Author: Lauren Schwabe

March 2020 e-Newsletter

by Lauren SchwabeCategories: News, Newsletter

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Lake County’s COVID-19 Community Response Fund

We’re at an unprecedented time and our ability to respond to the increasing needs is crucial. The COVID-19 health crisis is a real-time picture of the increased challenges that families across Lake County are facing every day. Our community’s health and human service organizations are experiencing a huge surge in demand for critical services from neighbors and communities significantly impacted by the COVID-19 outbreak. It’s critical that these organizations have the support they need to continue to operate at the highest capacity.

United Way of Lake County has established the Lake County COVID-19 Community Response Fund to support local nonprofit organizations serving Lake County’s most vulnerable neighbors. The fund, established in collaboration with Lake County Government, Lake County Community Foundation and Lake County Municipal League, unites monies raised by Lake County philanthropies, corporations and individuals to be disbursed to nonprofit organizations across the county.

Funds will support providers responding to growing requests for assistance with:

  • Increased access to emergency food and basic supplies
  • Rent and mortgage assistance
  • Utility assistance
  • Emerging emergency needs identified through the 211 information and referral helpline

You can help by doing two things:

  1. Donate to the fund because every dollar counts.
  2. Share this message broadly with your networks, including via social media. Links to the giving website and our social media posts are below.

Please join us and support our local nonprofit partners through the Lake County COVID-19 Community Response Fund. Together, we can ensure they have the vital resources needed to address critical needs in this time of crisis.

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If you need assistance finding food, shelter, rent or utility assistance, or other essential services, CALL 211 or TEXT your zip code to 898211 to speak with someone who can help. 211 is available 24/7.

Questions about COVID-19?

Here’s where you can get accurate, reliable and up-to-date information:

We Are Here For You!

While our offices are closed temporarily to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission, our work continues as staff are working remotely and can be reached at (847) 775-1000. If you need help connecting to available community resources, call 211 or text your zip code to 898211. Our 211 information and referral helpline is available 24/7. You can also visit 211LakeCounty.org.

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UWLC Hosts Countywide Reading Day in Honor of Dr. Seuss

In early March, over 100 volunteers participated in a county-wide volunteer effort to read to 2,000 students across 82 classrooms in celebration of Dr. Seuss’ birthday and Read Across America Day. Volunteers read Dr. Seuss books to students ranging from pre-K to 3rd grade.

View photos by clicking on each of the schools below:

  • On March 2, volunteers visited Glen Flora, McCall, and North Elementary Schools in Waukegan.
  • On March 6, volunteers visited East (Zion), Howe (Beach Park), and Pleviak (Lake Villa) Elementary Schools.

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Reading Success Celebration Continues

In honor of Reading Success’ 10-year anniversary, we interviewed tutors and teachers from three different schools that have seen the great impact of this program. In our last newsletter, we highlighted North Elementary in Waukegan.

Next up is Clark Elementary School. We spoke with volunteer tutor Teresa Hatten, second grade teacher Ms. Vick, and reading support specialist Melissa Pankiewicz. Read their first-hand accounts of how Reading Success has helped students develop strong reading skills and improve reading performance so they can be on track to succeed in school.

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Women United Raises $20,000 at Bingo Bash

On March 7, Women United hosted a co-ed Windy City Bingo Bash fundraiser to support early childhood literacy. We are excited to announce that the event raised $20,000! Thank you to all our amazing supporters for helping us make a difference in local children’s lives. The event was a great success because of you!

View photos from the event below.

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Census 2020: A Full Count is Important for the Future of Our Children

The Census helps determine which areas qualify for the critical resources that children and families depend on for the next 10 years—basically an entire childhood!

Accurate census data means our local communities will be more likely to get the roads, schools, child and senior centers, hospitals, and other services our families need. It will also decide how much money Illinois will get to help pay for All Kids health insurance, school breakfast and lunch programs, food stamps, financial aid for college, and many other programs that are important to keeping our children healthy, strong and well educated.

