August 2024 e-Newsletter
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Tag: Better Together
Women United Grants $181,000 to Early Education Programs
Women United is Lake County’s premier women’s organization that strengthens the community through philanthropy, leadership, and volunteerism while cultivating meaningful connections and belonging. In May 2024, it was declared that Women United is distributing $181,000 through its Little Kids, Big Futures philanthropy fund to bolster eight critical early education programs to ensure the foundation for solid and successful academic futures for Lake County’s children. Since 2014, Women United has allocated more than $1.4 million in grants.
The following programs will receive funding:
$86,000 – Kindergarten Countdown Camp (KCC)
Antioch, Beach Park, Round Lake, Waukegan, and Zion
Funding will support United Way of Lake County’s summer learning program for 132 incoming kindergarteners with little to no preschool experience. Kindergarten Countdown Camp teaches social norms and builds key foundational skills such as shapes, letters, and counting.
$26,500 – B.E.S.T. Pre-K Program
Round Lake
Funding will grant 20 scholarships for children to attend Round Lake District 116 Education Foundation’s preschool, providing an essential learning opportunity.
$23,000 – Better Together program
Fox Lake and North Chicago
Funding will support United Way of Lake County’s bilingual early learning program for children, birth to three years old, focusing on early literacy, healthy development, and parent engagement. Each family receives resources and materials to learn, play and develop school readiness skills together.
$16,500 – The Formative Years
Libertyville, Mundelein, and Waukegan
Funding supports Family First Center’s program that provides family education and early childhood enrichment for families in transitional housing with a focus on child development.
$14,000 –Early Literacy Leaders
Lake County
Funding will support Affirm Leadership Christian Academy’s program that provides an academic foundation for girls; tailored to meet individual deficits and close the gap before kindergarten.
$5,000 –Mother’s Trust Foundation
Lake County
Funding will provide scholarships for children to increase access to early educational experiences and services, enrichment, and extracurricular programming including daycare and summer camp.
$5,000 – Early Learning Club Center
Lake County
Funding will support United Way of Lake County’s four ELC Centers, year-round, designed to teach early literacy and parent engagement tailored to each center’s unique community needs. Funding will support programs in English and Spanish.
$5,000 – HUGS Women United
Lake County
Funding will support community engagement initiatives of Women United where members embrace the community with the resources and care it needs to succeed. This initiative will continue to provide an Early Learning Club at Whispering Oaks Apartments in Waukegan, resource fairs, and impact opportunities.
Women United of Lake County is a vibrant network of more than 145 women who support each other by leveraging our passions, ideas, expertise, and resources. Together we ensure that Lake County children are prepared for kindergarten and ready to succeed. Women United is a paramount community within United Way of Lake County.
With a forward-thinking mindset, Women United’s philanthropy is growing and mobilizing community-minded women through leadership and resource development to expand its impact on early childhood education.
We encourage you to get involved in Women United of Lake County and to learn more about the Little Kids, Big Futures Philanthropy Fund Guidelines. If you have any questions, contact our Senior Manager of Women United & Donor Engagement, Jessica Ceisel, at Jessica.Ceisel@uwlakeco.org.
For more information about Women United, visit www.LIVEUNITEDlakecounty.org/womenunited
Women United Grants $186,000 to Early Education Programs
Women United is Lake County’s premier women’s organization for strengthening the community through philanthropy, leadership, and volunteerism while creating a meaningful sense of belonging. In May 2023, it was announced that Women United will distribute $186,000 through its Little Kids, Big Futures philanthropy fund to support nine critical early education programs that will ensure the foundation for strong and successful academic futures for Lake County’s children.
The following programs will receive funding:
$84,000 – United Way of Lake County’s Kindergarten Countdown Camp (KCC)
Gurnee, North Chicago, Round Lake & Waukegan
Funding will support a summer learning program for 135 incoming kindergarteners with little to no preschool experience. Teaches social norms and builds key skills such as shapes, letters and counting.
$26,500 – B.E.S.T. Pre-K Program
Round Lake
Funding will support a bilingual early learning program for children, birth to three years old, with a focus on early literacy, healthy development and parent engagement.
$20,000 – United Way of Lake County’s Better Together program
Green Bay Early Childhood Center in North Chicago
This early learning program is for children birth to three years old and their caregivers. Each family receives resources and materials to learn, play and develop school readiness skills together. Funding will support 36 sessions. Each session will serve 10 – 12 families.
