United for Literacy Initiative - Service Funding Stream

Geographic Scope: Winnebago County, Illinois

Focus Areas:

• Early childhood literacy (ages 0-5 and early elementary)
• Integration of five key literacy components: phonemic awareness, phonics, vocabulary, fluency, and comprehension
• Interactive read-alouds, independent reading, and parents/caregivers as first teachers
• Support for underserved areas

Eligibility:

• Organizations receiving more than $5,000
• Committed to deeply integrating literacy into their services
• Willing to participate in site visits and collaborate on outcome tracking
• Alignment with UWRRV's goal: 75% of third-grade students reading at or above grade level by 2034

Award Recipients (2025-26):

• Boys & Girls Club of Rockford
• Brightpoint
• Easterseals
• Harlem School District
• Regional Office of Education
• Rockford Public Library
• Rockford Public Schools (RPS 205)
• YMCA of Rock River Valley
• YWCA of Northwestern Illinois

Application Process

UWRRV issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) in February for the second cohort of the United for Literacy initiative.

Requirements:

• Submit RFP response demonstrating commitment to literacy integration
• Willingness to participate in site visits and outcome tracking
• Alignment with five key literacy components and UWRRV's 2034 goal
• Participation in collaborative data collection and reporting

Note: Specific application materials and deadlines not detailed in source material. Contact Jessica Iasparro for current RFP details.