Responding to the Census is easy! This year you can respond online at my2020Census.gov. If you have not received the Census invite letter with your unique Census ID, you can still respond by using your address instead of the Census ID.

If you need help responding to the census or have questions, call 211 or text your zip code to 898211. You can also contact United Way of Lake County at (847) 775-1000.

February 2020 e-Newsletter

by Lauren SchwabeCategories: News, Newsletter

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Reading Success Celebrates 10 Years!

We are proud to celebrate 10 years of our Reading Success program in Waukegan Public Schools! The success of this program wouldn’t be possible without the support of the many volunteer tutors who help ensure students are reading at grade level by the end of 3rd grade.

A group of fourteen Lake County Judges, led by Judge Luis A. Berrones, who volunteer in Ms. Chang’s first grade class at North Elementary were recently featured on WGN-TV and in local publications including The North Shore Weekend, Lake County Journal and Puro Futbol.

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In honor of Reading Success’ 10-year anniversary, we interviewed tutors, teachers and principals from three different schools that have seen the great impact of this program. First up, North Elementary in Waukegan. We spoke with volunteer tutor Judge Luis A. Berrones, first grade teacher Ms. Chang, and principal Nicole Lemburger. Read their first-hand accounts of how Reading Success has helped students develop strong reading skills and improve reading performance so they can be on track to succeed in school.

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February 11 Proclaimed “211 Day”

The Lake County Board officially proclaimed February 11 as “211 Day” in Lake County, IL! Thank you to Lake County Government for being a key community partner in raising awareness and support for this vital service.

From February 11 to February 21, we will be highlighting 211 in our community through a series of 11 posts as part of our #11DaysOf211 social media campaign. You can help us spread the word about 211 by engaging with our posts on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.

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A Fun Night Out Supporting Local Early Literacy Programs

Join Women United on March 7 for their co-ed Windy City Bingo Bash fundraiser at the Merit Club in Libertyville. Tickets are now available!

Attendees will enjoy a fun night of Juke Box Bingo*, Chicago-style snacks and desserts, beer, wine and cocktails (with and without alcohol), sports-themed games, silent auction, 50/50 raffle and prizes galore.

All proceeds from this event will support early literacy programs through the Little Kids, Big Futures Fund.

*Juke Box Bingo is a combination of “Name That Tune” and traditional BINGO. Instead of listening to numbers being drawn (B-1, I-17, yawn!), you and your friends will be tapping your toes to the beat of the music, sipping your favorite beverages, and stamping bingo cards to win prizes!

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Shakou Donating Portion of Sales to Women United

Save the Date! Women United was selected by Shakou Libertyville, an award-winning restaurant serving sushi and Asian cuisine, to be a part of their Shakou Cares program in support of local causes on March 10. That means 10% of that day’s sales, including both food and alcohol, goes to Women United.

Shakou Libertyville is open 11 a.m. – 10 p.m. Reserve a table, use their app, or simply stop by for lunch, dinner or after dinner drinks. We hope you come out to support Women United.

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Census 2020: How to Make Sure Your Family is Counted

In March and April, you will get information in the mail from the U.S. Census Bureau on how to respond by phone, online or with a mail-in paper questionnaire. You can answer the census questions anytime between March and July.

Starting in May, Census takers will begin visiting homes that have not responded to the 2020 Census to help make sure everyone is counted. The best way to avoid a visit is to respond by phone, online or with the mail-in questionnaire before the end of April.

If you need help responding to the census or have questions, call 211 or text your zip code to 898211. You can also contact United Way of Lake County at (847) 775-1000.

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UWLC’s Quinton Snodgrass Selected for Worldwide Leadership Program

Congrats to our VP of Resource Development, Quinton Snodgrass, who has been selected to participate in United Way Worldwide’s Advanced Leadership Program—an accelerated year-long leadership development experience designed for senior level professionals that have demonstrated results and capacity to lead.

