Help Us Stuff the Bus!

Kids across Lake County go back to school lacking the necessary supplies needed to thrive in school. The price for essential supplies is increasing and many low-income families struggle to afford everything on their child’s school supply list.

But together, we can make a difference!

This year we are hosting a new school supply donation drive called Stuff the Bus, where you can donate school supplies, or make monetary donations, to help ensure that our most at-risk kids have everything they need to start the school year off ready to learn. Now through July 26, you can contribute as an individual or your company/organization can team up to make a difference!

We want all Lake County children from low-income families to start school on equal footing to their peers and we can’t do it alone. It’s a community effort as we continue to shape the younger generation and empower their lives. This is a cause worth getting involved in and we hope you will take part.

If you’re interested in participating, please click the button below and fill-out our “Interest Form”.

Women United Allocates Over $500K in Five Years to Early Literacy Programs in Lake County

Women United is Lake County’s premiere women’s organization for strengthening the community through philanthropy, leadership and volunteerism while creating a meaningful sense of belonging.

Just this month, the group announced that it will distribute $148,000 in grants through its Little Kids, Big Futures Fund to support six critical early literacy programs. Since 2014, Women United has distributed over half a million dollars to worthy nonprofits to ensure children living in Lake County’s most vulnerable communities are prepared for kindergarten and ready to succeed.

To read more about the Little Kids, Big Futures Fund and its funded programs, click below.

Welcoming Carla Zuniga as Board Chair

At United Way of Lake County’s Annual Meeting on May 16, our outgoing board chair, Andrew Warrington, handed over the gavel to incoming board chair, Carla Zuniga.

Carla Zuniga is the Senior Vice President of Allstate Insurance Company’s Brand Operations. Carla has been an active Board member since 2012. From 2015 to 2017 she served as the Chair of Women United. While leading Women United she reinvigorated the group and led the building of a strong leadership structure for Women United.

Since 2017, Carla has co-chaired UWLC’s Premier Leadership Event along with fellow board member Azita Saleki-Gerhardt. For the past 2 years over $400,000 has been raised and she’s getting ready to co-chair this fun event again in June.

Looking forward, Carla will be focusing on two priorities for United Way of Lake County. The first, the launch of 211 this fall! This service will connect Lake County residents through a phone call or text, to various resources from shelter and housing options, supplemental food programs, health care and mental health services, addiction support, crisis counseling and more to help improve and save lives. The second, the launch of a Young Leader’s Society, with the focus on engaging young professionals in Lake County volunteerism and philanthropy. She looks forward to growing the next generation of philanthropists in Lake County..

Reading Buddies Volunteer Opportunity

We need volunteers to spend an hour in a classroom reading with kindergartners!

120 children in Lake County will attend a Kindergarten Countdown Camp this summer. Learning the joy of reading is an important piece of this camp and we need volunteers to demonstrate how much fun reading a book can be!

Reading with young students brings books to life and shows them how entertaining reading can be. These children come from low-income families so many don’t have books at home. Introducing them to the concept of books, stories and reading is an important milestone for them as they prepare to enter kindergarten this fall.

Click below for more details.

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Women United is Now on Instagram and LinkedIn

Women United of Lake County now has a presence on both Instagram and LinkedIn. Consider following Women United for updates on their amazing work in the community, invites to fun social events and much more!

Click the icons below to visit Women United’s social pages.

Teacher Assistant Volunteer Opportunity

We are looking for several in-classroom volunteers to assist with our Kindergarten Countdown Camp (KCC). KCC is a free summer learning program for incoming kindergartners who have never attended preschool nor been in a classroom setting. Quality early childhood programs, like KCC, produce lasting effects for a child entering kindergarten with the academic, emotional and social skills needed to be successful.

Classroom volunteers must be 16 years or older and willing to commit 2-3 days a week for at least 5-6 weeks, between June 10 and July 19.

For more details, click below.

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Recap of Annual Meeting 2019

Lake County advocates and community members joined us to hear about our successful work in the community, honor our outgoing board chair, Andrew Warrington, and welcome our incoming board chair, Carla Zuniga.

We’d like to recognize and thank our outgoing board members for their commitment and leadership while serving on the board:

• Adrienne Anderson, Constellation, An Exelon Company
• Larry Corrigan, Medline Industries, Inc.
• Aaron Lawlor
• Michael Nerheim, Lake County State’s Attorney
• Azita Saleki-Gerhardt, AbbVie
• Tejal Vakharia, Allscripts Healthcare Solutions
• Donnovan Young, Broadspire, a Crawford Company

We’d also like to welcome the following individuals who are joining our Board of Directors:

• Carl Skoog, BMO Harris Bank
• Julie Gordon, Retired Hewitt/Aon Executive

To view photos from the event, click the button below.