$15,000 – The Formative Years
Lake County
Funding will support the Family First Center of Lake County, which will provide bi-weekly sessions for parents and 46 children, birth to five years old, on basic skills and preschool enrichment activities to prepare them for school.
$15,000 – Mano a Mano
Lake County
Funding will support the Healthy Kids/Healthy Families initiative, which will expand literacy programs for families with children ages three to five years old through home visits.
$12,500 – Affirm Christian Leadership Academy
Waukegan
Funding will support the Early Literacy Leaders program that provides an academic foundation for girls; tailored to meet individual deficits and close the gap before kindergarten.
$9,000 –Mother’s Trust Foundation
Lake County
Funding will provide scholarships for children to increase access to early educational experiences and services, enrichment, and extracurricular programming including daycare and summer camp.
$8,000 – Early Learning Club Center
Waukegan Public Library
Funding will support an Early Learning Club Center, year round, designed to guide parents on being their child’s first teacher. Funding will support programs in English and Spanish.
$5,000 – HUGS Women United
Waukegan
Funding will support a community engagement initiative of Women United where members embrace the community with the resources and care it needs to succeed. This initiative will continue to provide Early Learning Club sessions at Whispering Oaks Apartments.
Women United of Lake County is a powerful network of more than 135 women who enable each other to leverage our passions, ideas, expertise, and resources to ensure children living in Lake County are prepared for kindergarten and ready to succeed. Women United is a critical community within United Way of Lake County.
Thinking ahead to 2024 and beyond, Women United’s philanthropy is poised to continue to grow and mobilize community-minded women through leadership and resource development in order to expand its impact on early childhood education.
To learn how you can get involved in Women United of Lake County and to know about the Little Kids, Big Futures Philanthropy Fund Guidelines, please contact our Senior Manager of Women United & Donor Engagement, Jessica Ceisel, at Jessica.Ceisel@uwlakeco.org.
For more information about Women United, visit: www.LIVEUNITEDlakecounty.org/womenunited
December 2022 e-Newsletter
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Women United Allocates $1,000,000 in Eight Years to Early Education Programs
Women United is Lake County’s premier women’s organization for strengthening the community through philanthropy, leadership, and volunteerism while creating a meaningful sense of belonging. Just this month, it was announced that Women United will distribute $186,000 through its Little Kids, Big Futures philanthropy fund to support nine critical early education programs that will ensure the foundation for strong and successful academic futures for Lake County’s most vulnerable children. 2022 marks the $1,000,000 milestone in grants to education programs across Lake County, IL!
The following programs will receive funding:
$80,000 – United Way of Lake County’s Kindergarten Countdown Camp (KCC)
Gurnee, North Chicago, Round Lake & Waukegan
Funding will support an in-person summer learning program for 155 incoming kindergartners with little to no preschool experience. In addition to teaching social classroom norms, the goal is to build key foundational skills such as learning shapes, letters, counting, and name writing.
$27,000 – B.E.S.T. Pre-K Program
Round Lake
Funding will continue to allow this Round Lake Park District program to provide 20 scholarships for children who otherwise would not have access to preschool. With this opportunity, children will be prepared for kindergarten and ready to learn.
$18,000 – United Way of Lake County’s Better Together program
Green Bay Early Childhood Center in North Chicago
This early learning program is for children birth to three years old and their caregivers. Each family receives resources and materials to learn, play and develop school readiness skills together. Funding will support 36 sessions. Each session will serve 10 – 12 families.
$15,000 – The Formative Years
Lake County
Funding will support the Family First Center of Lake County, which will provide bi-weekly sessions for parents and 46 children, birth to five years old, on basic skills and preschool enrichment activities to prepare them for school.
$15,000 – Mano a Mano
Lake County
Funding will support the Healthy Kids/Healthy Families initiative, which will expand literacy programs for families with children ages three to five years old through home visits. They aim to serve 29 families.
$10,000 – United Way of Lake County’s Early Learning Clubs
Waukegan Public Library
Early Learning Clubs provide bilingual opportunities for children to learn basic skills while their parents are empowered to be their child’s first teacher. Curbside pick-up of learning materials will connect more children to Early Learning Clubs.
$9,000 – Laundry Literacy
Waukegan and Zion
Funding will provide monthly programming in local laundromats and will include storytime, sing-alongs, early literacy skills, and parent-child interactions to connect with families where they gather. Designed to help prepare children for kindergarten, the program aims to serve 200 – 250 children annually.
