Blog

June 3, 2022

His first job was as a messenger in 1956, delivering telegrams on a bicycle for $1 an hour. Decades later, Dr. Lynn Beckwith is now one of St. Louis’ most renowned educators with a public library named after him in Frontenac. But, he says that if it weren’t for the help of United Way and […]

March 10, 2022

Singer and Actress Dolly Parton began the Dolly Parton Imagination Library program in 1995 to encourage children to value the importance of reading. The program started in East Tennessee where Parton grew up, but soon expanded to serve communities all over the country through partnerships with local organizations, including United Way of Greater St. Louis. […]

Among some of the most pressing challenges facing the black community today are disparities in education, economic mobility, and healthcare. Identifying effective strategies to help address inequities in these areas is extremely important to our local community and the work underway across multiple sectors. We spoke with three local leaders, currently partnering with United Way, […]

January 14, 2022

Looking to add to your reading list?   Making a list of interesting books to read is a great way to bring in the new year.   Reading helps you explore important topics that enhances your knowledge of various aspects of society.   We asked leaders from some of our partner agencies for some of […]

October 6, 2021

People You’re Helping Here in Greater St. Louis   The St. Louis region is our home. We all want to be a part of a thriving community and your support plays a big part in Helping Here. Your support of United Way helps 1 in 3 people across 324 ZIP codes. That’s 1 million people […]

August 13, 2021

  Helping students start their year off strong and find success   Eight-year-old Jaeden* is having a rough morning, but he doesn’t know why.   He’s excited to go to summer camp, but he can’t focus or sit still. Thankfully, he knows there’s somewhere he can go to calm down – the designated Safe Place […]

June 18, 2021

  How our community is creating new safe spaces for children to learn   Last summer, we worked with our safety net nonprofits to create safe places for children, so

May 10, 2021

  Our youth need mentors to lead by lifting By Michelle Tucker, President and CEO of United Way of Greater St. Louis The following blog post originally ran in the St. Louis American   In the St. Louis region, nearly 1 in 5 kids live in poverty, according to United Way’s recent Community Needs Assessment […]

May 6, 2021

  United Way Partner Nonprofit Helped Support Her During Her Formative Years   From the time Trisha Gordon* was born, the odds were stacked against her.   She was born prematurely at 24 weeks, with underdeveloped organs, including her brain and lungs. Doctors told her parents she had a noticeably short life expectancy. Trisha was […]

March 12, 2021

    Three ways United Way fosters learning   The world is full of new and exciting things to learn, especially for kids. But, for some, access to resources, tools, and supports are limited, which causes barriers to learning.   Children make up about 23% of the U.S. population, and less than half of Missouri […]

  What your fellow Leadership Giving Society members are reading March is National Reading Month – the perfect time to fall back in love with reading or find a new title to add to your list.   We asked some of our Leadership Giving Society members for recommendations. Here’s our list of books to […]

  What your fellow de Tocqueville Society members are reading March is National Reading Month – the perfect time to fall back in love with reading or find a new title to add to your list.   We asked some of our de Tocqueville Society members for recommendations. Here’s our list of books to […]

  Our National Reading Month book picks   March is National Reading Month – the perfect time to fall back in love with reading or discover something new.   Reading and a love of learning can help children and adults reach their potential, as well as fostering empowerment and opening up new perspectives.   Looking […]

    How United Way is bridging the digital divide   The COVID-19 crisis has made digital devices and the internet even more critical in our daily lives – buying groceries, working from home, attending school, staying connected with friends and more. But even with the countless ways to stay connected virtually, many in the […]

March 10, 2021

      How United Way helps kids build critical reading skills     Everyone deserves access to quality education and the opportunity to reach their potential.   However, 61% of kids from low-income families do not have any books at home, according to the Literacy Project Foundation. With nearly 1 in 5 kids across […]

January 15, 2021

    How mentoring helps local kids build a brighter future   At United Way, we believe every young person deserves the opportunity to build a bright future for themselves. But kids from at-risk communities face hurdles (such as poverty, instability at home or lack of access to critical resources) that could make it more […]

