VALPARAISO – United Way Reading Buddies regional literacy program, funded by a $20,000 donation from Attorney Kenneth J. Allen, kicked off its program year Sept. 30. The United Way delivers reading buddies to 170 first and second grade classrooms in Lake, Porter and LaPorte counties.

“Generous funding from Program Sponsor Kenneth J. Allen Law Group allowed United Way Reading Buddies to nearly double in size this year, said United Way of Porter County Director of Volunteer Engagement Mackenna Schon.

Kenneth J. Allen hand-delivered Reading Buddies in classrooms at Central Elementary in Portage and Kenwood Elementary in Hammond.

“We are extremely pleased to fund this valuable program. There is no more important element to society than quality education, and literacy,” said Mr. Allen. “We are honored to sponsor the Reading Buddies program.”

Delivering 4,000 stuffed animal Reading Buddies across the Region was a community effort. Two Men & a Truck of Valparaiso donated a cargo van and a driver, while the Valparaiso University Softball team and other United Way volunteers and staff worked together to cover all participating classrooms.

Reading Buddies is a literacy program developed by United Way that provides first and second graders with a stuffed animal “buddy” for the children to read aloud to for 15 minutes each day, increasing their motivation to read. In conjunction with the teacher’s instruction, the Reading Buddy tool leads to higher oral fluency scores and achieving reading at grade level.

For additional information, contact Mackenna Schon at mackenna@unitedwaypc.org

United Way of Porter County leads, unites, and inspires our community to improve lives. United Way invests in 3 core strategies: Education, Financial Stability and Health. We help nearly 40,000 Porter County residents per year build better lives. For more information, visit www.unitedwaypc.org, www.unitedforchildren.org & www.nwivolunteer.org or call 219-464-3583.