$7,000 – Bright by Text
Lake County
Bright by Text is a national bilingual texting program that puts expert tips, games, and child development information in the hands of caregivers. Bright by Text partners with experts such as PBS, Sesame Street, the CDC, and others to develop content for families with children ages prenatal to eight.
$5,000 – HUGS/North Preschool Partnership
Waukegan
HUGS (Heroines United for Giving and Support) is a community engagement initiative of Women United where members embrace a school, project, or community with the resources and care it needs to succeed. This initiative continues to provide Early Learning Clubs at Whispering Oaks Apartments in Waukegan.
Women United of Lake County is a powerful network of over 115 women who enable each other to leverage our passions, ideas, expertise, and resources to ensure children living in Lake County’s most vulnerable communities are prepared for kindergarten and ready to succeed. Women United is a critical community within United Way of Lake County.
Thinking ahead to 2023 and beyond, Women United’s philanthropy is poised to continue to grow and mobilize community-minded women through leadership and resource development in order to expand its impact on early childhood education.
To learn how you can get involved in Women United of Lake County and to know about the Little Kids, Big Futures Philanthropy Fund Guidelines, please contact our Manager of Women United, Diana Nielander, at Diana.Nielander@uwlakeco.org.
For more information about Women United, visit: www.LIVEUNITEDlakecounty.org/womenunited
January 2022 e-Newsletter
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Women United Allocates $850,000 in Seven Years to Early Education Programs
Women United is Lake County’s premier women’s organization for strengthening the community through philanthropy, leadership, and volunteerism while creating a meaningful sense of belonging. Just this month, it was announced that Women United will distribute $166,000 through its Little Kids, Big Futures philanthropy fund to support eight critical early education programs that will ensure the foundation for strong and successful academic futures for Lake County’s most vulnerable children. Since 2014, Women United has allocated over $850,000 in grants to education programs across Lake County, IL.
Women United members. Pictured (left to right) Back row: Karen Warrington, Karen Jones, Marilyn Mines, Sandra Bankston, Elizabeth Suerth, Patrice Maloney-Knauff. Front row: Lori Cruz and Judy Kotsiopolous.
The following programs will receive funding:
$65,000 – United Way of Lake County’s Kindergarten Countdown Camp (KCC)
Beach Park, Round Lake & Waukegan
Funding will support a virtual and hybrid summer learning program for 120 incoming kindergartners with little to no preschool experience. In addition to teaching social classroom norms, the goal is to build key foundational skills such as learning shapes, letters, counting, and name writing.
$25,000 – B.E.S.T. Pre-K Program
Round Lake
Funding will continue to allow this Round Lake Park District program to provide 20 scholarships for children who otherwise would not have access to preschool. With this opportunity, children will be prepared for kindergarten and ready to learn.
$20,000 – One Hope United‘s Busy Bee Children’s Center
Beach Park, North Chicago, Park City, Waukegan & Zion
Funding will provide scholarships to low-income families who need full-time child care while parents work or are in school. The research-based curriculum focuses on learning through exploration and discovery to build critical thinking, early learning skills, and the confidence needed to succeed in school.
$15,000 – United Way of Lake County’s Better Together program
Green Bay Early Childhood Center in North Chicago
This early learning program is for children birth to three years old and their caregivers. Each family receives resources and materials to learn, play and develop school readiness skills together. Funding will support 36 sessions. Each session will serve 10 – 12 families.
$16,000 – Mano a Mano
Lake County
Funding will support the Healthy Kids/Healthy Families initiative, which will expand literacy programs for families with children ages three to five years old through home visits.
$12,000 – Bright by Text
Lake County
Bright by Text is a national bilingual texting program that puts expert tips, games, and child development information in the hands of caregivers. Bright by Text partners with experts such as PBS, Sesame Street, the CDC, and others to develop content for families with children ages prenatal to eight.
$8,000 – United Way of Lake County’s Early Learning Clubs
Waukegan Public Library
Early Learning Clubs provide bilingual opportunities for children to learn basic skills while their parents are empowered to be their child’s first teacher. Curbside pick-up of learning materials will connect more children to Early Learning Clubs.
$5,000 – HUGS/North Preschool Partnership
Waukegan
HUGS (Heroines United for Giving and Support) is a community engagement initiative of Women United where members embrace a school, project, or community with the resources and care it needs to succeed. In 2019, Women United’s HUGS Committee started a new partnership with North Preschool in Waukegan to support reading in classrooms, special events, family programming, parent workshops, and other curricula to enhance learning programs for 140 students.
