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Giving All Children a Strong Start

When you give to Mile High United Way, you ensure that every child has early experiences that prepare them to become life-long learners.

Did you know that 90 percent of brain development takes place before age 5*?
* The Rauch Foundation

A child’s earliest experiences - before they even enter school - can determine their ability to succeed for the rest of their lives. Access to quality education is essential to improving their health and promoting their development and learning into the future.

 

Because of the Mile High United Way Social Innovation Fund, our early literacy program providers are able to measure the impact of high-quality programs on young children’s education – and are seeing positive results. And, they are setting a higher standard for other programs in Colorado to follow.

Working families with children face some frustrating challenges.

In Metro Denver, there are only licensed child care spots for 41% of children under age 6 who have working parents*

By age 5, more than 50% of low-income children are not considered school-ready (compared to 25% of moderate and high-income children)**
Colorado has the 6th least affordable center-based care for 4-year-olds in the US***

High-quality early care and education is important because we know that
the academic success of children in their later years depends heavily on their kindergarten readiness.****

* Qualistar and the American Community Survey, 5-Year Estimates 2009-2013  ** The Brookings Institution   

*** Parents and the High Cost of Childcare Report 2014   **** National Institute for Early Education Research, Pre-School Policy Brief, 2005

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Here's how we're helping.

Mile High United Way supports high quality early care and education for young children by funding community partners who address these complex issues.

Last year, our investments supported 4,458 high-quality child care spots for young children
We reached 32,240 young children with high-quality education and care
Our Social Innovation Fund partners engaged 13,868 parents and families to ensure that they have resources to support their children's early development
How you can help.

You can change lives, it doesn't take much.

$40 per month will provide high-quality positive experiences for one child in our Social Innovation Fund program for a year, to prepare her for a life of learning.

For workplace or employee giving campaigns, don’t use this “Donate” link. Please donate through your employer's method of choice.

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