The United Way of Westchester and Putnam kicked off its "United To Read" campaign today at the Riverfront Library in Yonkers.

The program wants make sure parents in all income levels are talking to their children, getting them the health care they need, and reading to their children starting at birth.

Experts say that children who are not reading at grade level in third grade are likely to drop out of high school.

They say third grade is a turning point, and waiting to help a student who is behind then can be too late. "We are hoping through that to bring people to the realization of what works and what's evidence based and how we can move forward together so every child in our community is graduating and successful," says United Way of Westchester and Putnam President Alana Sweeny.