Women United of Lake County is a powerful network of 115 women who enable each other to leverage our passions, ideas, expertise, and resources to ensure children living in Lake County’s most vulnerable communities are prepared for kindergarten and ready to succeed. Women United is a critical community within United Way of Lake County.
Thinking ahead to 2022 and beyond, Women United’s philanthropy is poised to continue to grow and mobilize community-minded women through leadership and resource development in order to expand its impact on early childhood education.
To learn how you can get involved in Women United of Lake County and to know about the Little Kids, Big Futures Philanthropy Fund Guidelines, please contact our Manager of Women United, Diana Nielander, at Diana.Nielander@uwlakeco.org.
For more information about Women United, visit: www.LIVEUNITEDlakecounty.org/womenunited
January 2021 e-Newsletter
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We Accept the Challenge. Will You?
We’re joining our neighbors across the state to learn how inequity and systemic racism impact our lives and communities. Join us by signing up for the free 21-week Equity Challenge today. The Challenge started this week but it’s not too late to join. You will receive one email per week between now and June 19, 2021. Each challenge activity will take approximately 15 minutes per week.
United, we can help create a stronger, more equitable Illinois economy and stronger, more inclusive Illinois communities.
Bright by Text: A New Partnership
United Way of Lake County has partnered with Bright by Text to provide parents and caregivers of children prenatal to age 8 with information on child development plus local events and resources. We encourage you to try out this free service, and you can stop at any time.
When you sign up, you will receive text messages in English or Spanish that are specific to the age of your child and include local community resources targeted by your zip code. Bright by Text messages include research-based content on child development and learning, as well as information about valuable community services and events happening right here in Lake County.
To sign up, text “UWLC” to 274448; or click below.
Wine & Learn About Women United, Virtually
You’re invited to join Women United virtually on Thursday, January 28 from 6:00 – 7:00 p.m. to learn how this amazing group of more than 100 women is strengthening the community through philanthropy, leadership and volunteerism. The group is flexible so women can choose their level of involvement and there is a ‘no guilt’ policy because those attracted to Women United are generally very busy people. As donors to United Way, they lead by example to ensure that Lake County’s most vulnerable children are prepared for kindergarten and ready to succeed.
Now is a great time to learn more about this fabulous group and the community-minded women who are involved. To receive the event details, please RSVP to Diana Nielander at Diana.Nielander@uwlakeco.org. Learn more about the event below.
Register for Better Together’s Virtual Spring Sessions
Registration is now open for our free, virtual Better Together program. Better Together is designed for children ages 0-3 living in North Chicago or Great Lakes to develop the readiness, physical and cognitive skills crucial to their education, alongside their caregiver. The program encourages interactions, self-exploration, and guided learning through print materials and videos.
We are offering bi-weekly curbside pickup of materials. To see the schedule or to learn more, click here.
Register by contacting Shareny Mota at Shareny.Mota@uwlakeco.org or (847) 775-1040.
Company Spotlight: Incredible Technologies
Thank you to Incredible Technologies, a Vernon Hills-based company, for organizing a fundraiser with us in December. Due to their employees’ generosity, they were able to raise $10,000 in support of our local community. You all are INCREDIBLE!
Interested in learning about starting a United Way campaign at your workplace? Learn more below or contact Dennis Burke at Dennis.Burke@uwlakeco.org or (847) 775-1014.
Celebrating MLK Day with Virtual Storytelling
In celebration of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Great Lakes Credit Union (GLCU) hosted their first virtual storytelling. In collaboration with West Elementary School and Zion School District, GLCU volunteers were virtually invited into classrooms to read a story about Dr. King. It was an exciting morning filled with great energy, thoughtful discussion and learning more about a man who strived to make the world a better place for all. GLCU will collect the books and donate them to the school so that teachers can add them to their classroom libraries.
We would like to thank GLCU for this incredible Day of Service and West Elementary for sharing their students with us for a little while. Every volunteer walked away with a greater depth of appreciation for teachers as they navigate new learning strategies to keep students engaged and striving towards success.
Learn more about hosting a Day of Service like this with your workplace by contacting Bobbi Selvik at Bobbi.Selvik@uwlakeco.org or (847) 775-1022.
Celebrating Black History Month with February Book Drive
To celebrate Black History Month, we will be hosting a virtual book drive during the month of February. The books will be donated to local elementary schools, increasing young readers’ access to books promoting a positive equity message.
Follow us on social media to be alerted when the book drive launches and to learn how you can contribute.
