Metro United Way Kicks Off Kindergarten Countdown

by Andy FreudenbergLouisville’s annual Kindergarten Countdown kicked off this morning at the Children’s Department at the main branch of the Louisville Free Public Library.The program is sponsored by Metro United Way. Mayor Jerry Abramson told a group of children at the kickoff that the program is a chance for some preschool-age children to prepare for the leap into school.“We’ve got a lot of your friends and buddies around this community who haven’t had a chance to go to any preschool yet," said Abramson, "and we want to get them ready to go to kindergarten along with those who have been involved in preschool to be able to be a part of the kindergarten experience.”The long-term goal of the program is to help all Louisville children – even those who haven’t attended pre-school – prepare for kindergarten.Children in the program and their families will be able to attend free events at Louisville Slugger Field, the Louisville Zoo, the Kentucky Derby Museum, and the Louisville Science Center, among others.