United Way of Hernando County's Education Initiative 

Goal

Residents of all ages will have access to quality education services to further enhance their knowledge, skills, and behavior in order to be successful in school, work, family, and community.

Focus Areas

• Early childhood development and school readiness
• Mentoring/tutoring support or out of school services
• Middle grade success and transitions
• Youth development and family engagement

Education Initiative Programs

• Born Learning: Educating Parents 
• Born Learning Trails
• Bright Apple Award
• Dolly Parton Imagination Library: Supporting Early Literacy 
• Little Free Libraries
• Scholarships through CETA
• Student Board: Students Address Local Issues
• Stuff the Bus: Supporting Local Classrooms

How You Can Help

To reach our goal, we need your help. These education initiative programs help connect and fill gaps in services and focus on parent involvement, literacy efforts in the classroom, access to educational materials, and young leaders engaged in their community. Give back by supporting United Way's Education Initiative. 

Please watch this inspiring TED TALK video as John Hunter puts all the problems of the world on a 4'x5' plywood board -- and lets his 4th-graders solve them. At TED2011, he explains how his World Peace Game engages schoolkids, and why the complex lessons it teaches -- spontaneous, and always surprising -- go further than classroom lectures can. An interesting look on education and life and the way we learn.