United For Schools

United for schools
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Empower students to overcome personal challenges in school, at home and beyond.

All students deserve the chance to graduate from high school prepared for a prosperous future. That’s why we’re on a mission to unite community resources and volunteers to help kids early on, to help them unlock brighter futures for themselves. That’s the goal of our United for Schools initiative — because our success here in the Quad Cities depends on the success of our youngest.

This community school partnership launched at Madison Elementary School in Davenport during the 2021-22 school year. In the first two years at Madison, United for Schools has led to improved behavior and social abilities, increased student achievement and better attendance. The program has partnered with Washington Elementary School in Moline since Spring 2023.

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We help whole neighborhoods of students.

United for Schools has had major impacts within our community, including:

  • Provided 200+ haircuts and books to students through Books & Barbers.
  • Connected at least five families with resources to help their younger children prepare for kindergarten with Born Learning Academies.
  • Paired 35+ students with one-on-one reading support volunteers through Read United.
  • Inspired 50+ girls through the Girls on Fire mentorship program.

Student success: from first grade to first job.

Our initiative involves individuals, businesses, community organizations and public schools working together in four key areas to help every child succeed in school.

  • Reduce health barriers to increase sense of well-being.

  • Strengthen learning spaces to decrease chronic absenteeism.

  • Create learning opportunities to improve reading & math scores.

  • Engage families & community through increased volunteer opportunities & family support.

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Books & Barbers Program

By inviting a professional barber into the school, boys walk away with a fresh haircut and a book to take home. Plus, their time in the chair is spent with a caring adult role model with informal one-on-one mentoring.

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'Girls on Fire Girls’ Mentorship Program

It’s not easy being a girl today. But this mentoring partnership with Love Girls Magazine and Madison and Washington Elementary Schools empowers girls to connect over their common challenges like body image and self-esteem by offering a safe space for creative expression.

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Vision To Learn Program

When a kid can’t see the white board, how can they realize their full potential? This in-school program helps put kids’ futures in focus, by identifying vision issues and providing students with two new pairs of eye glasses.

$25 a month can help erase obstacles for kids year-round.

When you invest $25 a month through United Way Quad Cities, you can provide basic eye screenings to an entire classroom of students at a Scott County elementary school.

Thank you to our United for Schools Partner.
Get in touch!
You can help United for Schools serve even more kids, families and neighbors. Whether you’re looking to team up as a volunteer, business partner or community service organization — we can’t wait to collaborate with you! Connect with Kate Horberg, United Way’s Director of Education Innovation, at khorberg@unitedwayqc.org or 563.344.0338.