Save the Children

Save the Children believes that every child deserves the chance to succeed.  But the reality is that nearly 3 million children live in poverty in rural America. Half are not ready for school by the time they turn 5. In these isolated regions – from the Mississippi Delta to California’s Central Valley – families struggle to access vital resources like childcare, libraries and parks. The nearest grocery store might be an hour away.

Where the social fabric is frayed, Save the Children links arms with schools and other trusted local partners to knit connections with families. Together, we work to make sure all children in rural America thrive as learners and in life. Since 1932, we’ve gone where others cannot, filling critical gaps in services and delivering scalable, evidencebased solutions. Our U.S. Programs include kindergarten readiness initiatives, gradelevel math and literacy support, partnerships reducing the food access gap, workforce development for early childhood educators, and emergency response.

In 2025, your support proved more vital than ever. Political transition, climatedriven emergencies and mounting economic pressures added to the challenges facing children, families and the communities where we work. Cuts to essential food assistance from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) placed additional strain on households already struggling to make ends Even against this backdrop, opportunities emerged to strengthen the systems that support children and families. Last year, we reached 720,259 children across 20 states, as a part of Save the Children’s efforts to increase education equity. We also helped vulnerable communities recover after major U.S. disasters – reaching 133,524 people with essential items, cash assistance and other recovery support.

Your generosity fueled meaningful progress for children and families in rural America. You made it
possible for our teams to deliver highimpact education programs, increase access to nutritious food, and help communities recover quickly and with dignity when disasters struck. Thank you for partnering with Save the Children to make sure every child has the chance for a bright future.

To learn more about our U.S programs and to read the full annual report click here.