United Way of King County’s Children’s Initiative, which has focused on preparing children for success when they begin school, has merged with the countywide Project Lift-Off initiative that has worked to strengthen King County children between birth and age 18. The newly merged initiative will be called SOAR-Helping Kids Reach for the Sky.

SOAR increases the community’s momentum of helping kids. It also furthers United Way of King County’s emphasis in actively solving community problems and continues the work Project Lift-Off and its partners began four years ago.

Project Lift-Off began as a city of Seattle initiative in 1999 to embrace each of Seattle’s and King County’s children and youth between birth and age 18 by creating a system of early child care, education and out-of-school-time activities that are affordable, easy to access and highly effective. It sought to ensure youth and children’s health, well being and school readiness.