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United Way of Southwest Alabama / Uncategorized  / Eat, Drink, & Be Ugly For a Good Cause

Eat, Drink, & Be Ugly For a Good Cause

On the night of Thursday, December 4, 2014, United Way of Southwest Alabama (UWSWA) will be hosting a wine tasting and an ugly holiday sweater contest at the Mobile Museum of History from 6:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. All of the proceeds from the Wine Down will benefit Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library of Mobile County, which provides carefully selected, age-appropriate books free to eligible homes with children under the age of five.

This event is organized by UWSWA’s affinity group United Way’s Emerging Leaders, which is comprised of members between the ages of 21 and 40 who are interested in seeking to build a better community by inspiring volunteerism and promoting philanthropy among the next generation of leaders. United Way’s Emerging Leaders raise funds for Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library of Mobile County and promote reading to preschool children throughout the year as a way of improving education in Mobile County.

Education is one of United Way’s four Building Blocks for a Better Community and reading is  vital for success in school. Studies have found that for every fifty children who do not learn to read in kindergarten, 44 of them will have trouble reading in the third grade. Children who are not reading proficiently in the third grade are four times more likely to not graduate on time. In an effort to help Mobile families overcome these statistics, 1,360 Imagination Library books were mailed to children in the Mobile area in 2013 and the program continues to grow throughout 2014.

“Reading to preschool children is an important component for building success in school later in life,” Ryan New, Chair of United Way’s Emerging Leaders, said. “Success in school, and subsequently graduation rates, are built upon a child’s ability to read and comprehend material before they even enter kindergarten. It is through United Way events like the Wine Down that the Emerging Leaders are able to mobilize a vital resource in improving education throughout Mobile County and help spread awareness about the importance of reading early on in life.”

Those who are interested in attending this event should click here for more information or to register a team. Participants must be at least 21 years of age.

About Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library

The Dolly Parton Imagination Library was designed to encourage reading to preschool children. Each month after a child is registered – up until their fifth birthday – a carefully selected, age-appropriate book is sent to the child’s home. There is no cost to the family; UWSWA provides the books free of charge. Currently, children living in zip codes 36509, 36587, 36605, 36610, 36615, or 36617 are eligible. For more information or to register your child, please visit http://imaginationlibrary.com/.