UW-040-Cheatham-Davidson-Robertson-Fab-WEB - Flipbook - Page 3
BUILDING STRONG FOUNDATIONS FROM THE START
United Way has long invested in the education of our youngest residents through partnerships that expand
access to affordable, high-quality early child care for children from birth through age 5. These investments
ensure children enter kindergarten ready to learn while supporting early childhood professionals who make
that success possible.
READ TO SUCCEED
RAISE YOUR HAND
Launched in 2004, Read to Succeed is a
comprehensive early childhood learning model
focused on building both academic and socialemotional skills from birth to age 5. The program is
grounded in a vision of equitable, high-quality early
education for every child and family.
UWGN’s Raise Your Hand program provides
free tutoring and academic support to students
across Middle Tennessee. In Cheatham County,
33 dedicated Raise Your Hand teachers and
volunteers served more than 160 students across
six elementary schools. And in Robertson County,
51 Raise Your Hand teachers and volunteers
served 348 昀椀 rst through eighth graders across 12
schools. In both counties, nearly 70% of all students
improved their reading scores from the previous
school year.
Read to Succeed strengthens classrooms by providing
instructional coaching, professional development
and training for early childhood educators. Children in
participating programs are assessed for kindergarten
readiness at ages 3 and 4.
During the 2024–2025 school year, 499 3and 4-year-olds were evaluated, with 94%
demonstrating pro昀椀 ciency in overall developmental
readiness. In addition, 2,805 hours of training
and support were delivered to early child care
providers—reinforcing quality, consistency and longterm impact across early learning environments
STRENGTHENING FINANCIAL FUTURES
NASHVILLE FINANCIAL
EMPOWERMENT CENTER (FEC)
In 2025, the Nashville Financial Empowerment
Center, a program of the Mayor’s Of昀椀 ce, continued to
deliver measurable, life-changing results for families
navigating 昀椀 nancial challenges. Through free, oneon-one counseling focused on credit, debt, banking
and 昀椀 nancial behaviors, the FEC supported 1,206
individuals across 2,906 counseling sessions.
As a result of this work, families reduced $7.6 million
in debt and increased savings by $1.5 million—helping
stabilize households and create pathways toward
long-term 昀椀 nancial security.
RESET: SUPPORTING OLDER ADULTS
The Raising Economic Security to Enjoy Thriving
(RESET) initiative extends the reach of the Financial
Empowerment Center to older adults, many of whom
live on 昀椀 xed incomes. Launched in partnership with
AgeWell, FiftyForward, NeedLink Nashville and the
Tennessee Justice Center, RESET provides bene昀椀 t
screenings and personalized 昀椀 nancial counseling.
Funded by the AARP Foundation, RESET served 297
adults age 50 or older, delivering 669 counseling
sessions. Participants realized a combined $185,360
increase in savings and $1.2 million in debt reduction,
strengthening 昀椀 nancial stability for older neighbors
across the community.
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