United Way of Lake County, in partnership with Lake County Government and local health and human service providers, recently celebrated the fifth anniversary of our 211 service and more than 350,000 connections made since its launch.
On October 24, nearly 200 community leaders and others representing government, business and nonprofits joined for a program to discuss 211 Lake County’s impact and results. The event, emceed and moderated by CBS News Chicago anchor Dana Kozlov, included a panel discussion regarding community needs, how the 211 system has improved and testimonials from those who received assistance.
Housing and shelter has remained the top need presented to 211, representing 45% of all contacts. To read more about our 211 results and data, please check out our latest 211 Annual Report. More information can also be found on 211LakeCounty.org.
Distributing Thousands of Books to Local Schools
We’re thrilled to announce our partnership with the Consulate General of Mexico in Chicago to bring nearly 3,000 bilingual books to schools in Lake County!
This incredible gift, provided by the Mexican Secretary of Public Education, will benefit the Waukegan, Round Lake area, Mundelein, North Chicago, Beach Park, and Highland Park school districts.
The books cover subjects like Math, Language Arts, Science, Civics, Arts, Social Studies, and novels for children and young adults. These books are particularly valuable for English Language Learners and Dual Language Programs.
We’re excited to make a positive impact on literacy and educational resources in our community and hope to extend this initiative to more districts in the future!
Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month with Literacy
In celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, we teamed up with John S. Clark Elementary School for our first-ever Somos Unidos reading event! Community leaders came together to share stories rich in culture, tradition, food, and language with the students.
Building a Stronger, Safer Community
Members of Women United rolled up their sleeves once again to build a home, in partnership with Habitat for Humanity.
Thank you to our wonderful volunteers who worked together to address the urgent need for affordable, safe housing in Lake County. They were united by the mission to build not just a house but a safe and nurturing foundation for the education and well-being of the children who will call it home.
Become a Mentor, Become a Leader
We are seeking volunteers to help make a positive difference in the lives of Waukegan’s youth. Join Leaders United in our before-school program, Breakfast Club, to inspire and guide middle school students as they prepare for high school. Discuss academics, mindfulness, self-care, and more to prepare for the future and fulfill their goals!
Does your organization want to give back to your community?
Your organization can help us create a stronger Lake County through a United Way workplace campaign. Whether your campaign is virtual or in-person, we’ll provide you with the tools you need to plan, coordinate, and implement a successful fundraising campaign.
We’ll help you get started. Learn more below.
Round Up at Macy’s to Support Our Community
Through October 31, you can round up your in-store purchase at Macy’s Gurnee Mills, up to $0.99, to support United Way of Lake County’s programs.
Welcome, Tricia!
We are thrilled to introduce Tricia Eckland, our Women United Coordinator!
We asked Tricia about her role, the programs she connects most with, and what she likes to do in her free time. Check out that Q&A below.
