United Way of the Midlands

The mission of the United Way of the Midlands is simple: We unite people and resources to improve the quality of life in the Midlands. Our goal is to create generational change in our community by expanding opportunities for self-sufficiency while meeting immediate needs. The Midlands Reading Consortium (MRC) is our education initiative committed to fostering a love of learning in both literacy and STEM.

For 100 years, United Way of the Midlands has brought together people and resources to create lasting change in our community. Serving Richland, Lexington, Calhoun, Orangeburg, Newberry, and Fairfield counties, we tackle challenges in education, financial stability, and health. Last year, we served 38,416 people through direct initiatives and grants to community partners.

Our MRC program was originally formed in 2007 to increase the number of children reading at grade level at the start of fourth grade. In 2021, MRC expanded to include Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) because like literacy, students are not meeting science and math milestones. Our STEM focus places an emphasis on curating curiosity, increasing a love and awareness of STEM opportunities, and increasing student confidence in these subjects.

During the 2023-24 school year, MRC reached over 2,300 students across the Midlands with its literacy and STEM programs. Last fall, we launched a pilot program called STEM Girls, a four-week initiative designed to build confidence and career readiness in 3rd grade girls through hands-on exploration of topics like biomedical engineering and data science.

Testimonials

"This is my third year working with MRC. Our students love MRC! Being able to have advocates in the building to work with them is a positive. We also track our student data, and we notice that MRC is such a positive program to allow our students to grow successfully. We're so excited to work with them again this year!" -Zamyra Rogers, Literacy Coach, Edward E. Taylor Elementary