On Friday, March 7, United Way of Metropolitan Dallas celebrated its Centennial Reading Day, an event dedicated to fostering early literacy in North Texas. The event, held at Paul L. Dunbar Learning Center, was a powerful collaboration between United Way, the Dallas Cowboys, and Dallas ISD, bringing together over 1,000 volunteers to inspire a love of reading in 15,000 elementary students across 47 schools.
Charlotte Jones, Chief Brand Officer and Co-Owner of the Dallas Cowboys, served as Honorary Chair, reinforcing the importance of early literacy in shaping future academic success. Joining her in the initiative was Dallas Cowboys Offensive Lineman Tyler Smith, along with United Way CEO Jennifer Sampson and Dallas ISD Superintendent Dr. Stephanie Elizalde.
Throughout the morning, volunteers and celebrity guests engaged students in interactive storytelling sessions, encouraging young learners to build their reading skills and confidence. Research shows that children who read at grade level by third grade are five times more likely to graduate high school prepared for college or a career, making early literacy a key focus for United Way’s ongoing efforts.
Since its inception in 2015, Reading Day has reached more than 50,000 North Texas students, growing from a handful of schools to nearly 50 campuses this year. The event is part of the Aspire United Volunteer Series, presented by Texas Instruments, with Atmos Energy as this year’s presenting sponsor.
Beyond the day’s festivities, the impact continues—United Way is inviting the community to support literacy efforts by donating books at UnitedWayDallas.org, helping to build home libraries and inspire the next generation of readers.
As United Way approaches its centennial anniversary in November, events like Reading Day serve as a testament to a century of commitment to education, literacy, and the success of North Texas students.
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