UW-040-Dickson-Hickman-Williamson-Fab-WEB - Flipbook - Page 3
INVESTING EARLY, TOGETHER
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.
PATRICIA HART SOCIETY
UNITED WE READ
Named in honor of Patricia Hart—a Williamson
County resident and longtime community
volunteer—the Patricia Hart Society (PHS)
brings members together to support United
Way’s work in early childhood education
and literacy. While the Society is composed
primarily of women, it is open and welcoming
to all who share a commitment to giving
children a strong start.
In 2025, United We Read expanded in
Williamson County to include two Community
Investment Fund-supported child care partners:
High Hopes and Community Child Care. The
program brings books, classroom supplies and
local volunteer leaders into early childhood
education centers.
With a minimum annual gift of $500, the
Society currently includes 350 members
who collectively contribute nearly $500,000
each year to United Way’s work. Their
impact is ampli昀椀 ed through Books & Bubbly,
the Society’s signature fundraiser, which
generated more than $80,000 in support of
early literacy initiatives this year.
Patricia Hart believed extraordinary things
happen when women come together—and the
members and leadership of the Patricia Hart
Society continue to bring that belief to life
through generosity, leadership and action.
Reading with a child is a powerful act of
connection. It helps children build vocabulary,
expand their understanding of the world,
strengthen brain development and, most
importantly, feel loved. Through United We
Read, these moments of connection are creating
stronger foundations for lifelong learning.
STUFF THE BUS
This year’s Stuff the Bus initiative helped
ensure students across the region started the
school year prepared and con昀椀 dent.
> 500 backpacks were delivered to Dickson
County
> 300 backpacks to Hickman County
> 1,500 backpacks to Williamson County
Each backpack was 昀椀 lled with essential school
supplies, easing 昀椀 nancial pressure on families
and supporting students’ readiness to learn
from day one.
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