United Way of Central Ohio

Catch us at the Columbus Book Festival! We’re on a mission with Success by Third Grade and YOU can help! 📚

📍 Stop by Table 2 in Topiary Park
📗 Pick up a FREE literacy kit for a kid in your life
💌 Make a card to encourage a young reader!

to help every child read proficiently by third grade because early literacy is the key to lifelong success. ✨

We are a proud sponsor of this two-day celebration of books, authors, and readers! Find us July 11–12 in downtown Columbus. For more info ➡️ https://www.columbusbookfestival.org/

What happens when 150 brand-new Nationwide interns roll up their sleeves for their community? A whole lot of good. 💙

Nationwide’s incoming intern class spent the day with us at One Nationwide Plaza, giving back before they’d even fully settled in and the impact speaks for itself:

🧣 100 no-sew blankets made for the YWCA Family Center, where 50 rooms offer families safety, support, three healthy meals a day and a warm place to sleep. These blankets will bring a little extra comfort during a tough chapter.
✏️ 365 encouragement cards written for our Stuff the Backpack program, tucked into the 10,000+ backpacks heading to students for the 2026–2027 school year.

A huge thank you to Nationwide for showing up for and to our friends at Besa for helping make it all happen.

To the intern class: what a way to start. 👏

United Is the Way.💙

Today, we honor the legacy of Juneteenth. 💚🖤❤️💛

On June 19, 1865, freedom finally reached the last enslaved Americans in Galveston, Texas and today we celebrate the resilience, joy and strength of the Black community, then and now.

Juneteenth is a reminder of how far we’ve come and the work still ahead. At United Way of Central Ohio, we’re committed to building a community where every family can thrive. ✨

United is the Way.💙

Summer doesn’t mean a break from learning. 📚

Children learn all summer long, and the small moments add up! Reading together, telling stories, building vocabulary and having conversations all help kids keep growing.

Through Success by Third Grade, we created the Summer Literacy Cohort to help prevent summer learning loss and keep central Ohio’s youngest learners engaged.

Together with Columbus City Schools, Columbus Library and our cohort partners, we’re putting every child on a pathway to success.

This summer, we’re UNITED for literacy!

United is the Way. 💙

🏳️‍🌈 This Saturday! We’re proud to march in the Stonewall Columbus Pride Parade in downtown Columbus.

Because United is the Way for everyone. 💛 Find our crew and walk a few blocks with us! 🌈

Nearly 500 district leaders and educators. One full day in Columbus. One shared goal: keeping Ohio’s students in the classroom.

At Attend Ohio - hosted by Stay in the Game! Attendance Network and partners - our VP of Success by Third Grade, Dr. Cheryl L. Wyatt, joined as a panelist, and many of our Success by Third Grade partner districts were recognized for their progress. 👏

Consistent attendance is one of the strongest early signs a child will read at grade level by the end of third grade and it’s exactly what Success by Third Grade works toward every day.

United is the Way. 💙

The affordability crisis in Ohio isn’t new and the latest State of ALICE report shows just how long families have been feeling the squeeze. 

ALICE households work hard and earn above the poverty line, yet still can’t keep up with the rising cost of basics. This data guides our work and our partnerships across the community, so we can meet immediate needs while building stronger paths to stability.

Swipe through to see what the numbers reveal, then read the news story at the 🔗 in our bio!

If it resonates, share it forward.
United is the Way.💙

1,000+ downloads and counting. 🎙️

When we launched So, Let’s Talk Columbus, we hoped to start meaningful conversations about the issues shaping our community. We never imagined how quickly you’d show up to listen, share and be part of them.

Host sits down with the people working to build a stronger central Ohio and you’ve helped those conversations reach further than we ever expected. Here’s to the next thousand. 💙 Thank you.

🎧 Haven’t tuned in yet? New and past episodes are available now - link in bio.

United is the Way.

What does it take to move from theory to real community impact? 💙🫱🏼‍🫲🏽

Our PDPL cohort hit the road for our Beyond the Freeway Tour - a full day of nonprofit visits to expand networks, deepen understanding and connect with the leaders shaping our city.

A huge thank you to the leaders who opened their doors:
• – Chelsea Jones & Bailey Phillips
• – Joseluis G. & Amy Gordon
• – Densil Porteous

What stood out most? The honesty, the lived experience and the real conversations about what it means to lead and serve. Because board leadership isn’t about showing up... it’s about understanding the community you’re stepping into and building relationships that strengthen it.

Our cohort left with new insights, stronger connections and a deeper sense of responsibility for the role they’ll play here. 💙

United is the Way. 🔗 liveunitedcentralohio.org