United Way Quad Cities’ (UWQC) Reading Day presented by Quad City Area REALTORS looks to inspire nearly 1,400 Quad Cities students with a love of reading on March 4, 2025.
The event was celebrated in 70 elementary classrooms across Rock Island and Scott counties, engaging 150 volunteers, made up of Quad Cities civic and business leaders, who read to students. In the lead-up to Reading Day, local businesses sponsored and assembled literacy kits for students to promote at-home learning.
This fun-filled day directly supported UWQC’s goal to improve third-grade reading proficiency, or reading on grade level, in Rock Island and Scott counties. Early literacy is important for all children and is foundational to our three focus areas—youth opportunity, financial security and healthy communities—which are the building blocks of opportunity.
“Instilling a love of reading at a young age is crucial because when children develop a genuine passion for reading, they’re more like to make it a lifelong habit,”
Sharon Smith, Reading Day Honorary Chair and CEO of Quad City Area REALTORS.
Smith, a children’s author, understands the importance of early literacy. “A love of reading provides children with the tools to explore their interests, succeed academically, and grow intellectually, making it ones of the most powerful gifts we can give them.”
The Importance of Reading on Grade Level
United Way’s annual Reading Day celebration isn’t just about encouraging children to love reading. It also supports early literacy by showing kids that books are fun, accessible and engaging. When children develop strong reading skills, they’re better equipped to succeed in school, which in turn supports college and career readiness, career achievement and even overall health.
When the reverse happens, children miss out on the opportunity to develop their full potential in life.
To put it in perspective, there are 3,462 third graders in the Quad Cities—1,414 of them struggle to read.
That means 44% of Quad Cities third graders are not reading on grade level.
“Reading proficiency is one of the greatest predictors of a child’s success in school and life,” says Rene Gellerman, President & CEO of United Way Quad Cities. “Third grade is when children shift from learning to read to reading to learn. From this point on, reading becomes foundational for all other learning, including science, math and history.”
When nearly half of our third graders are not reading at grade level, the impact extends beyond the classroom, affecting graduation rates, workforce readiness, and the overall well-being of the Quad Cities.
“That’s why improving early literacy is a key focus of our Rise United 2030 goals,” says Gellerman. “By coming together to support young readers today, we’re building a stronger, more prosperous community for the future.”
Support Early Literacy in the Quad Cities
Research shows that 74% of struggling readers will never catch up. That’s why ensuring early literacy opportunities is essential to setting children on a path toward success.
Here are three ways you can support early literacy:
United Way’s Reading Day, presented by Quad City Area REALTORS and supported by Isle Casino + Hotel Bettendorf, Amazon – MLI1, Eye Surgeons Associates, John Deere, TBK Bank, Elliott Aviation, MindFire Communications, Pepsi, Whitey’s Ice Cream, BlueLinx, Edwards Creative, Gas & Electric Credit Union, IBEW Local 145, Office Express, The Rental Guys, Rouse Consulting Group, Ruhl&Ruhl Realtors and United Rentals.
