UW keeps on building ‘Success’ stories for Valley

Success has long been the watchword of the United Way of Youngstown and the Mahoning Valley.

For decades now, the organization has succeeded in raising tens of millions of dollars to ensure that scores of critically needed social-service agencies in our region can survive and thrive. Just last week, the UW affiliate reported it had raised $2.95 million during its 2015 fundraising campaign, a whopping $350,000 above its ambitious goal.

But philanthropic community fundraising is only one factor in UW’s formula for success. Increasingly, the agency has been adopting more active, hands-on, results-oriented approaches to achieve its broader mission of enhancing the quality of life for all in the Mahoning Valley.

One relatively new example of that commitment to make a positive community impact has been the agency’s own Success After Six program.

It debuted last year at Youngstown Community School as an educational initiative designed to bring together school and community resources to provide an intentional focus on academics, health and social services, as well as social and emotional development.

Some of its goals mirror those most in demand, particularly in urban landscapes such as Youngstown. They include improving reading, increasing parental involvement and decreasing tardiness and absenteeism in school.

Those issues also just happen to be some of the same trouble spots that continue to vex Youngstown City Schools. We therefore look forward to the program’s projected expansion into the city’s public school system as soon as possible.

ANOTHER SUCCESS STORY

Success After Six has built upon the achievements of its predecessor, Success By Six, a pre-kindergarten early literacy program that has witnesses phenomenal growth and accomplishments since its inception seven years ago.

Clearly, Success By Six and Success After Six have proven themselves as invaluable community assets. The programs deserve the support and involvement of the entire community. Call the UW Youngstown office to offer your volunteer services.

As Robert Hannon, president of UW of Youngstown and the Mahoning Valley, put it at last week’s annual meeting of the group, “I think there is magic going on there.”

We look for Success After Six and Success By Six to expand their magical and potentially transformative reach to greater numbers of Valley children and schools in the months and years ahead.

We also urge the United Way chapter to vigorously pursue the growth of these and other direct-action programs to extend even farther its long stretch of successes in community enrichment.