“We are proud that Quinton was chosen to be a member of the next class of the Advanced Leadership Program and is among the best and brightest of United Way,” said Kristi Long, President and CEO, United Way of Lake County. “It is leaders like Quinton that will engage with the next generation of donors and carry our mission into the 21st century.”

Selection for the Advanced Leadership Program is based on performance, potential and core competencies. Applications for the program come from the worldwide network of 12,850 people and are open to those working across all departments and groups. This program is available to eighteen applicants each year.

 

December 2019 e-Newsletter

by Lauren SchwabeCategories: News, Newsletter

 

Help Local Children and Families with a Year-End Gift

As we celebrate the season of giving, we invite you to join us by supporting children and families here in Lake County. Your gift will make it possible for us to make an even bigger impact on our local community to help improve and save lives.
We hope we can count on your support this holiday season. This year, your gift goes further thanks to a matching gift from our UWLC Board, who will match all gifts up to $7,000.

In 2019, our early learning programming prepared more children to succeed in a changing world and break the cycle of poverty. Some highlights:

  • Our Kindergarten Countdown Camps—for incoming kindergarten students with limited to no preschool experience—expanded to new communities, enabling even more children to learn key readiness skills and thrive in school.
  • Our Reading Success program expanded to new schools and classrooms, helping kindergarten through 3rd grade students develop strong reading skills with improvement rates 25%-33% greater than their peers.
  • We introduced a new volunteer opportunity—Stuff the Bus—partnering with 19 companies and collecting 861 backpacks with essential school supplies to help children from low-income families start school ready to succeed.

Finally, thanks to the incredible support and collaboration of many individuals, community leaders, and partners, we fulfilled a decades-long vision to bring a best-in-class 211 solution to Lake County. Our new 211 helpline is now Lake County’s one-stop shop for help connecting everyone in our community to critical services. Since late September, our 211 specialists have answered more than 1,000 calls and texts guiding people to the life-changing help they need.

Together, we are achieving long-lasting results for our community, our neighbors, our children.

Wishing You a Warm and Bright Holiday Season!

You helped us accomplish so much this year! Thank you for supporting our mission to create lasting change in the Lake County community. We are grateful for your kindness and generosity. Wishing you a safe and happy holiday season.

– Your friends at United Way of Lake County

Thank You, Reading Success Tutors!

Reading Success volunteers recently came to United Way to meet other volunteers, share tutoring insights and tips, enjoy light refreshments and pick up their winter break book selections to give to the students they tutor. Giving a book to students prior to break helps encourage them to continue reading over the holidays.
Thank you to all our amazing volunteer tutors for helping students develop strong reading skills and improve reading performance so they can be on track to succeed in school. You all truly embody what it means to LIVE UNITED!

Celebrate the Season of Giving

This GivingTuesday, Healthcare Foundation of Northern Lake County (HFNLC) sponsored our campaign and matched all new or increased gifts up to $5,000. We are thrilled with the support of our community and happy to announce that we exceeded our goal! A huge thank you to HFNLC and everyone who made a GivingTuesday gift.
The funds raised will sustain our new 211 program for years to come. That means that all 703,000 Lake County residents will have access to critical information and resources in their times of need.
Everyone who made a gift of $211 or more is now a part of our 211 Club. You can join our 211 Club or learn more here.
If you missed out on GivingTuesday, consider making a tax-deductible, year-end gift to support our programs. This year, your gift goes further thanks to a matching gift from our UWLC Board, who will match all gifts up to $7,000. Click below to make a gift or learn more.

Now Recruiting: Leaders United of Lake County

Leaders United of Lake County (LULC) is a new group of volunteer, young professionals who strive to help local students achieve success and become the future leaders of tomorrow.

