December 2019 e-Newsletter
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Tag: Blog
November 2019 e-Newsletter
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October 2019 e-Newsletter
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211 Helpline Now Live in Lake County211 has officially launched in Lake County! Anyone in Lake County can now call 211 or text their zip code to 898211 for free, confidential, 24/7 information and referrals to essential services. 211 is Lake County’s one-stop shop for help! Thank you to everyone who attended the 211 launch event. Nearly 250 community members came out to support and learn more about this critical service, including people from across the county representing business, government and nonprofit sectors. We are grateful to our panelists and speakers who shared from their perspective how 211 will benefit our community including real-life stories and the impact 211 is already making. View photos from the event by clicking here. Visit the official 211 Lake County website: 211LakeCounty.org. View our 211 funding partners here and task force members here whose support made 211 possible. Watch our 211 video (available in English and Spanish) by clicking below.
Women United’s Successful No Small Matter ScreeningWomen United of Lake County‘s screening of the documentary film No Small Matter was a huge success! More than 200 community leaders, educators and volunteers gathered at the Gorton Community Center in Lake Forest to rally around the importance of early childhood development. No Small Matter is the first feature documentary to explore the most overlooked, underestimated, and powerful force for good in America today: early childhood education. Through poignant stories, the film lays out the overwhelming evidence for the importance of education in the first five years, and reveals how our failure to act on that evidence has resulted in an everyday crisis for American families, and a slow-motion catastrophe for the country. Thank you to everyone who came out to see the film, to the amazing panel of experts who spoke about the importance of quality early care and education, and to the wonderful team of Women United members who were instrumental in bringing this film to Lake County!
Check Out Our Holiday OpportunitiesLooking 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.
Save the Date: Giving Tuesday.
Leaders United Join Facebook |
September 2019 e-Newsletter
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You’re Invited: Power of the Purse!Join Women United for their signature fundraising event, POWER OF THE PURSE, on Sunday, November 3 from 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. at the Royal Melbourne Country Club in Long Grove. Enjoy a champagne brunch and an upbeat afternoon celebrating the special women in your life. All proceeds will support critical early literacy programs through the Little Kids, Big Futures Fund. 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. Purchase your tickets by Friday, October 11, to be entered to win a Kindle Fire 8.0 with Travel Case! Space is limited. Get your tickets below.
Women United Brings No Small Matter to Lake CountyWomen United of Lake County is proud to host a screening of the documentary film No Small Matter on Wednesday, October 16, from 6 – 8:30 p.m., at the Gorton Community Center (400 East Illinois Road, Lake Forest). No Small Matter is the first feature documentary to explore the most overlooked, underestimated, and powerful force for good in America today: early childhood education. Through poignant stories, the film lays out the overwhelming evidence for the importance of education in the first five years, and reveals how our failure to act on that evidence has resulted in an everyday crisis for American families, and a slow-motion catastrophe for the country. But there is hope — us! This film seeks to re-define the public’s understanding of what’s going on in children’s brains from birth to five — and push their needs to the top of our social agenda. Although this film is making its way across the county, this is the first and only screening in Lake County. Visit www.nosmallmatter.com or https://youtu.be/Shm-KRh4LFg to watch the trailer and learn more! The screening is free and open to the public but you must register if you’d like to attend. Click the button below to register.
Step Up to Women UnitedAre you 36 or younger and passionate about early childhood education and making a difference in your community? Then you are eligible to participate in Women United’s Step Up program! Learn more about Step Up here and click below to view a video.
Volunteers In Action: BaxterThis summer, six groups of Baxter employees volunteered their time to revitalize and support local organizations. Each group did something different: from packaging food at Illinois Food Bank to cleaning Illinois Beach State Park to organizing a bingo game at a nursing home. Thank you, Baxter, for encouraging your employees to take time out of their workday to make Lake County a better place! View all of the places they made a difference by clicking below. .
Marketing Internship OpportunityKnow a college student looking for a Marketing/Communications internship? Interning with United Way is a great way to get hands-on experience, learn new skills and make a difference in your community, all while building your resume. To apply, send your cover letter and resume to Robert at Robert.Szarzynski@uwlakeco.org. Learn more about the internship by clicking below.
