Tag: United Way of Lake County

11 Sep

Marina McCawley Chooses United Way of Lake County

by Marketing DepartmentCategories: Article Mentions, News

Donors and volunteers shared with us why they choose to give to United Way of Lake County. We hope their stories motivate you to continue (or begin!) to choose United Way when you are asked to participate in your workplace giving campaign.

How long and in what ways have you been involved with United Way of Lake County?

I first learned of United Way of Lake County when my company participated in their employee giving campaign. I now coordinate my company’s employee giving campaign and have done so for over 10 years. I also coordinate other company fundraisers with some of their agencies throughout the year.

What inspired you to become involved with United Way of Lake County?

I had always wanted to volunteer more in my community, but it was difficult to do while raising 3 children. I am now in a different stage in my life and my children are grown up so I have more free time. I attended a Women United Wine & Learn event where I met like-minded women and felt that Women United’s mission to help children was exactly what I wanted to do. I love that we are helping children in our high-risk communities.

Which of United Way’s programs do you connect to most and why?

United Way of Lake County’s Success By 6 program offers home visiting for high-risk children. It is so important to help these children before they enter school so they have a better chance at succeeding in school and life.

Why do you think it is important to support United Way’s mission?

Before I attended my company’s giving campaign, I didn’t know what United Way of Lake County was or what they did. I feel it’s important to be a United Way of Lake County advocate and share their message with families in our community who need their services.

What does education mean to you?

I wasn’t one of the lucky children who attended preschool. My parents loved me but they didn’t speak English and they worked so much that they didn’t have time to read to me. So, yes, I was one of those statistics. I struggled and was behind when I started kindergarten. We now have these great programs to educate children so that no child will feel lost on their first day of school.

If you’d like to make a gift to United Way, click the button below.

09 Sep

Bill Pappano Chooses United Way of Lake County

by Marketing DepartmentCategories: Article Mentions, News

Donors and volunteers shared with us why they choose to give to United Way of Lake County. We hope their stories motivate you to continue (or begin!) to choose United Way when you are asked to participate in your workplace giving campaign. 

How long and in what ways have you been involved with United Way of Lake County?

My wife has worked at United Way of Lake County for more than 10 years. We have supported United Way’s mission through our giving and, as an AbbVie employee, I have also participated in United Way’s community volunteer opportunities.

What inspired you to become involved with United Way?

I am inspired to give because of the stories of families in need in our community. I remember hearing stories about young elementary students showing up to school in the middle of winter without any socks or boots.

What aspect of United Way’s work do you connect with most and why?

We have two children in elementary school who have grown up in a house that is overflowing with books. It is hard to imagine that there are children within miles of where we live who do not have any children’s books in their home.

Why do you think it’s important to support United Way’s mission?

I know the advantage that an education gives a child in life. President Obama once said, “A child’s course in life should be determined not by the zip code she’s born in, but by the strength of her work ethic and the scope of her dreams.” I appreciate the work United Way does to give every child a chance to succeed and achieve their dreams.

What does education mean to you?

Education is power. Education gives us the power to think critically. Education is the fuel that enables us to reach our full potential. Education gives us power to make a difference in our life and in the lives of others.

If you’d like to make a gift to United Way, click the button below.

26 Aug

August 2019 e-Newsletter

by Jennifer StromCategories: News, Newsletter

211 to Officially Launch September 24

You’re invited to celebrate the official launch of United Way of Lake County’s 211 on Tuesday, September 24 from 7:30 – 9:30 a.m. at Independence Grove Visitor Center (16400 West Buckley Road, Libertyville). We’re proud to celebrate the official launch of 211 services for our community! 211 will go live on September 24 for everyone in Lake County.

Join us over breakfast to learn how 211 is transforming the way United Way of Lake County helps thousands of individuals and families connect with essential health and human services.

Jackie Bange with WGN-TV will moderate a panel of local leaders discussing how 211 more efficiently connects people in need to a wide range of available resources to improve and save lives.

Help us recognize the incredible support and collaboration of so many individuals, employers, community leaders and partners who have joined with us to bring this vital service to our community.

For more information, contact Cynthia Zimmerman at Cynthia.Zimmerman@uwlakeco.org.

Local media will be covering this event.

Space is limited!

General Admission: $25
Table of 10: $250

Daily Herald Front Page Features ‘Success By 6’

On July 30, United Way of Lake County’s Success By 6 program was featured on the front page of the Daily Herald. The article spotlighted our work in the Round Lake area, including our Kindergarten Countdown Camps.

