United Way Empower Program
Empower: Women United in Philanthropy is a group that focuses women’s leadership to prepare our children for kindergarten.
Empower Membership Form (download)
Empower’s goal and priorities include:
- Advocating for basic needs of children ages 0-6
- Supporting educational learning opportunities for children 0-6
- Promoting community progress toward school readiness
Empower Projects & Accomplishments:
- Growmobile: Mobile preschool providing access to early childhood and parent education for children and families and childcare across the community.
- Early Learning Screening Packs filled with educational materials and learning activities for parents and kids given out at early learning screenings across the community.
- Funding Kindergarten Testing in area schools to help measure school readiness in our school districts.
- $50,000 Otto Bremer Foundation three year matching grant.
- $60,000 Otto Bremer Foundation two year grant supporting the Success by 6 Coordinator position.
- 175 members networking and creating lasting community change for our community’s children.
- More than $360,000 raised to help prepare children for school.
- Community Project Grants established for early education advancements and needs. As of April 2011, Empower has granted $49,900 to:
- Sensory Learning Equipment for Spicer Preschool
- Lullabye Quilters
- Willmar Public Schools S.M.A.R.T. Program & Jump Start to Kindergarten Program
- New London Spicer ECFE Large Motor Skills Equipment & Pre-school room equipment
-
Latino Child Care Outreach Program
- Motor Skill Development for Spicer Preschool
- Curriculum Needs for Willmar ECFE & Family Education
- Somali Based Curriculum and Family Literacy Education
- ACMC’s “Reach Out & Read” Program
- Curriculum and Supplies for Area Child Care
- Translation Needs for Curriculum and Caregiver Education
- YMCA Childcare Center Infant/Toddler Playground
- ACGC Kindergarten Connection School Readiness Programs
- Early Learning Shopping Trails in area retailers to help parents interact with their children while shopping.
- “Success by 6” column in the West Central Tribune that offers early learning advice and activities for parents and caregivers.
- “Success by 6” community which nationally brands our area as a community promoting success by the age of 6.
- Born Learning Community Campaign launched to educate our community on how to turn every day moments into learning opportunities.
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