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August 2019 e-Newsletter
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211 to Officially Launch September 24
Daily Herald Front Page Features ‘Success By 6’
‘Stuff the Bus’ Exceeds Expectations
Sip & Shop with Women United.
Kindergarten Countdown Camp Comes to a Close
Become a Reading Success TutorDo you enjoy working with elementary-age children? Do you want to make a difference in the community you live in or near? United Way of Lake County’s Reading Success Program welcomes you! Our program serves elementary schools in Waukegan and we place volunteers in first through third grade classrooms. No prior experience required, only a love of children and books! We are always in need of bilingual Spanish speaking volunteers. To be a volunteer tutor, you must:
If you are interested in volunteering as a Reading Success tutor, simply fill out this online form with your basic information. Our volunteer coordinator will call or email you with more information in a few days. Volunteering begins in late September and early October. Our program runs through the end of May. For more information, please contact Sue at sue.baehr@uwlakeco.org or
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July 2019 e-Newsletter
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Premier Leadership Event Raises Over $207,000 for Our Education Programs and 211!On June 26, Lake County civic and business leaders gathered for our sixth annual Premier Leadership Event at The Shanty in Wadsworth. We are proud to share that over $207,000 was raised to support United Way’s education programs and the launch of 211 thanks to the generosity of our guests and sponsors. We would like to recognize and thank our guest speaker, Kathleen O’Connor, Libertyville Township Supervisor. Her remarks on 211 underlined the importance of this vital service being launched in Lake County this coming fall. “211 is a simple idea. Frequently, simple ideas have the greatest impact. In a day, where we can literally “google” anything and receive the desired answer – it’s not the same experience when seeking help. A “google” search may begin the exploration of finding a much needed social service but it has limitations… For over 30 years, I’ve worked in social services and it is an extremely difficult system to navigate. People are often connected to resources by trial and error. As a Township Supervisor, I have observed how incredibly frustrating it is for folks when they are told they don’t live in our Township and need to contact another one…The social service “run around” adds to their anxiety. All too often, families will stop seeking help because it’s just too difficult. Imagine a system that allows a family to speak to a person who will help them identify their needs, narrow their search, explain how they can connect to that much needed resource, help them begin to feel hopeful again. Imagine if that conversation could begin with a simple call to 211. Imagine how much healthier of a county we would be!” We are very grateful to our event sponsors for their support:
To view pictures from this exciting event, please click the button below.
Become a Reading Success TutorDo you enjoy working with elementary-age children? Do you want to make a difference in the community you live in or near? United Way of Lake County’s Reading Success Program welcomes you! Our program serves elementary schools in Waukegan and we place volunteers in first through third grade classrooms. No prior experience required, only a love of children and books! We are always in need of bilingual Spanish speaking volunteers. To be a volunteer tutor, you must:
If you are interested in volunteering as a Reading Success tutor, simply fill out this online form with your basic information. Our volunteer coordinator will call or email you with more information in a few days. Volunteering begins in late September and early October. Our program runs through the end of May. For more information, please contact Sue at sue.baehr@uwlakeco.org or
Welcome LEADERS UNITED to Lake CountyLEADERS UNITED of Lake County (LULC) is a group of caring and committed young professionals on a mission to encourage philanthropy and volunteerism among their peers. The goal of LULC will be to impact issues that affect students and families across Lake County. This is also an outstanding opportunity for those who are seeking to build leadership experiences. Interested in becoming a member? Your gifts of time, talent and resources will ensure children and families living in Lake County’s most vulnerable communities are supported with access to the resources they need to thrive. Learn more by clicking below.
Women United Invites You to Next Wine & LearnWomen United of Lake County invites you to attend their Wine & Learn on August 22 at 6 p.m. in Libertyville to learn more about membership with Women United and the way 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 Join? Please RSVP to Janice at Janice.Scarbalis@uwlakeco.org before August 19. Learn more about the event on Facebook by clicking the button below. .
