June 2024 e-Newsletter
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Tag: Early Childhood Education
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
May 2023 e-Newsletter
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211 Illinois Receives State Grant |
We are thrilled to share the exciting news from this most recent Illinois legislative session. The 211 Illinois board has secured a $3 million grant for fiscal 2023-2024 to support 211 services and expand coverage to uncovered counties. The funding announcement is a huge victory and will allow 211 Illinois to plan for and strengthen the future of our statewide 211 network.
The challenging and tireless work to expand 211 coverage for all Illinoisans has been led by 211 Illinois Board Chair, Kristi Long, who also serves as President & CEO of United Way of Lake County. Thanks also to Steve Carlson and Glenda Abbott who continue to champion Lake County’s 211 and serve on the Illinois 211 Board, as well as Kelly Cotter and Michelle Crombie who provided the tremendous support on the grant application and submittal process.
United Way of Lake County is proud to help lead the way to bring 211 services to all Illinois communities and be a model program. 211 has now expanded to more than 90% of the state, up from 36% just a year ago. As of right now, 7 million more Illinoisans have access to 211!
We’re Hiring: 211 Manager
We are seeking an innovative individual passionate about serving others to develop and lead a team in ensuring that 211 Lake County excels in the delivery of referral services and information to the residents of Lake County. The 211 Manager will be responsible for ensuring that 211 Lake County provides a positive experience for individuals, non-profit organizations and government agencies and is a valued partner to stakeholders throughout the county.
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
KCC Coordinator Spotlight: Stephanie Guadarrama
Here at United Way, we are fortunate to work with some of the most service-oriented and compassionate people. Today, we’d like to spotlight Stephanie Guadarrama, who has helped coordinate Kindergarten Countdown Camp (KCC), our free summer learning program for incoming kindergarten students with little to no preschool experience. KCC prepares students for a successful start in kindergarten. Students adjust to the classroom setting, practice following directions and rules, and practice key kindergarten skills such as recognizing shapes, letters, counting, and writing their names.
Read on to learn more about KCC and why the program is so important to the children and families involved, all from Stephanie’s perspective.
Pictured: Stephanie working with a student at Kindergarten Countdown Camp.
What is your role at KCC?
My role at KCC is Camp Coordinator. I work alongside my two colleagues, Rosa and Shareny, in preparing KCC to be held at different locations. Pre-COVID, I was able to provide additional assistance in the classroom for the teachers.
How does KCC benefit the children and families involved?
KCC is beneficial for our children and families because it helps ease those first-day jitters, especially for parents sending their first child to school. The students benefit from learning a morning routine, riding the bus, and how to make new friends. Parents can learn how to communicate and collaborate with the school.
What obstacles do families in our community face that prevent children from being prepared for kindergarten?
The main obstacle a lot of our families face is a lack of resources. Many parents have no idea where to turn or who to ask for assistance with registering for school, accessing school supply lists, finding out what the health requirements are, etc. That typically shies them away from getting their student ready for school. Not only does KCC help those students with little to no preschool experience, but KCC also guides parents in the right direction to ensure their students have a successful school year.
Could you share a success story of how KCC has benefited an individual student?
Every summer, I wonder how our students end up doing in kindergarten. Two summers ago, I had the opportunity to work for one of the school districts we held our camp in. A few of the students we had in our camp ended up attending kindergarten at the same school I was hired at. I ended up working closely with one of those students in a small group setting. My favorite success story is seeing her now, going into 2nd grade, and having been able to watch her grow and excel in school.
What has been the most memorable part of your involvement with KCC so far?
Just being in the classroom with the students (pre-COVID) and watching them actively learn and seeing their excitement for school grow!
To support more programs, like Kindergarten Countdown Camp, visit www.LIVEUNITEDlakecounty.org/give.
July 2021 e-Newsletter
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June 2021 e-Newsletter
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May 2021 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
