A week ago the UW announced their plans for Christmas. Below is the press release in its entirety.
The Twelve Days of Giveaways is the United Way’s first virtual fundraiser event, that will take place from December 8th through December 23rd 2020. During this time United Way will be giving away twelve packages of “Holiday Cheer”. Packages will include wine, liquor, beer, and other items to help you make it through the holidays. Tickets will be on sale on the United Way website for $5 each and three for $10. All proceeds will benefit the United Way’s Imagination Library program. Tickets will be available October 15th, 2020.
Every day from December 8th through the 23rd, weekdays only, United Way will draw one winner to win a holiday package of cheer, with each package valued at $150.00 or more. Three packages will be valued at $250 and on the 12th day of Giveaway the package will be over $400.00 in value. United Way will also hold a virtual 50/50 that will be available to purchase online and will be picked on the 12th day of the giveaway. *Due to the contents of the packages you must be 21 years of age or older to participate.
This event was made possible by a major sponsorship from Stubler’s Drive-Thru and Beverage. More information will be coming in near future.
When COVID-19 hit this past spring the United Way was forced to cancel their two Guest Bartender events that were scheduled for 2020. This was very troubling, as these events played a critical role in the funding for the Imagination Library Program. Without these events they had no choice but to place a hold on enrollment, which has led to a waiting list of roughly 250 children. United Way hopes that with this fundraiser they will be able to open back up registration, providing more children with a free book, once a month, delivered to their home.
United Way kicked off their Guest Bartender events in April of 2019 to support The Imagination Library. These events were a huge success for the United Way and provided over half the funding for the program this past year. The Imagination Library helps children become prepared for their first day of kindergarten and instills a love of reading at an early age. The United Way of Venango County wants to put a book in every child's hand, age birth to age five, at no cost to the families. Through the Imagination Library, kids will receive a FREE age appropriate book mailed directly to their home until they turn five years old, to encourage a love of reading and foster future school success.
With education being one of the key components to what United Way believes to be the building blocks for a happy and successful life the Imagination Library is very important to them. United Way strives to prepare children, youth, and young adults to succeed in school and life. Children enrolled for the full course of the Imagination Library, age birth through five, receive 60 books before ever entering a kindergarten classroom. This familiarizes them with literature and gives them a jumpstart to their education career. With over 37% of families in Venango County living at or below the ALICE income levels (Asset limited, income constrained, employed) this free program is an incredible asset to our community.