At the end of November, LULC started a new morning program with Robert Abbott Middle School (RAMS) in Waukegan. Members meet with students before school and focus on tutoring, academics and mentorship. Working one on one or in small groups with RAMS scholars helps students achieve success and gain confidence to build leadership skills. These leadership skills help students navigate through the remainder of the school year and will prepare them for success in high school.

On December 5, LULC held their first recruitment event at Bosacki’s Brewery in Mundelein where they sampled brews and spoke with potential new members about how this new group creates positive change in Lake County. They have recruited seven new young professionals, for a total of 17 members!

Follow LULC on Facebook for invitations to future events and updates on the meaningful work they’re doing in the community. Interested in joining? Contact Bobbi Selvik via email at Bobbi.Selvik@uwlakeco.org.

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Meet Our New Interns

United Way of Lake County relies heavily on the work of volunteers to help make an impact on our local communities. This includes our interns who are ready to volunteer their time and effort to help make a difference. These interns are a valuable part of what we do and how we do it.

Our Success By 6 program has welcomed two new interns to their team: Maria Martinez and Monica Carrasco. Click on their names to learn more about them and their projects.

Interested in interning with us? Click the button below to learn more.

 

 

Meet the Interns: Lauren Schwabe

by Lauren SchwabeCategories: News, Staff Spotlights

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We are excited to welcome Lauren Schwabe, our newest Marketing intern! We love getting to introduce new people to the work we do at United Way of Lake County. As part of our Marketing team, Lauren assists with our designed materials, website, blog, videos, social media, and much more. Join us in welcoming Lauren!

Where did you go to school, what was your major, and when did you graduate?

I attended The Illinois Institute of Art in Schaumburg, I have my Bachelor’s Degree in Media Arts & Animation, and I graduated in 2015.

Where are you from?

I am from Lake Villa, Illinois.

What’s your favorite type of food?

Thai, Japanese and Italian!

What is something interesting that no one knows about you?

I really want to travel more, first choice is Italy.

If you had to sing one karaoke song for the rest of your life, what would it be?

“Poor Unfortunate Souls” from The Little Mermaid.

What is one of your favorite movies? 

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

 

To learn more about internship opportunities at United Way, click here.

November 2019 e-Newsletter

by Lauren SchwabeCategories: News, Newsletter

 

Sold-Out Power of the Purse Raises $66k for Early Literacy Programs

On November 3, Women United held their signature fundraising event, Power of the Purse, at the Royal Melbourne Country Club in Long Grove. Over 200 women joined for an afternoon filled with a champagne brunch, an assortment of games to win purses, jewelry and much more. This year’s event raised a record $66,000!

Power of the Purse raises funds for Women United’s Little Kids, Big Futures philanthropy fund to support six critical early literacy programs that will ensure the foundation for strong and successful academic futures for Lake County children. Since 2014, Women United has granted over half a million dollars to worthy early literacy programs. Power of the Purse ensures that more children receive the support they need to be prepared for kindergarten and are ready to succeed.

“We are so excited to have another successful Power of the Purse event and raise even more than in 2018. We work hard to create an exciting and memorable event that builds enthusiasm and increases dollars year over year. The generosity and support from Women United members truly makes this event possible.”

-Judy Kotsiopoulos, POP Event Chair

To view photos from this year’s Power of the Purse event, click the button below.

Double Your Impact to Help Improve and Save Lives this GivingTuesday

All of the funds raised this GivingTuesday, between November 26 – December 10, will help us sustain our new 211 program in Lake County, IL.

211 is a powerful information and referral service that helps people in need connect to a wide range of available community resources to improve and save lives. 211 provides access to critical services like shelter and affordable housing options, utility assistance, supplemental food programs, addiction support and rehabilitation, crisis counseling, employment and education support, health care and mental health, and more!

Thanks to the support of many local partners and individuals, United Way of Lake County is proud to have launched 211 for everyone in Lake County on September 24, 2019!