Find out how United Way’s programs are preparing at-risk kids in Lake County to begin school ready to succeed.

‘Stuff the Bus’ Exceeds Expectations

Our Stuff the Bus school supply drive was a major success! A huge THANK YOU to all the individuals and organizations that collected and donated supplies and/or gave monetary donations to our school supply drive! And a huge thank you to all the volunteers who picked up and/or helped sort the supplies!

As of today, we’ve collected a total of 861 backpacks! We would like to thank Carolina Fabian and Eric Thompson from Waukegan Public Schools as well as Illinois Central School Bus for providing the two buses that collected all the corporate donations on July 26. It was such a fun day!

On August 10, Stuff the Bus was able to provide 714 backpacks to support Waukegan Public School’s Back to School Resource Fair.

View photos from Stuff the Bus by clicking below.

Sip & Shop with Women United

You’re invited to Women United‘s Sip & Shop event at the Jade & Renee boutique at 1821 St. Johns Ave. in downtown Highland Park on September 6 from 5 – 7:30 p.m. for an evening of socializing, shopping and supporting early childhood literacy in Lake County!

Jade & Renee, a new women-owned artisan boutique in Highland Park, will donate back 25% to Women United‘s Little Kids, Big Futures Fund that supports early literacy in Lake County.

This event is open to the public so invite your friends! Wine (and other non-alcoholic libations) and light appetizers will be served. No formal RSVP is necessary but if you use Facebook, please click below and indicate that you are “GOING”.

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Kindergarten Countdown Camp Comes to a Close

Over the course of the summer, idle, low-income students lose two to three months’ worth of reading skills compared to their peers from higher income families. The National Summer Learning Association describes this trend as “summer learning loss.” To address the summer learning loss, United Way developed Kindergarten Countdown Camp (KCC), an initiative under our Success By 6 program, designed to bridge the gap for Lake County’s youngest learners.

Just this summer, KCC served 127 students at 4 schools throughout Lake County. Now 127 kids have the basic skills they need to start school off on the right foot!

You can hear from several different people involved with KCC, such as teachers and volunteers, by checking out the blog series linked below.

We also had the opportunity to film a KCC classroom participating in an interactive activity focused on our five senses coordinated by Kohl Children’s Museum.
View the Facebook LIVE video here.

Become a Reading Success Tutor

Do 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:

  • Be at least 18 years old
  • Pass a background check
  • Commit to 1 hour per week in the classroom

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
(847) 775-1032.

 

05 Aug

Kindergarten Countdown Camp: Julia Paukert

by Marketing DepartmentCategories: Kindergarten Countdown Camp, News

We are thrilled to share the next post in our Kindergarten Countdown Camp (KCC) summer blog series. Up next, we’d like to introduce Julia Paukert who will be sharing their experience as a KCC volunteer this summer.

What is your role at Kindergarten Countdown Camp (KCC)?

My role at camp was assisting the teacher in lessons, classroom management, and engaging the students.

What is your favorite part about being a volunteer at KCC?

So far, my favorite part in this camp was being able to see the students grow from the first to last week. At the beginning of camp very few students had the ability to write their name, recognize colors, shapes, numbers and even letters. By the end, however, the knowledge that they gained from the different lessons had prepared them for kindergarten.

How has being a KCC volunteer impacted you?

The teacher I assisted, Mrs. Feldman, has definitely impacted me and my passion for pursuing an education degree. Mrs. Feldman allowed me to view students as individuals and not as a whole class. Additionally, she had inspired me to continue with my dream of teaching elementary level students to see the long-lasting impact a teacher has on this age group.

Does KCC benefit the children and families attending?

Yes, I truly believe that Kindergarten Countdown Camp has made a strong and beneficial impact on these students. The camp has instilled strong values in the students like having a healthy breakfast, respecting your teachers and even the importance of friendship among classmates.

What does education mean to you?

Education to me sets students up for success by laying the foundation of healthy academic habits, strong social skills, and acceptance of diversity. Education is not primarily based on your ability to know the core curriculum; it is the skills and experiences you have learned that develop you into a well-rounded individual.

To support more programs, like Kindergarten Countdown Camp, visit www.LIVEUNITEDlakecounty.org/give.

29 Jul

July 2019 e-Newsletter

by Marketing DepartmentCategories: News, Newsletter

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 Tutor

Do 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:

  • Be at least 18 years old
  • Pass a background check
  • Commit to 1 hour per week in the classroom

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
(847) 775-1032.

