United Way’s Success By 6® Launches Book Drive in Egg Harbor City

June, 14, 2004~ As part of an early literacy campaign, United Way of Atlantic County’s Success By 6® initiative is collecting new or gently-used books throughout the month of June at various locations in Egg Harbor City. The books will be distributed to children at Success By 6’s story hours at the Egg Harbor City Hometown Celebration on July 9 and 10.

Success By 6 is also organizing summertime reading groups for children in Egg Harbor City. At their Hometown Celebration booth, Success By 6 will recruit volunteers and accept sign-ups from children and their families interested in attending the reading groups.

Locations for the Egg Harbor City book drive are: Christ Wesleyan Church, 800 Philadephia Ave.; Dunkin Donuts, White Horse Pike; Ed’s Family Market, 143 Philadelphia Ave.; Falciano’s Florist and Gifts, 144 Philadelphia Ave.; Fleet Bank, 158 Philadelphia Ave.; Mario’s Pizzeria, 206 Philadelphia Ave.; McDonald’s, St. Louis Ave. and White Horse Pike; the Moravian Church, 235 Boston Ave.; and Shampu, 31 Philadelphia Ave. New or gently-used books may also be dropped off at United Way of Atlantic County, 4 East Jimmie Leeds Road, Suite 10, Galloway.

Success By 6 is a nationally-recognized, community-based private and public collaboration created by United Way that is dedicated to addressing the critical issues that face children from infancy to 6 years of age. The AtlantiCare Foundation launched Atlantic County’s Success By 6 Initiative in 1995, fashioned after the national United Way model. The primary focus of the Initiative was improving childhood immunization rates. In 2003, United Way of Atlantic County assumed management of Success By 6 as a means to expand its community collaborative efforts.

Individuals from businesses, education, health care, government, media, and service organizations form an Advisory Council to direct the activities of the Success By 6 Initiative. The Council members help determine what problems exist in the community and then explore how to address them, using existing services that are available. The Advisory Council members identified five top issues affecting children in our community: age-appropriate immunizations, early literacy, pediatric dental issues, parenting skills and pre-natal care.

Success By 6 welcomes new partners and participants. For further information, including additional book drop-off sites, contact Alice Woods, United Way of Atlantic County’s Director of Community Initiatives, at (609) 404-4483 ext. 19 or visit www.unitedwayac.org.

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