Locals Make an Effort to Improve Education

Arrowhead United Way held a “Read with a Professional” event recently for local elementary students. The event, which was held at Bradley Elementary School, helped students learn about different historical figures and their perseverance in attaining their goals. Students were able to hear stories about individuals with different disabilities and other stories from different cultures such as African, Arabic, Asian, Cambodian, Caucasian and Dominican, to name a few. Students also learned about various professions as well as how to gain acceptance into a college and the experiences that can be attained there. During the event, thirty professionals visited twenty-nine classrooms (Preschool, 6th Grade and Special Education) and had forty-five minutes to read, talk about their professional/college experiences and answer questions for the students. The volunteers were creative in sharing their professions. Many brought PowerPoint presentations, poster boards with pictures, gifts pertaining to their career to pass out to the students, and one nurse even brought her stethoscope to check the students’ heartbeat. A few individuals who shared their college experiences brought pictures, brochures about their college, graduation sashes along with cap and gowns for the students to try on. This experience made going to college that much more tangible for the students. Jaiden Hernandez, 3rd grade female student stated, “My favorite part was when the reader came and told us about her job. We asked her questions and she read us a new book." Thanks to Target, Arrowhead United Way was able to donate $1,000 worth of new books to Bradley Elementary School. Jennifer Pullen, Kindergarten Teacher said, “The kids really enjoyed the readers. They liked hearing about going to college and being able to ask questions about the different careers. The best part was the books we received for our classroom library! We hope to have more opportunities for the community to be part of our school culture." “Read with a Professional” was a success and Arrowhead United Way could not have done it without their committed and hardworking volunteers. Fabiola Perez, Education Assistant at San Bernardino School District and Tutor at ICES education, was one of the professionals that volunteered to read to a 3rd grade Spanish class. She explained, “It was an unforgettable experience reading to the children, encouraging them to continue their education and inspiring them to reach their full potential. I look forward to participating in similar events.” Arrowhead United Way is a volunteer-driven organization that actively supports health and human services by focusing on education, income, and health. These services address the underlying causes of the community's issues and create lasting change. The organization was established in 1891 and is led by prominent respected community leaders; it is one of the oldest United Ways in the country.