Welcome LEADERS UNITED to Lake County

LEADERS 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 & Learn

Women 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.

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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 Gray

Recently, 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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19 Jul

November 2018 e-Newsletter

by Marketing DepartmentCategories: Newsletter

Sold-Out Power of the Purse Raises $59.8k for Early Literacy Programs

On 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 Tuesday

All 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,
to help brighten children’s futures in Lake County.

Learn more about Home Visiting here and click below to learn more about our Giving Tuesday campaign.

Check Out Our Holiday Opportunities

Looking 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 through 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.

Happy Holidays!

As we approach the holiday season, we’d like to say thank you for supporting our mission to create lasting change in our Lake County community.

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 holiday season.

Staff Spotlight: Shareny Mota

Recently, we welcomed Shareny Mota to our United Way family! We are thrilled to have her as our new Initiative Coordinator for Success By 6. Shareny’s role is to collaborate with the community and encourage healthy child development and readiness through our early learning programs.

Learn more about Shareny and her work at United Way by clicking below.

Support United Way As You Shop This Holiday Season

AmazonSmile is a simple and automatic way for you to support United Way of Lake County (UWLC) every time you shop, at no cost to you. You’ll find the exact same shopping experience as Amazon.com, with the added bonus that Amazon will donate a portion of your purchase to our organization.

Before you begin shopping, select United Way of Lake County in Gurnee, IL to receive donations from eligible purchases. Amazon will remember your selection, and then every eligible purchase you make at smile.amazon.com will result in a donation to UWLC!

Click below to select UWLC as your AmazonSmile charity of choice.

Connect With Us On Social Media

Want 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.

 

19 Jul

December 2018 e-Newsletter

by Marketing DepartmentCategories: Newsletter

Forbes Ranks United Way as America’s #1 Top Charity

Forbes 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 County

If 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 Company

We’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 Giving

We 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 Staff

Recently, 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 MyFreeTaxes

Tax 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 Media

Want 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.

 

 

19 Jul

March 2019 e-Newsletter

by Marketing DepartmentCategories: Newsletter

UWLC Hosts Countywide Reading Day in Honor of Dr. Seuss

On 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 Hospitals

United 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 Overview

Our 2019 Program Overview is now available. Click below to view the amazing work being accomplished in Lake County!

Better Together is Back in Session

Our 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.

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Volunteer Opportunity: Kindergarten Countdown Camp

Do 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 Hiring

Want to join our team? Apply today!

Click below to learn more.

Don’t Stress! You Can File Your Taxes With Ease

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.

 

19 Jul

February 2019 e-Newsletter

by Marketing DepartmentCategories: Newsletter

United Way Volunteer Inspires Waukegan Students

Karen 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 Companies

United 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 Opportunities

United 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 County

United 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.

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Success By 6 Summer Internship Opportunity

Know 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.
Click the button below to learn more about all internship opportunities.

United Way of Lake County is Hiring

Want 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.

 

19 Jul

January 2019 e-Newsletter

by Marketing DepartmentCategories: Newsletter

Waukegan Kindergarten Readiness Improves From 6% to 57%

During fall 2018, United Way of Lake County conducted the fifth Kindergarten Readiness Assessment in Waukegan. United Way has conducted this assessment every three years in Waukegan since 2006. Twelve years ago, a baseline assessment showed that only 6% of the children in Waukegan Public Schools had the skills needed to be successful in kindergarten. The results were a call to action for United Way to launch the Success By 6 Program, designed to promote healthy early childhood development to ensure children enter school ready to succeed.

Today, based on the same assessment, we are thrilled to announce that the percentage of Waukegan children who arrive at kindergarten ready to succeed in school has increased from 6% to 57%!

The Success By 6 Program is very excited to continue its efforts to increase kindergarten readiness in Waukegan and is grateful to everyone who made this 2018 assessment possible. A special thank you to the teachers, staff and principals at Waukegan School District! This wouldn’t have been possible without your support.

Learn more about the Success By 6 Program by clicking below.

Upcoming Volunteer Opportunities

There are several upcoming volunteer opportunities that you or your company can get involved in. Here are three examples of upcoming one-time opportunities:

STEM for Girls

When: Saturday, February 23, 2019 (11:45 a.m. – 1:10 p.m.)

