Women United, a group of philanthropic women dedicated to strengthening families and helping every child in Champaign County read, learn, and thrive, has awarded the first-ever Women United Literacy Grants through United Way of Champaign County. United Way unites people and resources to create lasting change in education, financial stability, health, and community resiliency — because United is the Way.
Thanks to the generosity of donors at the 2025 Power of the Purse event last May, more than $50,000 will be invested directly into local schools, educators, and programs making a measurable impact on youth literacy in our community.
This year marked a significant shift for Power of the Purse — channeling the power of the event to address a literacy crisis that affects thousands of children in Champaign County.
“In Illinois, fewer than one-third of third graders met reading proficiency standards in 2024,” said Emily Neal, Director of Engagement at United Way of Champaign County. “That means far too many students are falling behind before they’ve even had the chance to dream about their future. Women United believes this is a fixable problem, and is determined to change the story in Champaign County. Our commitment to elevating youth literacy is strong and sustaining.”
2025–26 Women United Literacy Grant Recipients
- Angel’s Youth Center — Literacy Program
- Barkstall Elementary School — Dynamic Shelving for Early Learners
- Carrie Busey Elementary School — Browsable Book Shelves for Independent Readers
- Champaign County Regional Planning Commission - Early Childhood Education — Foundations for Lifelong Learning
- Champaign Public Library — Mother Goose on the Loose
- CU Early – Urbana Early Childhood School — Early Literacy Project
- Dr. Howard Elementary School — Library Improvement Plan
- Dr. Preston Williams Elementary School — Curriculum to Develop Lifelong Readers
- DREAAM Opportunity Center — After School Tutoring
- Urbana Neighborhood Connections Center — Black, Brown & Beautiful Family Literacy Program
- Urbana Park District — Read Across America
United Way of Champaign County and Women United congratulate this year’s recipients for their dedication to helping children build strong literacy skills and bright futures.