WARSAW — United Way of invites the community to ‘Spotlight on Children,’ where leaders from across Indiana will share big ideas about how our community can do remarkable things for our children.

“Innovation isn’t just for business,” said Darren Bickel United Way President. “The way our
community meets the needs of children has to stay sharp. At Spotlight, United Way hopes to unleash big dreams for our kids — shaping a future where every child thrives.”

The event will be March 5, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Zimmer Biomet Center Lake Pavilion in Warsaw.

Registration is $30 and includes a boxed lunch. Register at this link.

The 2025 Presenters:

• Clint Kluger — Indiana Youth Institute – Sharing fresh insights from the 2025 Indiana Kids
  Count Databook.
• Abby Roach, Playworks — Highlighting strategies to help kids stay active and build valuable
  skills through play.
• Velshonna Luckey, Self-Healing Communities — Exploring how cutting-edge neuroscience can help us heal children after traumatic events.

The Spotlight will also provide access to research, reports, and tools to help understand the
challenges children and families are facing.

United Way is committed to finding creative ways to help children grow up in a caring
community. Over the last five years, United Way launched a chapter of Dolly Parton’s
Imagination Library brought Camp Hope to grieving children and has gathered more than
10,000 backpacks full of schools.

The post United Way explores the future for children with meeting in Warsaw appeared first on News Now Warsaw.

WINONA LAKE -- LaunchPad, the Kosciusko and Whitley County Child Care & Early Learning Coalition, held a night of celebration to honor childcare and early learning professionals at the Winona Heritage Room in Winona Lake Thursday evening, March 23.

Sponsored by United Way of Whitley and Kosciusko Counties and Silveus Insurance Group, the early educators were provided dinner and an opportunity to hear from musician and author, Jim Gill. Mr. Gill is a child development specialist from Chicago who shares his expertise on the benefits of music, play and literacy for young children.

Several early learning professionals were recognized for the recent achievements in attaining educational certificates or degrees, licensing or registering a new program, or improving quality in the state’s quality rating system, known as Paths to Quality.

Sherry Searles, director of LaunchPad for Kosciusko said, “We really wanted to honor the work that these folks are doing day-in and day-out. We are so thankful to those who have dedicated their lives to ensuring that young children receive a high-quality education. Research tells us that the first five years are essential in a child’s brain development, so where they spend their day matters."

Whitley County’s LaunchPad director, Rachel Alexander said, “We are honored to recognize
our dedicated childcare providers who are shaping the lives of young children every day. They play such a vital role for families and it’s exciting to bring more awareness to their importance in our community.”

“One of the most important factors in a child’s development is their relationship with their
teacher,” said Darren Bickel, President of United Way.  “If the child feels they are safe, able to be curious about their world and confident in their ability to explore what they don’t understand – everything starts to fall into place.”

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WARSAW -- United Way of Whitley & Kosciusko Counties is currently recruiting volunteers
for Read United.

Beginning the week of April 17, volunteers will visit an elementary school classroom in person once a week for 4 weeks to read a book to children.

Volunteers can sign up online at www.uwwk.org. This is an outstanding chance to share
your love of reading with children.

“Reading together is a powerful, shared experience,” says Darren Bickel, United Way
President. “United Way is committed to connecting kids with as many caring adults as
possible and Read United is a great way for our community to make a connection.”

United Way supplies books and prompt cards to help volunteers get kids involved and
excited about the story being read.

United Way is partnering with Warsaw Community Schools and Whitley County
Consolidated Schools to focus on kindergarten, first- and second-grade classrooms. Read United volunteers will also have a chance to talk about how reading helps them, both at their jobs and in everyday life.

“If you have been wanting to volunteer, this is a great place to start,” Bickel said. “All it takes is somebody who wants to spend time with kids and
share their love of reading.”

Since 2017, United Way has matched hundreds of volunteers with classrooms,
impacting thousands of children. Read United is one of United Way’s Brain Development
initiatives, designed to help kids become amazing learners as they grow.

The post United Way seeks volunteers to read to students appeared first on News Now Warsaw.