Lake County’s COVID-19 Response and Recovery Fund
We are grateful to the many companies, philanthropies, and more than 650 individuals who have already contributed to our Lake County COVID-19 Response and Recovery Fund. Thanks to them, nonprofits on the front lines of the crisis have had more support to address Lake County’s greatest needs.
Since the fund was launched in March 2020, more than one million dollars has been granted back into the community to 46 nonprofits so they can continue their critical work serving our most vulnerable neighbors.
Our work is not over and there is still a lot of need in the community. You can support the fund by clicking below.
211 Partners with EverThrive Illinois
We have partnered with EverThrive Illinois to ensure that Lake County families are tapped into a network of resources to support them before, during and after pregnancy.
Find assistance with health care, housing, nutrition, postpartum support, and more when you connect with our 211 helpline. Reach immediate, comprehensive and confidential assistance. Call 211 or text your zip code to 898211 now!
June 2020 e-Newsletter
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Women United Allocates $684K in Six Years to Early Literacy Programs
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, it was announced that Women United will distribute $165,650 through its Little Kids, Big Futures Philanthropy Fund to support seven critical early literacy programs that will ensure the foundation for strong and successful academic futures for Lake County’s most vulnerable children.
Women United members at United Way’s Premier Leadership Event on June 26, 2019. Pictured (left to right) Back row – Nancy Coolley, Mary Sue Welch, Tejal Vakharia, Wendy Warren, Karen Mahnke, Michelle Crombie, Karen Warrington, Glenda Abbott, Julie Gordon, Middle row – Diana Nielander, Marilyn Mines, Sami Porter, Front row – Judy Kotsiopolous, Monica Burmeister, Sharlene Abbott, Ann Maine.
The following programs will receive funding:
$65,000 – United Way of Lake County’s Summer Kindergarten Readiness Program (KCC)
Beach Park, North Chicago, Round Lake & Waukegan
Provide children, who have never been to preschool, with summer learning opportunities and materials for kindergarten readiness.
$32,250 – United Way of Lake County’s Home Visiting program
North Chicago, Waukegan & Zion
Home Visiting provides in-home early intervention via phone and video for families (with infants and preschool-age kids) struggling with poverty and who have limited access to health and community services. Funding will support high-risk families in North Chicago, Waukegan and Zion with their most critical needs. The collaboration will provide this essential service to 20 more families.
$25,000 – B.E.S.T. Pre-K Program
Round Lake
Funding will continue to allow this Round Lake Park District program to provide 20 scholarships for children who otherwise would not have access to preschool. With this opportunity, children will be prepared for kindergarten and ready to learn.
$15,000 – United Way of Lake County’s Better Together program
Green Bay Early Childhood Center in North Chicago
A weekly mail-in program for young children (birth to three years) and their caregiver where they receive resources and materials to learn, play and develop school readiness skills together.
$15,000 – Mano a Mano
Round Lake
Funding will launch the Healthy Kids/Healthy Families Initiative which will expand literacy programs for families with 3-5 year olds through home visits.
$8,000 – United Way of Lake County’s Early Learning Clubs
Waukegan Public Library
Early Learning Clubs provide bi-lingual opportunities for children to learn basic skills while their parents are empowered to be their child’s first teacher. Curbside pick-up will connect more children to Early Learning Clubs.
$5,000 – HUGS/North Preschool Partnership
Waukegan
HUGS (Heroines United for Giving and Support) is a community engagement initiative of Women United where members embrace a school, project or community with the resources and care it needs to succeed. Last year, Women United’s HUGS Committee started a new partnership with North Preschool in Waukegan to support reading in schools, special events, family programming, parent workshops and other curricula to enhance learning programs for the 140 students.
Women United of Lake County is a powerful network of more than 100 women who enable each other to leverage our passions, ideas, expertise and resources to ensure children living in Lake County’s most vulnerable communities are prepared for kindergarten and ready to succeed. Women United is a critical community within United Way of Lake County.
Thinking ahead to 2021 and beyond, Women United’s philanthropy is poised to continue to grow and mobilize community-minded women through leadership and resource development in order to expand its impact on early childhood literacy.
To learn how you can get involved in Women United of Lake County and to know about the Little Kids, Big Futures Philanthropy Fund Guidelines, please contact Affinity Group Manager, Diana Nielander, at Diana.Nielander@uwlakeco.org.
For more information about Women United, visit: www.LIVEUNITEDlakecounty.org/womenunited
