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Success Story:
EducationWorks

A Tale of Two Children

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Success Story:
Delaware Valley Association for the Education of Young Children

 

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Success Stories

ADVANCING THE COMMON GOOD… EDUCATION for Children

United Way works to advance the common good by targeting its strategies at those critical passages in life that can present opportunities for individuals and families to dramatically increase their chances for long term success. This approach maximizes United Way’s effectiveness, because it allows us to improve lives and communities not just in the short term, and not just on the surface, but in a lasting and meaningful way.

 

Community Level Goal

Preparing Children for Success in School and in Life

 

Priority Area

Staying on Track for High School Graduation

 

EducationWorks

 

Our Investment:

A high school diploma is critical for building self-sufficiency and future financial stability. Employed high school drop outs earn an average of $9,200 less per year than their peers who have graduated. United Way knows that there are often barriers to educational achievement. Peer pressure, violence, pregnancy and poor academic environments can stand in the way of high school graduation for many young people. At EducationWorks, students are given the opportunity to participate in activities that encourage them to stay in school, inspire them to learn and teach them ways to resolve conflicts without violence. Their commitment to high standards has enabled them to provide quality learning experiences to many young people growing up in areas where academic success doesn’t seem possible.

 

Results for our Community:

As a freshman just entering high school, Jackie didn’t see herself as graduate material. Both of her older sisters had dropped out before senior year to have children, and at 14, Jackie saw her life following the same path. She attended an EducationWorks program at her school and they soon matched Jackie up with a mentor. That mentor showed Jackie that she had it in her to accomplish anything she wanted to. By keeping her focus on school, and blocking out the other influences that were holding her back, Jackie stayed on track and graduated high school with a full scholarship to college.

Now in her sophomore year, Jackie has helped to set up a mentoring program at LaSalle where she is thriving as a campus leader.

“As hard as we work to keep young people on the path to success, there are outside forces working just as hard to hold them back. Jackie, and all the other students like Jackie that we work with, already had it in them to achieve great things. Sometimes, all it takes is someone reaching out a hand and showing them the way. With United Way’s support, EducationWorks will be able to help more students like Jackie realize their potential.”

-Martin Friedman, Executive Director, EducationWorks