United Way of Pickens County: Helping Children Read, Grow, and Thrive
United Way of Pickens County (UWPC) is confronting one of the most urgent challenges facing children in their community: early literacy. In Pickens County, nearly 60% of third graders scored below the national average in reading—a statistic that places students at risk of falling behind not just academically, but socially and economically as they grow. UWPC is working to change this reality through targeted, evidence-based programs that ensure children begin school ready to learn and continue to build the skills they need to thrive.
Kars4Kids provided a small grant to United Way of Pickens County because the organization stood out for its success in helping struggling students make real, measurable gains in reading. In a region where so many children are behind, UWPC has developed collaborative, community-driven solutions that are truly moving the needle. Their flagship initiative, Camp iRock, offers intensive remedial reading instruction combined with mentorship and enriching summer experiences—an approach that has consistently boosted reading levels and restored children’s confidence. In this interview, Director of Planned and Major Giving Mark Eisengrein shares how these programs are transforming outcomes for young learners and strengthening the entire community.
Kars4Kids: Tell us about Pickens County and the children you serve. What challenges do they face, particularly in early literacy?
Mark Eisengrein: In 2015, United Way of Pickens County, SC partnered with the School District of Pickens County, SC (SDPC) and the local YMCA to address the alarming statistic that almost 60% of 3rd graders scored below national averages in reading. We know that children learn a lot of things through 3rd grade, but the #1 skill they need to demonstrate is reading, because after 3rd grade, children read to learn.
Kars4Kids: As you mentioned, the results of the 2024 SC Ready ELA assessment showed that almost 60% of 3rd graders in the county scored below proficiency in reading. Why do you think so many young learners are struggling?
Mark Eisengrein: Our local educators have said that children are not being read to at home prior to arriving in school for kindergarten. Many children are noticeably behind in identifying their letters, the letter-sounds, understanding that you read from left to right on a page, skills that seem elementary but students are not “kindergarten-ready” when they arrive in school.
Kars4Kids: Your website notes that third-grade reading levels “predict nearly every social problem you can imagine.” Can you explain that connection for our readers?
Mark Eisengrein: When children struggle to read, they fall behind their classmates and don’t stay on track for graduation, college, and careers. Many drop out of high school without any job skills, and rely on social services their entire lives.
Kars4Kids: Camp iRock has become one of your signature education initiatives. When did it begin, and what inspired its creation?
Mark Eisengrein: As mentioned above, in 2015, we partnered with the SDPC and YMCA to create Camp iRock, named for the catchy phrase: iRead, iRise, iRock. In 2015, we piloted Camp iRock to 63 3rd graders from 5 elementary schools to see if a summer of remedial reading instruction and a camp experience could help struggling students catch up to their classmates. The pilot project saw an increase in the students’ reading by 2.1 levels.
Kars4Kids: For those unfamiliar with it, can you walk us through a typical Camp iRock day? What makes the model so effective for struggling readers?
Mark Eisengrein: Camp iRock was developed with each partner bringing their specific skills to this program. The SDPC identifies students (5K-3rd grade) who could benefit from a summer of remedial reading instruction. The SDPC provides three school locations: in Easley for students from the five elementary schools in Easley, in Pickens for students from the four elementary schools in Pickens/Six Mile, and in Liberty for students from the five elementary schools in Clemson/Central and Liberty.
Teachers identify struggling students, and information is sent home inviting students to Camp iRock, it’s free, we pick them up, feed them breakfast, give them six hours of remedial reading instruction, feed them lunch, and have them spend the last 2-3 hours of the camp day on games, activities and singing songs as part of a summer camp experience. At 4:30 pm, they head home. On Fridays, students participate in field trips to Clemson University (many have never been on the campus), Children’s Museum, Geology Museum, and the Planetarium.
I wanted to be sure to mention that students are pre-camp and post-camp tested to gauge the effectiveness of Camp iRock. Over the last 11 years, Camp iRock students have increased in their reading abilities on average 1.55 levels, although the test has changed three times over the years, which makes it difficult for us to compare the overall effectiveness of each summer program.
Kars4Kids: Camp iRock is a collaboration among United Way of Pickens County, the School District of Pickens County, and the Call Me MiSTER program at Clemson University. How does this partnership work in practice?
Mark Eisengrein: Yes, the Call Me MiSTER program was added as a partner several years into the 11-year history of Camp iRock. You may not be familiar with the Call Me MiSTER program, but it was started at Clemson University (in our county) about 30+ years ago with a mission to encourage black males to study Elementary Education at Clemson University with a goal of placing black males in elementary schools throughout South Carolina. The Call Me MiSTER program at Clemson University has been replicated on college campuses across the country, with at least six colleges and universities in South Carolina starting a Call Me MiSTER program. We recruit college students who have completed their junior year from Call Me MiSTER programs in SC to work at Camp iRock each summer.
Kars4Kids: How many students do you typically serve each summer?
Mark Eisengrein: The number of students attending Camp iRock has grown each year. A total of 3,482 students have been helped in the 11 years that Camp iRock has been in existence, and our goal in 2026 is to help 420 students in K-3rd grade.
Kars4Kids: One goal of Camp iRock is to prevent summer slide, especially for students who are already behind. What other academic or character-development goals does the camp aim to achieve?
Mark Eisengrein: Yes, increasing their reading ability is our #1 goal. But we also focus on helping children enjoy reading (hard to measure), have fun learning (especially difficult during the summer when their friends are home), and our MiSTER and Y counselors work on character qualities and traits (also difficult to measure).
Kars4Kids: How does Camp iRock fit into the broader mission of United Way of Pickens County to ensure children begin school ready to learn and stay on track?
Mark Eisengrein: Camp iRock has been a HUGE success. The former Superintendent of SC Department of Education visited Camp iRock in 2017 and said that every county in SC should replicate what they are doing with Camp iRock in Pickens County.
We have initiated other educational programs, most notably PreSchool Pages, an effort to help parents and young students (1-4 years old) develop important early literacy skills while learning that school is a safe and nurturing place. The parents and caregivers actively participate in Story Time and related crafts and activities, and they are provided information, activities and books to use at home with their student.
Kars4Kids: What’s next for United Way of Pickens County as you work toward your goal of improving third-grade reading proficiency?
Mark Eisengrein: Oh my, we are trying to be consistent with Camp iRock and PreSchool Pages, but a new initiative on the horizon is to develop a comprehensive Read Pickens program, working with many organizations in Pickens County to increase children’s literacy.