Where: College of Lake County Grayslake Campus

STEM for Girls is a free event for girls in grades 7 through 12 who are interested in STEM Programs. During the Lunch and Learn, volunteers will share how STEM degrees impact their companies. Volunteers representing a STEM related company come and share with girls and their parents about STEM careers, internships, and scholarship opportunities at their companies.

Host a Job Shadow Half-Day with High School Students

This is a unique opportunity for companies to have a personal engagement with high school students over one morning. Educations Talent Search/TRIO at College of Lake County has requested four job shadow opportunities for their partnering high schools: Waukegan High School, North Chicago High School, Round Lake High School, and Zion-Benton Township High School.

ETS/TRIO serves first generation college-bound students. This event will allow students to visit companies to learn more about professional work life. This interaction will allow students the opportunity to engage with volunteer professionals, ask questions and learn to network. A typical outing includes 30-40 students “job shadowing” 15 company employees.

Dr. Seuss Readers

Join us on March 1, 2019, to participate in Dr. Seuss’ Birthday and Read Across America Day. Volunteers will be “guest readers” and share their love of reading with kindergarten through third grade children.

Interested in volunteering? Contact Bobbi Selvik at Bobbi.Selvik@uwlakeco.org.

View our full list of volunteer opportunities – both one-time and ongoing – by clicking the button below. 

211 Coming Soon to lake County

At the end of 2018, United Way of Lake County announced that our goal to launch 211 in Lake County has been reached!

211 is a powerful information referral service, equipped with tools to solve problems of all magnitudes including crisis and disaster phone calls and texts. Currently, 94% of our country has an established 211 program but less than 30% of Illinois residents have access to 211 and Lake County, IL residents do not have any access. Thanks to the support of many local partners, United Way will change that in Spring 2019 when we launch 211 in Lake County!

But our work is not over! Working together, we can provide this vital service for many years to come and ensure that all 703,000 Lake County residents have access to critical information and resources. Together, we can ensure that Lake County’s 211 system transforms the way our residents find help.

If you’d like to make a gift to help sustain 211 in year two, please click here.

Thank you to our following partners who are supporting the 211 implementation in Lake County:

Learn more about 211 Lake County by clicking the button below.
Want to receive updates about 211 Lake County via email? Click here to sign-up.

Host a Dr. Seuss Book Drive

On March 1, we are celebrating Dr. Seuss’ birthday and Read Across America Day. For the last several years, we have organized an event in which volunteers visit local schools and read Dr. Seuss books to students.

This year, we are collecting Dr. Seuss books that will be donated to schools in Lake County in honor of Read Across America Day. You can help us by hosting a book drive with your friends, family or co-workers to collect new or gently-used Dr. Seuss books by Friday, February 22. We need books in both English and Spanish.

To coordinate a drop-off, contact Karla Medina Alamar at Karla.Alamar@uwlakeco.org or (847) 775-1010.

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New Board Members Spotlight

United Way of Lake County recently welcomed new members to the Board of Directors. hear from Paul Lotharius and Steve Carlson about why they decided to join UWLC’s Board. Click the buttons below to read their full Q&As.


“Joining the UWLC Board is a way of feeling connected to, and a part of, something that is bigger than just me and my family”.

-Paul Lotharius, President/CEO of HeatlhFitness at Trustmark Companies

“Working to bring 211 to Lake County, I’ve become acquainted with the many remarkable, dedicated people in the United Way organization”. 

-Steve Carlson, Lake County Board Member

Marketing Internship Opportunity

Know 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.

Want to apply? Send your cover letter and resume to Rita at Rita.Zaluzec@uwlakeco.org

Click the button below to learn more.

Women United Invites You to the Next Wine & Learn

Start off 2019 with new friendships, connections and a renewed purpose! Join us on January 31 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. Be a part of something bigger this year.

Want to Join? Please RSVP to Janice at Janice.Scarbalis@uwlakeco.org before January 28.

Learn more about the event on Facebook by clicking the button below.

Thank You, Wolters Kluwer!

Our sincere thanks to Melissa O’Keefe, Jennifer Robertson and the Charitable Contributions Committee at Wolters Kluwer in Riverwoods, Illinois for their generous year-end gift.

These funds will support our vision to assure that Lake County children and families are successful in school, work, and life.

5 Tips Before Doing Your Taxes

In preparation for the tax season, we have put together a list of five key tips to consider before doing your taxes.

Tip #1: Don’t pay to file your taxes.

Find out why and see all five tips by clicking below.

 

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