It’s Not Too Late to Help Stuff the Bus!United Way will be driving a school bus around Lake County to pick-up all donations this Friday, July 26. A big thank you to everyone who has donated school supplies so far! We will share the results of the donation drive in next month’s e-Newsletter. You still have time to donate! If you would like to drop-off school supplies, you can do so at our office’s reception desk. Address: 330 S. Greenleaf St., Gurnee, IL 60031. If you would like to make a monetary donation, please click here. Learn more about our Stuff the Bus donation drive by clicking the button below.
Staff Spotlight: Maria GrayRecently, we welcomed Maria Gray to our United Way family! We are thrilled to have her as our new Senior Relationship Manager on our Resource Development team. Maria’s role is to manage corporate campaign accounts and individual donors. Learn more about Maria and her work at United Way by clicking below.
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November 2018 e-Newsletter
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Sold-Out Power of the Purse Raises $59.8k for Early Literacy ProgramsOn November 4, Women United held their 13th annual Power of the Purse fundraising event at the Royal Melbourne Country Club in Long Grove. Over 200 women joined together for an afternoon filled with a champagne brunch, an assortment of games to win purses, jewelry and much more. This year’s event raised $59,800, which is a 20% increase over last year. 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 children in Lake County. Since 2014, Women United has granted $370,000 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.
To view photos from this year’s Power of the Purse event, click the button below.
Help Brighten Children’s Futures this Giving TuesdayAll of the funds raised on Giving Tuesday, November 27, 2018, will go towards expanding our Home Visiting Program to reach more families throughout Lake County. Home Visiting delivers free early intervention services to the home of families with infants and preschool-age children who are struggling with poverty and who have limited access to health and community services. Funding will support more high-risk families in North Chicago, Waukegan and Zion with their most critical needs. The Healthcare Foundation of Northern Lake County will be matching 100% of Giving Tuesday donations up to $5,000. A matching gift means that your impact will double for children and families that need and deserve our help. Save the date for #GivingTuesday on Tuesday, November 27,
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December 2018 e-Newsletter
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Forbes Ranks United Way as America’s #1 Top CharityForbes recently released its list of America’s Top Charities and United Way is #1. Forbes ranks the charities based on several financial-efficiency metrics, proving again that a donation to United Way is going to do the most good for the most people! Click here to view Forbes’ list. United Way was also ranked #1 on The Chronicle of Philanthropy’s new list of America’s Favorite Charities. Click here to learn more.
Your Gift Makes a World of Difference in Lake CountyIf you choose just one charity worthy of your heart, time and generosity this year, please choose United Way of Lake County. Your gift to United Way of Lake County funds vital programs, like our Kindergarten Countdown Camp, where children are able to build key kindergarten skills, such as recognizing shapes and letters, counting and writing their names. Getting off on the right food is everything. You can also support the new 2-1-1 Lake County, a 24/7 helpline (call, text and chat) for local residents needing assistance with everything from food, shelter, clothing, job training, physical and mental health services, elder care and more. Connecting people to the right services at the right time makes a world of difference. By supporting United Way of Lake County, you help create lasting change by focusing on long-term solutions, not short-term charity. And your gift goes further this year thanks to NRG, who will be matching 100% of all donations up to $7,000. Please give today by clicking the button below.
Thank You, Keurig Dr. Pepper and American Hotel Register CompanyWe’d like to extend our sincere thanks to Keurig Dr Pepper and American Hotel Register Company. American Hotel graciously received, stored and moved 55 pallets of sporting goods and apparel donated by Keurig Dr. Pepper (nearly 5 semi-trailer loads) that were distributed to more than 30 agencies, schools and park districts across Lake County in just 3 days. Our special thanks to the American Hotel Register team at the Chicago Regional Distribution Center and our community partners who participated in this event. Pictured (left to right): Dennis Burke (UWLC), Danielle Mallizzio (DC General Manager, American Hotel Register), Michelle Crombie (UWLC), Julie Baker (VP HR, American Hotel Register), Deidre Schwartz (Director Corporate Social Responsibility, American Hotel Register).
