22.7% of children under 5 in Erie County live below the poverty level.
Many socially and economically disadvantaged kids enter kindergarten 1 to 2 years behind in skills they need to be successful in school.
85% of parents believe their children are in high quality child care programs, but only 15% of all child care programs meet high national quality standards.

You and United Way make a difference!

United Way is working to ensure that every child in Erie County enters school ready to succeed.

Investing in our children reaps tremendous rewards. National studies indicate that every dollar spent in early childhood education saves up to down the road, as measured by lower crime, fewer teen pregnancies, and higher education and earning levels.

Your contribution to United Way is an investment in Erie County's preschoolers. No organization has its finger on the pulse of our critical needs like United Way. We collaborate with dozens of local partners to make the biggest possible impact where it's most needed. For preschoolers, that means making sure that child care in Erie County is the best it can be.

United Way Matters for Preschoolers

Success By 6® has worked with 155 of the 645 licensed child care programs in Erie County to improve the quality of care they provide. Overall, these programs have improved by an average of 17% as measured by a national rating scale.
Since 2001, 59 child care providers have received national accreditation.
7,500 children in early childhood classrooms received better care last year because their teachers received assistance through Success By 6®

Investing In Early Childhood Development

Click here for a list of Community Care funded programs that are helping children in our community.