$2,425 raised by 15 donors
12% complete
$20,000 Goal
History of United Way of the Lower Eastern Shore 1944-2025
United Way of the Lower Eastern Shore (UWLES), now in its 81st year of local service, harnesses the power of our community to advance health, education, and financial stability for all neighbors in Dorchester, Somerset, Wicomico, and Worcester counties. UWLES helps empower Lower Shore residents to achieve better health by addressing barriers to care, educational success by reducing the achievement gap between low- and middle-income students, and financial stability by advancing the economic security of families and individuals. United Way provides direct services, collaborates with local stakeholders, and supports dozens of local nonprofits to strengthen the entire community, impacting 1 in every 3 individuals on the Lower Shore annually. For more information visit: www.uwles.org, www.ShoreGetConnected.org, Facebook @uwles, Instagram @unitedwayles, LinkedIn @uwles or Twitter @UNITEDWAY_LES.
Each quarter, we will highlight one of our direct programs that help neighbors right here in the Lower Eastern Shore.
Imagination Library Program
UWLES is a local program affiliate of the Dolly Parton Imagination Program, serving children age birth to 5 living in Dorchester, Somerset, Wicomico, and Worcester Counties.
Dolly Parton's Imagination Library Program is dedicated to inspiring a love of reading by gifting books for free of charge to children from age birth to 5. Since becoming an affiliate in 2012, UWLES has provided over 578,000 books to over 20,000 local children! Currently, over 8,100 babies and children on the Lower Eastern Shore are receiving a free book each month.
In early 2023, UWLES and TidalHealth launched the SmartStart program to support parents of babies born at TidalHealth facilities. As part of the program, families welcoming a new baby can automatically enroll their child in Imagination Library. Participating families receive a welcome pack with a book and early learning tips. This expansion of Imagination Library is supported by generous grants from the Richard A. Henson Foundation, the Donnie Williams Foundation, PNC Grow Up Great, GateWay Pediatrics and other supporters.
Help maximize the impact to our local neighbors with your donation today!
United Way of the Lower Eastern Shore harnesses the power of our community to advance health, education, and financial stability.
Give. Advocate. Volunteer. United is the Way!
Your gift matters and can help our Secret Santa program or our overall Community Impact work, such as:
🎁 Delivering free books each month to more children through our Imagination Library
(just $30/year per child)
📚 Supporting youth success through our Reading and Mentoring programs in local schools
($100 provides summer reading books or volunteer supplies)
💪 Lifting up our 41 nonprofit partners with financial, capacity building, volunteer management, and training resources all year
($50 helps provide scholarships for the Annual Nonprofit Summit, presented in partnership with CFES and PACE at SU)
Organization name
United Way of the Lower Eastern Shore, Inc
other names
UWLES
Tax id (EIN)
52-6016589
Impact/Cause Area
Human Services
Organization Location
Wicomico
Counties Served
Wicomico, Worcester, Somerset, Other
Urgent Needs
Yes
Address
803 N SALISBURY BLVD SUITE 2100