The UPS Foundation has donated $5,000 to support United Way of Tulare County’s (UWTC) Literacy Project. 

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The project is a new program aimed at lowering the rate of illiteracy in Tulare County while promoting and encouraging reading.

According to UWTC Executive Director Rosemary Caso, the funds will be used to provide K-3 teachers with the books they need to teach at the highest level.

“We want to ensure children in Tulare County become powerful readers writers, and thinkers,” Caso said. “UPS has always been a strong supporter of United Way, but this most recent donation shows they really stand behind United Way’s vision of creating great change in Tulare County communities.”

According to Caso, UPS also supports other United Way efforts and conducts workplace giving campaigns in which their employees directly support United Way.

“The UPS Foundation is honored to support the United Way of Tulare County’s efforts toward The Literacy Project. Our goal is to fund powerful programs that make a lasting difference to the global community,” said Bryan Hemman, supervisor of UPS Global Business Services.

According to statistics, in Tulare County the adult functional illiteracy rate is 41 percent, compared to 23 percent for the rest of California’s population. Statistics also show students who leave third grade without reading proficiently are more likely to drop out of high school.

With a simple application process, K-3 teachers can apply for funding to provide needed books for their classrooms. UWTC will be awarding the mini-grants to K-3 teachers in Tulare County for the 2016/17 school year. The deadline for submitting