January 11, 2021

  Agencies receive $130,000 to help East St. Louis area youth   ST. LOUIS (January 11, 2021) — United Way of Greater St. Louis awarded 10 one-time community enhancement and COVID-19 response grants totaling $130,000 to local nonprofits, community agencies and faith-based organizations that provide programs and services to youth in the Greater East St. […]

March 27, 2020

    A note to you A note to you from Michelle D. Tucker, our president and CEO   Dear Greater St. Louis region,   When 2020 began, I, like many of you, was full of hope and excitement for the future of our region. While I continue to be full of hope and optimism, […]

March 10, 2020

    3 Crucial Skills You Teach Your Kids Through Reading   Did you know that reading for 20 minutes a day can give your child a “competitive edge” in the classroom?   Research shows that with 20 minutes a day of reading (or being read to), children will hear an average of 1.8 million […]

January 9, 2020

    How A Mentorship Can Change A Future     There’s no doubt about it: the support of a caring adult is a difference maker. A parental figure, or mentor, helps young people focus on school, work and life. But 1 in 3 youth don’t have a mentor growing up.   A mentorship helps […]

December 5, 2019

  7 Best Moments from 2019   It’s been another incredible year helping our community through United Way!   With 2019 coming to a close, we rounded up some of our favorite memories and biggest impacts.     171,155 United Way 2-1-1 calls Answered Our 2-1-1 call specialists answered 171,155 calls for a total of […]

July 23, 2019

    This is what a 12-year mentorship looks like   When it all started, 6-year-old Johnathan was only as tall as Adam’s hip. He was a little shy and dreamed of becoming a pilot. Adam had just moved to St. Louis to start his career.   Eager to find a way to give back […]

July 12, 2019

    “I Am Not My Circumstances:” Natasha’s Story     When Natasha’s on the track, nothing else matters but running.   She’s known ever since she was a little girl that she’s naturally fast. But her laser-sharp focus on her goals gives her an additional edge.   It’s that same drive that’s propelling […]

July 10, 2019

    Not Missing a Beat     Three-year-old Keegan is transfixed, concentrating on shoveling rocks into his pail in the backyard. Suddenly, he’s interrupted from his task and looks up at the sky. He points to a passing airplane.   Watching from the porch, his mom, Mitzi, grins from ear to ear.   When […]

  A Reason to Fight     Four-year-old Mila wants to be a doctor when she grows up, so it’s no surprise that’s her favorite thing to play with her mom, Maya.   “Mommy, let me take your temperature,” Mila says as she pulls out her toy thermometer and puts it in her mom’s mouth. […]

July 3, 2019

    For Academic Success, Focus on Summer Reading   School’s out for summer, but that doesn’t mean kids should put learning on hold. Summer is the perfect time for kids to hone their reading skills, which are crucial building blocks for future academic success, especially for young children.   More than 1 in 3 […]

June 19, 2019

  United Way’s Summer Reading Lists   Does your summer reading need a refresh? We asked local leaders for book recommendations to motivate, educate and inspire. Here are the top picks that kids and adults will love!   Our Summer Reading Picks – Kids Edition   Our Summer Reading Picks – Grownups Edition     […]

June 14, 2019

    Our Summer Reading Picks – Kids Edition     When the final bell rings on the last day of school, kids are looking forward to time with friends, camps or vacations and all the summer adventures that lie ahead. And what better adventure than getting lost in a good book?   We asked […]

    Our Summer Reading Picks – Grownups Edition     Summer is the perfect time to fall back in love with reading. Warmer days and longer daylight hours call for time spent relaxing with a book, whether you’re on your patio or on a plane en route to your vacation destination.   Looking to […]

March 15, 2019

When Molly adopted Shawn*, she was anxious to provide a loving home for a child in need.   Molly knew that Shawn had ended up in foster care because his biological mother had struggled with substance use disorder. Shawn and his biological mother had experienced homelessness and ongoing physical abuse and violence as a result. […]