United is the Way to Send Children to Kindergarten Prepared and Excited to Learn

When family budgets are already stretched thin, access to high-quality, affordable early learning means parents can keep working and still afford other basic necessities that help their households thrive.

That’s why United Way of Central Ohio invests in the programs run by our long-time partner YMCA of Central Ohio. In Ohio, fewer than 40% of children start kindergarten with the skills they need to learn, while more than 93% of children in YMCA early learning programs arrive ready. These critical programs not only prepare children for success from day one, they help build stronger, more stable communities for everyone.

Through our Success by Third Grade movement, we’re committed to putting more children on a pathway for success by the time they leave third grade. That means building a solid foundation early and ensuring families have a real chance to move forward.