on the nearly $140,000 raised.
They looked at data from third graders from the Illinois State Board of Education report card. In Champaign, 38.9% of third graders did not meet ELA expectations. In Urbana, that number is 63.7%, and in Rantoul, almost 65%.
'That's something that can have a profound effect on communities,' Cynthia Bruno, the Women United chair, said. 'When we think forward to what kind of community we want to live in, and ensuring our children receive a rigorous education, being able to help them with that is of the utmost importance.'
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She and others hope the new grant for Champaign County teachers and non-profit leaders makes a difference. $50,000 will be divided among some applicants, and you can get between $1,000 and $10,000 for the work done.
But that's not all. Some of the money will also help bring books directly to families' front doors with Dolly Parton's Imagination Library.
'Dolly Parton's Imagination Library provides the books, but they're not free,' Beverley Baker explained. 'They have to be paid for. The funds that we raise for the library go directly to purchasing those books. It costs about $27 per year for one child.'
She has seen the power of the program in the past and is optimistic about seeing how empowering students with books can make a difference in the future.
'As we reach more and more households with children under age five, we hope to see the kindergarten readiness skills and benchmarks begin to improve, and we hope to see that children are progressing on grade level,' Baker added. 'We know that having books in the home is one significant way we can help that.'
You can apply for the grant up until July 1st. Parents interested in participating in Dolly Parton's Imagination Library can find more details at this link.
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