United Way of Grant County exists because every person in Grant County deserves the opportunity to thrive, and for children, that opportunity starts with the ability to read. Today, United Way of Grant County announced a grant from General Motors, awarded through GM Marion Stamping’s Community Impact Grants (CIG) program, to support Grant County Reads!, United Way’s countywide early literacy initiative.
Grant County Reads! brings together schools, libraries, childcare providers, and families around a shared goal: strong early literacy as the foundation for lifelong learning. Through the Dolly Parton Imagination Library, United Way of Grant County delivers monthly, age-appropriate books to over 2,200 children, nearly 60% of all county children under five. Alongside that work, the Grant County Literacy Taskforce, a coalition of educators, librarians, early childhood providers, and civic leaders convened by United Way, is building the county’s shared literacy strategy grounded in real school and community data.
GM’s grant will help cover book and mailing costs for approximately 340 Grant County children over the coming year, and support Literacy Taskforce coordination, community literacy events, and the data collection United Way uses to target outreach where it is needed most.
“We are so grateful to General Motors for this grant and for the trust it shows in our work,” said LeeAnna Smith, Executive Director of United Way of Grant County. “GM has been a steady partner to United Way and this community for decades, and their support for Grant County Reads! means more children get books in their hands and more support for the teachers, librarians, and volunteers working every day to help our kids read. Thank you to GM Marion Stamping for standing behind this work.”
United Way of Grant County has spent more than six decades bringing this community together around its toughest challenges. Since 2024, the organization has facilitated the Grant County Literacy Taskforce, and it continues to coordinate volunteer engagement, marketing, and fiscal oversight across major local and corporate partnerships. Grant County Reads! is part of United Way’s broader work across four pillars: Healthy Community, Youth Opportunity, Financial Security, and Community Resiliency, each aimed at measurable improvement in the lives of Grant County families.
Grant County Reads! depends on the continued generosity of this community. Residents who want to support early literacy can learn more about the Imagination Library, the Literacy Taskforce, and other United Way initiatives, or find ways to give, volunteer, or get involved, at www.uwgrant.com.