But our work is not over! We need your help to provide this vital service for many years to come so that all 703,000 Lake County residents have access to critical information and resources. Together, we can ensure that Lake County’s 211 system transforms the way our residents find help.

The Healthcare Foundation of Northern Lake County will be matching 100% of all new or increased GivingTuesday donations up to $5,000.

Please consider making a gift between November 26 and December 10 to help improve and save lives in Lake County, IL.

Be sure to check if your company will match your donation to TRIPLE your impact.

Click below to learn more about our GivingTuesday campaign.

Check Out Our Holiday Opportunities

Looking for giving and volunteer opportunities this holiday season? View our Holiday Opportunities Guide! It’s an easy-to-use guide filled with holiday volunteering and giving opportunities throughout the Lake County community.

Donate as an individual or unite your friends, family, neighbors and co-workers to spread the holiday cheer with children and families in need and deserving of our help. Click the button below to view this year’s guide.

Sign Up for our TAKE ACTION! Advocacy Email

At United Way of Lake County, we believe advocating for good public policy is critical to our mission to improve the lives of children and families in Lake County. United Way engages in public policy advocacy because we recognize our experience, knowledge, partnerships and influence can help inform policymakers’ decisions regarding the policies affecting our community.

Our new, periodic TAKE ACTION! advocacy email will provide a nonpartisan platform for people to take meaningful action that will make a difference.

Sign up for our TAKE ACTION! advocacy email by clicking below.

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You’re Invited to Women United’s Wine & Learn

Women United of Lake County invites you to attend their Wine & Learn on December 4 at 6 p.m. in Libertyville to learn more about membership with Women United and how we mobilize our efforts to support early childhood literacy.

Together we strengthen Lake County through philanthropy, leadership and volunteerism with a flexible program structure that enables busy, successful women to engage at whatever level works best for them. Become a part of something bigger!

Want to attend? Please RSVP to Janice at Janice.Scarbalis@uwlakeco.org by Sunday, December 1.

Learn more about the event on Facebook by clicking the button below.

Sip, Chat and Learn with Leaders United

Join Leaders United on Thursday, December 5 from 6 – 8 p.m. at Bosacki’s Brewery (610 East Hawley Street, Mundelein) to sample some tasty brews and learn from current members how this group creates positive change in Lake County.

Leaders United is a group of volunteer, young professionals who strive to help local students achieve success and become the future leaders of tomorrow.

Register for this free event below or contact Bobbi Selvik via email at Bobbi.Selvik@uwlakeco.org.

Volunteer Opportunity: The Real Deal

You’re invited to be a part of a wonderful opportunity to help educate, support, and enrich the lives of Waukegan high school students. Waukegan High School (Brookside Campus), in partnership with the Lake County Health Department, is hosting an event on December 6 called “The Real Deal.”

The Real Deal is essentially The Game of Life in an interactive form. Students assume the life of a 25-year-old and learn the value and challenges of financial responsibility, how choices such as smoking, teen pregnancy, and drinking/drug use can dramatically impact their future, and the benefits of education on their career goals and life satisfaction through visiting a variety of different “hands on” stations. They receive real life advice on setting goals and avoiding high-risk behaviors from community members and learn about available resources.

There are two sessions; one in the AM and one in the PM. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Bobbi Selvik at Bobbi.Selvik@uwlakeco.org or (847) 775-1022.

UWLC Wins Award for Bringing 211 to Lake County

On November 13, Reflejos, the local bilingual Latino publication, honored United Way of Lake County (UWLC) at their Reflecting Excellence Awards. We were recognized in their “Making a Community Difference” category for our work in bringing 211 to Lake County. United Way staff members, Karla Medina Alamar and Susan Mendoza, attended the event and accepted the award on UWLC’s behalf.

We are honored to be recognized and grateful to Reflejos for helping spread the word about 211 in Lake County!

 

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