One of the core areas of United Way of Metropolitan Chicago’s work that you support with your contribution is helping make sure young children enter kindergarten ready to learn and students enter high school on track for graduation. Specifically, United Way focuses on expanding resources for high-quality preschool and home visits and supporting at-risk middle school students and their families with academic resources, after-school enrichment programs.
United Way supports 70 partner agencies across the region that provide high quality early education and middle school programming including After-School All-Stars (ASAS). ASAS provides comprehensive out-of-school programs to 31,911 local students in 169 schools that keep local children safe and help them succeed in school and in life.
ASAS provides a variety of programs for local students including We are Ready (W.A.R.), a program designed for 8th graders who exhibit signs that they are at risk of dropping-out and helps them answer the question: Why does graduating from high school matter? Through career and college exposure, academic support, service projects, counseling and mentoring, W.A.R. provides middle school students with the skills, information, and confidence they need to successfully navigate their transition into high school so they are better prepared to graduate. W.A.R. gives students concrete strategies for success in high school and beyond.
We are pleased to partner with After-School All-Stars to give local students the vision and opportunity to succeed. With you, we’re proud to support their work as part of ours to keep kids on track for successful learning, and ultimately, graduation.