African American Leadership Council and volunteers give students encouragement to remain active readers during the summer
NORTH CHARLESTON, SC – Thanks to generous community support, Trident United Way’s African American Leadership Council (AALC) will be distributing more than 2,000 books for summer reading to St. Stephen and E.B. Ellington Elementary Schools in St. Stephen and Ravenel respectively.
The AALC surpassed its goal of 2,200 books to be donated to students thanks to community support and a dedicated group of donors. This is the sixth year Trident United Way’s AALC has done this valuable community service. The goal is to avoid the “summer slide, where students, especially those from low-income families, tend to lose some of the achievement gains they made during the previous school year.
Volunteers and donors made all the difference to help families who may not have financial resources for summer reading exercises.
VIDEO: Click below for a downloadable link of Trident United Way volunteers working to sort and pack books and soundbites from volunteer Jennifer Brown, AALC member.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/s945njty9ulfvme/AALCBookDrive6-2021.mp4?dl=0
SOUNDBITE 1: “This is so great because we’re always trying to avoid the summer slide and we’re always encouraging reading.”
SOUNDBITE 2: “The sooner you can get children loving books, the better it will be for the whole community. We are excited and are looking forward to our schools that have been selected to have a fun summer reading their books.”
Pictured below: book deliveries at E.B. Ellington and St. Stephen Elementary Schools accepting books for summer reading programs.
ALC members will also be reaching out to schools directly, with virtual reading days at St. Stephen Elementary. Giving kids a chance to see successful African American leaders in our community is another way how Trident United Way inspires kids.
Education is one of Trident United Way’s three focus areas, along with financial stability and health. We bring organizations from across the Tri-County together to solve problems that no one organization can solve alone.
Thanks to our sponsors:
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AALC Steering Committee
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Berkeley Electric Cooperative
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Electa Chapter #7 Order of Eastern Star
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Floyd Brace Orthotics and Prosthetics– were there specific names? Maurice and Niki Johnson Or the company
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Former SC State & Detroit Lion Pro Bowl star Robert Porcher
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Ingevity
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New Vision Cathedral
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Dr. Maxine Smith
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SouthState Bank
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About Trident United Way - Celebrating more than 76 years of service, Trident United Way is a catalyst for measurable community transformation in education, financial stability and health. According to the Chronicle of Philanthropy, United Way is America’s favorite charity. Learn more at tuw.org.