Press Releases

Helping Children Succeed for Life:
Bergen County's United Way Makes Investment in Early Academic Success

BERGEN COUNTY, NJ, November 21, 2006- Bergen County’s United Way has invested $30,000 in making affordable, quality childcare available to low-income families in Bergen County as part of its Success by 6 Initiative. Partners in this initiative include Children’s Aid and Family Services, Bergen Family Center, the YMCAs of Hackensack and North Arlington, the YWCA of Ridgewood, and the Vincent K. Tibbs and Dr. David Goldberg Child Care Centers.

“Investing in our children is one of the most important ways of building a better future for Bergen County,” said Tom Toronto, President and CEO of Bergen County’s United Way. “All children should have equal opportunity to succeed.

Early education programs provide the pre-reading literacy skills that are essential to a child’s future academic success. Our focus is on children whose families may not otherwise afford that opportunity.”

According to medical and scientific research, children develop at a phenomenal rate from infancy to age five. They connect sights, sounds and experiences faster than at any other time in life. As a result, their experience at this developmental stage, have a lasting impact on later success in school and life. Success by 6 works to ensure that all children from birth through six have the social, emotional, language, cognitive, and physical well being to successfully begin school.

Through its Success by 6 initiative Bergen County’s United Way has garnered support from corporate and foundation partners including Citigroup Foundation, Becton Dickinson, Bank of America, Ford Motor Company, and 3M.

“Citigroup is committed to educating the next generation and early education programs provide a sound foundation. We believe that all children should have the opportunity to start school prepared and eager to achieve,” said Raquel Vargas, Citigroup Foundation Program Officer. “We are proud to partner with Bergen County’s United Way on this initiative.”

Bergen County’s United Way is how our community uses its head, and its heart to lend people a hand. The organization is helping in direct and vital ways and is making getting help easier. A call to the United Way’s 2-1-1 helpline makes the simple but critical connection to help 24 hours a day, everyday, wherever it is needed.