UPS and its employees are donating more than $5 million to support grade-level reading work being done by United Ways across the country, United Way announced today. The substantial donation to United Way represents a decision by UPS employees to dedicate their contributions to ensuring that more low-income children have a strong foundation in education.

The investment will benefit United Ways in nearly 100 communities that are currently working closely with the Campaign for Grade-Level Reading to promote early reading skills. Eduardo Martinez, who heads The UPS Foundation, says company employees believe in the power of education and appreciate the Campaign’s emphasis on third-grade reading proficiency.

“This decision by UPS and its employees will enable local United Ways to create more hopeful futures for tens of thousands of children throughout the nation,” said GLR Campaign Managing Director Ralph Smith. “Supporting the people and organizations who know the context, history and changing dynamics of their communities is a smart and effective investment strategy.”

The GLR Campaign is working with more than 140 communities to address many of the challenges that keep low-income children from learning to read proficiently. The work includes ensuring that children arrive at kindergarten ready to succeed, attend school regularly in the early grades and keep learning through the summer.

The announcement comes on the heels of the Grade-Level Reading Funder-to-Funder Huddle, a two-day meeting in Washington, D.C., that drew dozens of national, state and local funders to discuss strategies for improving early reading. A commentary published in Philanthropy News Digest, authored by the GLR Campaign’s Chief Operating Officer Leslie Boissiere and Senior Fellow Patrick Corvington, describes how collaborative efforts among foundations are amplifying this important work.

  .@UPS & its employees donate $5 million to @UnitedWay to promote grade-level reading across the country: http://ctt.ec/2QH67+