Youth Opportunity

Dolly Parton's Imagination Library of Ohio is a program that mails children one free book each month until their fifth birthday. Any child between between birth - age five can sign up for this free book gifting program.

The Imagination Library's age-appropriate books help children develop critical early literacy skills before starting kindergarten.

Freedom Schools is a summer learning program that serves Kindergarten through 8th Grade scholars. 

For six weeks during the summer, Freedom Schools provides the scholars a safe, nurturing environment where they feel valued, celebrated, and are given opportunities to improve their reading abilities. In the program, scholars develop positive relationship with learning and reading, while also providing an empowering environment to build each scholar's self-esteem.

Freedom Schools is a national program model within the Children's Defense Fund. The model built on utilizing a daily Integrated Reading Curriculum with the scholars, civic engagement opportunities, parent engagement, and various educational field trips throughout the program. 

Servant Leader Interns (current college students) are the teachers in the Freedom Schools Program and are an active role model for the scholars, engaging them in the daily reading curriculum, and helping them advocate for themselves and their communities.

United Way of the Greater Dayton Area is proud to partner with Morris Home to provide beds for children in need at our annual Hope to Dream Event. Every year, at least 100 Children throughout Montgomery, Greene and Preble Counties receive a new bed of their own.

Providing a child with a bed to sleep in each night is essential for their physical health, emotional well-being, and overall development. It fosters independence, supports healthy sleep habits, and contributes to a harmonious family environment.

The annual event kicks off with a curtain-unveiling of a gym full of beds. Following the reveal, volunteers gather the beds to prepare them for delivery so each child may enjoy their new bed that same night.

Since the inception of Hope to Dream, 475 beds have been delivered throughout our three county service area.

United Way of the Greater Dayton Area partners with Montgomery County's Parenting Time Opportunities for Children program, providing age-appropriate books each month to the children in the program.

Structured parenting time provided through the program can help parents manage relationship while reducing conflict. Each Month, one book is mailed to both the mom and dad's home, and creates a bonding opportunity for the child with each of their parents. There are also Parent Education Classes available, with each family in attendance receiving one book per month for their child.