The United Way of Southern Chautauqua County is working to end our education crisis.

Education is the cornerstone of individual and community success. But with more than 1.2 million children dropping out each year, America faces an education crisis. The cost? More than $312 billion in lost wages, taxes and productivity over their lifetimes.¹ These trends are reversible, but only when communities and public, private and nonprofit sectors work together.

Our Goal

In 2011, 9,434 minds reached their full potential from the programs supported with United Way dollars in southern Chautauqua County. From youth scouting to teen mentoring, we helped link lives to educational programs that are making a difference. This year, we hope to reach 9,500 minds through our partner agency educational programs.

Our Strategy

We can’t focus on high school alone. High school dropouts are 12 years in the making, usually starting early childhood education behind schedule. United Way's model focuses on supportive communities, effective schools and strong families — strategies and approaches rooted in research. Tackling the education challenge requires reframing education on a birth to 21 continuum.

How You Can Help

To reach our goal, we need your help. The strategies proven to work are those that connect communities to their schools: parent involvement; literacy volunteers in the classroom; mentors for disadvantaged students; business leaders engaged in early childhood advocacy. Volunteer to help.

¹Figure according to Communities in Schools, one of America’s leading drop-out prevention partnerships.