Mont Pleasant Family Festival Celebrates Literacy

SCHENECTADY, NY – United Way of the Greater Capital Region and the Literacy Task Force of Schenectady County put the spotlight on children’s literacy at the Third Annual Mont Pleasant Family Festival on August 6 at the recently revitalized Wallingford Park.

The park was cleaned, landscaped and rehabilitated in June through a United Way – City of Schenectady collaboration involving more than 100 volunteers as part of United Way’s UNITED IN ACTION program. Improvements included the installation of a book trail that incorporates pages from the storybook “Flower Garden” by Eve Bunting.  A life-size alphabet maze and hopscotch pattern were also added.

More than 300 people attended the festival, which featured 14 local agency booths, participation from Schenectady Mayor Brian Stratton and other officials, a barbecue, a magic performance by Melvin the Magnificent, music by WVCR and a book give-away for children.

“At least 200 children’s books were given away at the Boys & Girls Club table in addition to a number that were given away by the Schenectady City School District,” said Nicole Simms, Community Impact Manager at United Way of the Greater Capital Region. “We definitely met our goal to encourage reading and increase awareness of the important role that parents and caregivers provide as their children’s first teachers.”

The Mont Pleasant Family Festival kicked off a community-wide yearlong focus on local partnerships committed to literacy, education and parent engagement.

“Research shows that learning at an early age is critical to proper social, academic, and cognitive development,” said Katherine Pelham, CEO of United Way of the Greater Capital Region. “We want this event to get families excited about reading because it is a building block for success in school.”

Mayor Stratton reported that more than $20,000 in “sweat equity” and physical improvement to the park created a neighborhood resource that all can take pride in. “I want to thank United Way and its partners who came to us a year ago with the proposal to revitalize this park. I also want to thank the corporate sponsors, but really it’s all about the neighborhood. It’s the people here who make it this way,” he said, pointing at the crowd enjoying the new lawn, swingsets, basketball court and literacy-based artwork.

New York State Assemblyman George Amedore praised the results of the community-wide collaboration among United Way, service agencies, volunteers and neighborhood residents. “This is what it’s all for. So our children can play and so our neighbors can be united,” he said.  

United Way of the Greater Capital Region has a historical commitment to strengthening individuals and families, especially those in Mont Pleasant. This year, United Way is continuing its work in the neighborhood by supporting the work of many area agencies, particularly in the areas of parent-child engagement, early childhood development and financial stability.

In addition, the United Way-funded Family Resource Center on Albany Street in Schenectady serves as a one-stop location for vital family services including case management, family team conferencing and other supports designed to move a family beyond an immediate crisis to long-term wellbeing.

“The Mont Pleasant Family Festival is a visible expression of the commitment we share with our community partners to invest in families and neighborhoods,” said United Way’ CEO Katherine Pelham.

Contributing partners included: BJ's Wholesale Club, the Boys and Girls Club, Capital Communications Federal Credit Union, the Capital District Child Care Coordinating Council, the City of Schenectady, the Eagles Club, Literacy New York – Greater Capital Region, the Literacy Task Force of Schenectady, The Mont Pleasant Action Coalition, Old World Provisions, Stewarts Shops, WTEN, WVCR from Sienna College. 

United Way of the Greater Capital Region is dedicated to bringing people and resources together to achieve measurable and sustainable improvements in the quality of life for our community.