Celebrate the Season of GivingWe are happy to share that we raised $10,836 on Giving Tuesday this year! These funds will be used to sponsor more families in our Home Visiting Program that provides free early intervention and health care services to the highest-risk families in Lake County. We would like to thank the individuals who made a Giving Tuesday gift and recognize our matching gift sponsor, Healthcare Foundation of Northern Lake County, for pledging to match all new or increased gifts made up to $5,000. If you missed out on Giving Tuesday, consider making a tax-deductible, year-end gift to support our programs. Click below to make a gift or learn more.
Meet Our New StaffRecently, we welcomed Bobbi Selvik to our United Way family! We are thrilled to have her as our new Manager of Community Impact. Bobbi’s role includes providing year-round volunteer engagement opportunities as well as implementing the Young Leaders United group. Learn more about Bobbi and her work at United Way by clicking below.
File Your Taxes for FREE with MyFreeTaxesTax season is right around the corner and we are excited to offer the MyFreeTaxes Program to Lake County residents once again. MyFreeTaxes is an easy, safe, and free way to file your taxes online. Available for residents in all 50 states and the District of Columbia, you can file your federal and state returns for free at MyFreeTaxes.com. United Way promotes MyFreeTaxes to help support the health, education, and financial stability of every person in every community, and maximizing your tax refund is a key step towards that goal. The income cap for tax season 2019 will be $66,000 for individuals and households. Similar to last year, MyFreeTaxes will use H&R Block’s premium product. Stay tuned for more information in January! Learn more about MyFreeTaxes by clicking the button below.
Happy Holidays!As we approach the holiday season, we’d like to say THANK YOU for supporting our mission to create lasting change in Lake County. None of our work would be possible without donors, volunteers and supporters—like you. From all of us at United Way of Lake County, we wish you a safe and happy holidays!
Connect With Us On Social MediaWant to keep in touch more often than just our once-a-month newsletter? Become a part of our social community by following us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn or Instagram, where you can see what’s new, share your thoughts and be among the first to know about all the ways that United Way is creating lasting change in Lake County.
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March 2019 e-Newsletter
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UWLC Hosts Countywide Reading Day in Honor of Dr. SeussOn March 1, over 95 volunteers participated in a county-wide volunteer effort to read to over 1,140 students in celebration of Dr. Seuss’ birthday and Read Across America Day. Volunteers read to students, ranging from pre-K to 3rd grade, at Glen Flora and North Elementary in Waukegan, Pleviak Elementary in Lake Villa and Green Bay Early Childhood Center in North Chicago. Click below to view photos from this special day!
211 Gains Support of Local HospitalsUnited Way has continued to gain support from local partners and individuals to help bring 211 to Lake County. Most recently, Advocate Aurora Health, NorthShore Highland Park Hospital, and Northwestern Medicine Lake Forest Hospital joined our amazing list of 211 partners. Once launched, 211 will connect residents to various resources including health care and other critical services to improve and save lives, so we are proud to have the support of local medical institutions. Click below to sign-up to receive our 211 e-newsletter so you can stay up-to-date on the pending launch in Lake County.
Now Available: 2019 Program OverviewOur 2019 Program Overview is now available. Click below to view the amazing work being accomplished in Lake County!
Better Together is Back in SessionOur Better Together program is back in session and always welcomes new families! Better Together is a parent and toddler class where they learn, play and develop school readiness skills together. Each session is from 10 – 11:30 a.m. at Green Bay Early Childhood Center. Click here to view all of the upcoming sessions. Learn more about Better Together by clicking the button below. .
Volunteer Opportunity: Kindergarten Countdown CampDo you enjoy spending time with 4 and 5-year-olds? Our Kindergarten Countdown Camp has a summer volunteer opportunity! Volunteers are needed to assist the program’s teachers in a variety of classroom tasks and work with the students who are struggling. Volunteers must be willing to commit 2-3 days a week for at least 5-6 weeks between June 10 and July 19. Click below to learn more about this important opportunity.
United Way of Lake County is HiringWant to join our team? Apply today!
Click below to learn more.
