To celebrate International Literacy Day, United Way of Greater Kansas City joined employee-owners from Burns & McDonnell and Rainy Day Books to share the joy of reading with young learners across the Kansas City region.
Together, the partners delivered more than 150 brand-new books to Shawnee Mission Early Education Center in Overland Park, Kan. and Woodland Early Learning Center in Kansas City, Mo. Both centers were also part of United Way’s recent Refresh a Classroom volunteer day, extending the impact of ongoing support for early childhood education.
The book drop was made possible through Burns & McDonnell’s United Way fundraising and community engagement efforts, including a book fair hosted in partnership with Rainy Day Books. Participants also had the opportunity to make financial gifts to help purchase additional books for classrooms.
Early access to books helps children build vocabulary, strengthen literacy skills and prepare for success in school and beyond. By placing new reading materials directly into local classrooms, United Way and its partners helped create more opportunities for children to learn, imagine and grow.
“Books open doors for children, families and classrooms,” said Kera Mashek, United Way of Greater Kansas City senior director of communications. “We’re grateful to Burns & McDonnell and Rainy Day Books for helping make literacy more accessible for young learners across our community.”
United Way of Greater Kansas City mobilizes people and resources to improve health, enhance youth opportunity, foster financial security and build community resiliency so that everyone has the ability to thrive.
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