Crossroads United Way: Creating Youth Opportunities
At Crossroads United Way (CRUW), we are dedicated to empowering children and youth in our communities to reach their full potential. Through programs that support early literacy, family engagement, and youth development, we help create pathways to success from the earliest years through adolescence.
Our focus on youth opportunity ensures that children have access to the resources, programs, and experiences they need to grow, learn, and thrive.
Read United: Building Early Literacy Skills
Read United connects children to the joy of reading and builds critical early literacy skills. Through events, resources, and community partnerships, Read United encourages children to develop a lifelong love of reading—an essential foundation for academic success and future opportunities.
Lantern: Supporting Families and Youth Development
Lantern provides free, age-specific parenting tips and resources via text, helping families nurture children from birth through adolescence. Lantern connects families to:
- Local events, programs, and youth opportunities
- Tips on early learning, social-emotional growth, and development
- Guidance that supports children’s academic and personal success
Lantern helps families stay informed, engaged, and empowered, creating a strong foundation for children’s growth and access to future youth programs.
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library: Early Literacy at Home
Through Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, children from birth to age five receive FREE, age-appropriate books each month, mailed directly to their homes. Early literacy is critical for school readiness, long-term academic success, and access to future youth opportunities.
- Now offering bilingual English/Spanish books
- Helps children build early reading and numeracy skills
- Connects families to resources that support learning, growth, and youth engagement
Our Commitment to Youth Opportunity
Crossroads United Way is proud to invest in children and families, creating pathways from early learning to youth programs and community engagement. By supporting literacy, family resources, and youth development initiatives, we ensure that every child has the tools and opportunities to learn, grow, and succeed.