Travis Maxwell, a volunteer from Nestle Purina PetCare Co., reads to students in the Dunkirk City School District as part of United Way of Chautauqua County’s Literacy Week 2025, joining volunteers from across sectors in support of early literacy and youth opportunity.

Thanks to the help of more than 70 volunteers, United Way Literacy Week 2025 reached 1,975 students across six school districts at the start of April — emphasizing the joy of reading through classroom visits and placing a brand-new book in every child’s hands to take home.

Facilitating literacy events such as this is a key priority for United Way of Chautauqua County (UWCHQ), aligning with one of the organization’s core strategic impact areas: Youth Opportunity.

Organized each year in partnership with CHQ Professionals Group, Literacy Week brings together volunteers from businesses, civic groups, nonprofits, major manufacturers, small businesses and the broader community to read to students in their classrooms. This year, volunteers read to students in a total of 118 classrooms in Dunkirk, Fredonia, Forestville, Ripley, Sinclairville and Brocton.

Each child received a new book to take home, reinforcing the power of reading beyond the school day and helping spark a lifelong love of learning.

“United Way is about bringing people together,” said Daniel Siracuse, UWCHQ’s Northern Chautauqua Community Relations Coordinator. “Our mission is to mobilize the community to help every person and family improve their lives. Literacy Week puts that mission into motion — by meeting kids where they are, encouraging a connection to reading and showing them that their community believes in their success.”

United Way has been organizing literacy events for 10 years in Chautauqua County, with the format changing each year based on school participation, volunteer capacity, and community needs.

What hasn’t changed is the agency’s commitment to academic success and creating opportunities for the next generation of county residents.

“We’re always inspired by how the community shows up for these literacy events,” said Monica Simpson, CHQ Professionals Group Co-Chair and Partner Engagement Coordinator for the Chautauqua County Partnership for Economic Growth (CCPEG). “The opportunity to read with a child — even for just one day — is an investment in their future and in the future of our region. CHQ Professionals are proud to support this effort. It’s our favorite volunteer event of the year, and we love partnering with the United Way.”

While it’s an impactful week for students and volunteers alike, Literacy Week also highlights United Way’s unique role as a mobilization engine — bringing together individuals from throughout the community to drive meaningful change. By leveraging relationships across sectors, UWCHQ helps improve lives and strengthen communities throughout Chautauqua County.

Volunteers who participated in Literacy Week 2025 represented a wide range of organizations, highlighting the cross-sector collaboration that makes this event possible. This year’s readers came from Purina, Cassadaga Job Corps, county government, Dunkirk Police Department, Jamestown Community College, Jamestown Plastics, Putnam Record Insurance Agency, Boys & Girls Club of Northern Chautauqua County, Chautauqua Opportunities Inc. (COI), Northern Chautauqua Community Foundation (NCCF), Fidelis Care, The Chautauqua Center, Cattaraugus County Bank, Chautauqua County Partnership For Economic Growth, and SUNY Fredonia.

This year’s Literacy Week also featured several Spanish-speaking volunteers who read to children. 100% of volunteers surveyed said they would participate again next year.

Literacy Week 2025 was supported by a generous grant from Northern Chautauqua Community Foundation and supported with book sponsorships from Cattaraugus County Bank, Dunkirk-Fredonia Rotary Club, Fredonia Cycling and Sir PrintsAlot.

For more information about how to get involved with United Way initiatives or to support next year’s Literacy Week, visit www.uwayscc.org or follow United Way on Facebook and Instagram. Questions can also be directed to Daniel Siracuse by calling (716) 366-5424 or by emailing dsiracuse@uwayscc.org.