United Way’s Read to Succeed recruits 500 mentors, reports progress

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A communitywide effort to improve Central Iowa students’ reading skills has recruited 500 mentors and launched several strategies that are showing success. United Way of Central Iowa announced Tuesday the results of its Read to Succeed campaign at Willard Elementary. Tom Ahart, superintendent of Des Moines Public Schools, said, “Our teachers and staff work hard every day, but all of us must do our part to help students read proficiently by third grade and succeed through graduation. United Way’s campaign is making an incredible difference in many ways.” The program launched in 2016. Other highlights Tuesday included: Book Buddy, a program that pairs volunteers to read with 4-year-olds, has expanded to nine centers; Vision to Learn provided more than 700 students at 22 elementary schools with eyeglasses; and Central Iowa businesses donated 40,000 books, 10,000 more than projected, through the Stuff the Bus effort.