United Way of the Coastal Empire, in partnership with the Rotary Club of Savannah and the Savannah-Chatham County Public School System (SCCPSS), is proud to expand Read United Buddies this school year and is seeking volunteer buddies.
Read United Buddies is a volunteer-based structured reading tutoring program that focuses on building a connection with students and advancing their reading ability by focusing on fluency.
Through this program, volunteers work with select second- and third-grade students at A.B. Williams, Otis J. Brock, and Windsor Forest elementary schools for one hour twice a week throughout the school year. To ensure effectiveness, literacy specialists from the school system provide comprehensive training to volunteers before the program begins for the 2024-25 school year. Each volunteer will undergo a thorough background check conducted by the public schools as a prerequisite for participation.
“Volunteers are at the heart of Read United Buddies because of their dedication to the program and the connection they make with their student buddies. This winning combination fosters a supportive environment that motivates students to improve their reading skills,” said Cheri Dean, Vice President of Direct Services and Impact, United Way of the Coastal Empire.
The program launched last fall as a pilot program for second-grader students on the cusp of reading proficiency. Every single student who participated in the program increased their literacy scores and 70% of the students increased one or more grade levels.
“One of Rotary International’s seven areas of focus is literacy. By joining the Read United Buddies program, Rotarians and our community will volunteer to read to students. Research shows that this act of reading together can help children build confidence in their reading skills so they can step forward, express themselves, and engage meaningfully in the world. We are seeing measurable results from this program and are excited to be one of the sponsors for this important initiative in Savannah,” said Captain Lakshman, President of the Rotary Club of Savannah.
“We have been impressed with the results of the Read United Buddies program and the impact it is achieving through the caring power of our volunteers and partners by investing time and energy into our Title I schools. It’s inspiring to see the community step up to provide crucial learning support and build meaningful relationships that instill confidence and advance literacy outcomes in some of our youngest learners. I’m hopeful we will continue to get dedicated volunteers and strong sponsors to advance this program so we can ensure every child has the opportunity to succeed,” said Leia Dedic, Chief Impact Officer, United Way of the Coastal Empire.
According to the Georgia Department of Education, 57% of Chatham County’s second graders read on or above grade level. Programs, like Read United Buddies, are critical as students should be shifting from learning to read to reading to learn by the end of the third grade. According to the Annie E. Casey Foundation, students who are not proficient in reading by the end of the third grade are four times more likely to drop out of high school than proficient readers.
Read United Buddies is part of United Way of the Coastal Empire’s READ UNITED initiative, a year-round series of programs and services to improve early language and literacy for all children throughout Bryan, Chatham, Effingham, and Liberty counties.
Volunteer with Read United Buddies
- No experience necessary
- Volunteers will attend a volunteer training conducted in partnership with SCCPSS
- Time commitment: Twice a week for one hour each (Volunteers have the option to attend both weekly READ UNITED Buddies sessions (preferred), committing to two days per week or they can arrange with another volunteer to share the weekly responsibilities for the paired Student Buddy)
- Volunteers will need to clear the background check with SCCPSS
- To sign up or learn more, visit United Way of the Coastal Empire’s volunteer website at https://www.unitedwayvolunteers.org
The Rotary Club of Savannah includes 220 community leaders and volunteers. Over the past 110 years, the club has championed local and regional developments that include completing the road to Tybee Island, improving the Savannah River for commercial traffic, enhancing the Dixie Highway system in southeast Georgia and building bridges over the Savannah and Altamaha Rivers. Most recently, in recognition of its 100th anniversary, the club raised funds and built an all-accessible playground in Forsyth Park. Meetings are held each Monday from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the DeSoto Hotel, 15 E. Liberty St. For more information, visit www.savrotary.org.
About United Way of the Coastal Empire
The mission of United Way of the Coastal Empire is to
About Savannah-Chatham County Public School System
The Savannah-Chatham County Public School System is the 10th largest school district in the state of Georgia. The school district serves almost 37,000 students across 56 schools comprised of elementary, K-8, middle, and high schools, including 5 charter schools, one e-learning academy, and six alternative learning centers. Our vision is that from school to the world, all students are prepared to be successful and productive citizens. Our mission, to ignite a passion for learning and teaching at high levels, guides us every day to bring a love of learning to ALL students. Learn more on the district website at sccpss.com.
This article appears in Connect Savannah I July 2024.