Don’t Stress! You Can File Your Taxes With EaseNo need to stress. United Way and HR Block have teamed up to bring you free tax prep you can trust. File your state and federal taxes for $0 at MyFreeTaxes.com. |
February 2019 e-Newsletter
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United Way Volunteer Inspires Waukegan StudentsKaren Jones-Abbott retiree, long-time supporter of United Way, and Women United member-recently visited Robert Abbott Middle School to share her wisdom and passions with the students. Karen taught the students to walk into a room, shine a smile and introduce themselves with confidence. She shared her success story, which all started with the love of problem solving. She encouraged the students to try something new and take risks to discover their own interests and passions. Karen is part of a series of speakers focused on helping students Stay in School and realize the direct connection between academics and future success. Interested in being a Career Speaker too? Click here to learn more. View photos from this event by clicking below.
United Way – One of the World’s Most Innovative CompaniesUnited Way was named #5 on Fast Company’s annual list of the World’s Most Innovative Companies for 2019, in the nonprofit category! The list honors those businesses making the most profound impact on both industry and culture, showcasing a variety of ways to thrive in today’s volatile world. We’re very proud of this honor and grateful for our donors, volunteers, advocates and partners who helped us get to this point!
Waukegan 8th Grade Students Explore College of Lake County OpportunitiesUnited Way understands how critical it is to expose middle school students to career and college possibilities as they prepare for high school. Through a partnership with College of Lake County (CLC), TRiO/Educational Talent Search and Robert Abbott Middle School (RAMS), students learned about TRiO summer opportunities and support programs for a positive transition from middle school to high school. The students attended a Career Degrees and Certificates Fair. CLC faculty members and Tech Campus students created hands-on and interactive stations where the RAMS students could learn more about careers such as Fire Science and Technology, Nursing and Emergency Medical Technology, Mechatronics, Laser Photonics and Engineering, Hospitality and Culinary Management, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, General EMPS Information, Legal Studies, Health and Wellness, and Digital Media Design. The 8th graders and their teachers were amazed with the variety of opportunities available at CLC. RAMS students also had the wonderful opportunity to meet and talk with CLC students from various student clubs. Members of Sister 2 Sister, Men of Vision, Exito Program, Student Government/Phi Theta Kappa, and the EXPLORE program encouraged the 8th graders to create college experiences that are well rounded and meaningful. The students also learned about what Dual Credit is and how it will benefit them in high school as well as in college. The trip allowed the 8th graders to get a glimpse of what college feels like both academically and socially. Click below to view photos from the event.
STEM for Girls in Lake CountyUnited Way strives to help youth navigate their career path towards graduation. One avenue to accomplish this goal is to provide opportunities for young girls to be exposed to STEM related fields. STEM stands for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. STEM is important because it pervades every part of our lives. Studies show that girls lose interest in math and science during middle school, and STEM interest for girls is low, compared to boys. So on February 23, over 240 girls from 7th through 12th grades and their parents attended College of Lake County’s STEM for Girls event. The girls participated in fun, hands-on sessions focused on science, technology, engineering and math. UWLC helped coordinate this event by providing volunteers with careers in the STEM field. During lunch, Karen Jones from Chocolate Chips Association and a group from Astellas, represented by Keya Pitts, Dominique Talbert, Debra Sutkowski and Angela James, were on hand to talk with the girls about STEM related career prospects. These volunteers demonstrated what STEM careers look like in the real world, discussed with the students and parents how they can also thrive in STEM related fields, and encouraged the girls to pursue their career goals. View our Facebook post for more photos by clicking below. .
Success By 6 Summer Internship OpportunityKnow a college student looking for a summer internship? This position will support the efforts of United Way of Lake County by assisting in the implementation of the Success By 6 Program and its initiatives as well as assisting with other Community Impact initiatives. The ability to speak English and Spanish is strongly preferred. View the position description here. Want to apply? Send your cover letter and resume to Rita at Rita.Zaluzec@uwlakeco.org.
United Way of Lake County is HiringWant to join our team? Apply today!
Click below to find job descriptions and learn more.
File With My Free Taxes – It’s Free!No need to stress. United Way and HR Block have teamed up to bring you free tax prep you can trust. File your state and federal taxes for $0 at MyFreeTaxes.com. |
