June 2024 e-Newsletter
Each holiday season, we publish a guide that includes giving and volunteer opportunities throughout Lake County. This easy-to-use guide includes winter volunteering opportunities, agency wishlists and contact information for food pantries to help our neighbors in need.
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. When we work together and LIVE UNITED, we make a tremendous impact on our community. To view our 2022 Holiday Opportunities Guide, click here.
Celebrating 100 Years of Caring for Lake CountyWe’ve been responding to our community’s most pressing needs for a full century and are proud of the difference we’ve made and continue to make in the lives of our friends and neighbors. While the support we’ve provided has changed with the needs of Lake County, the one thing that has remained constant is our dedication to building a better community for all. Lake County’s Guide to Holiday Giving & VolunteeringEach holiday season, we publish our Holiday Guide that includes giving and volunteer opportunities throughout Lake County. The guide also includes agency wish lists and contact information for food pantries to help our neighbors in need. When we work together to support our community, we all flourish, making Lake County a truly enviable place to live and work for all. Double Your Impact for Children and Families in Lake CountyThrough December 20, you can DOUBLE YOUR IMPACT for our neighbors in need. With your support, United Way can continue to provide local children, youth, and families with tools to build a path to education and lifelong success, and connect people with life-changing resources. Together, we can make real, lasting change. Your gift goes further to strengthen our community thanks to Healthcare Foundation of Northern Lake County, which is matching all new or increased gifts up to $10K. Hispanic Heritage Month Books Distributed Throughout CommunityWe celebrated Hispanic Heritage Month by raising funds to purchase children’s books filled with the rich stories, bright colors, and time-honored traditions of the Hispanic culture. We are proud to share that the book drive was a great success and more than 1,100 books, in English and Spanish, were distributed to 15 schools and community organizations. Power of the Purse Raises Record $70K for Early EducationOn November 6, Women United held their signature fundraising event, Power of the Purse, at the Royal Melbourne Country Club in Long Grove. A sold-out crowd of more than 200 women joined forces to celebrate women, friendship and philanthropy. They enjoyed an afternoon of champagne brunch, games, purses, jewelry and more. This year’s event raised a record $70K! Power of the Purse raises funds for Women United’s Little Kids, Big Futures philanthropy fund, which supports critical early education programs that focus on building the foundation for strong and successful academic futures. “Wine & Learn” About Women UnitedIf you are looking for new ways to connect with amazing women in our community, new opportunities to volunteer and socialize, or new ways to make a measurable difference for children and families in Lake County, please join Women United for a prospective member Wine & Learn on December 7 from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. at Anam Cara Cafe in Libertyville. RSVP by emailing Katie.Martinez@uwlakeco.org. Women United mobilizes more than 120 amazing women to ensure children living in Lake County’s most challenged communities are prepared for kindergarten and ready to succeed. In addition to caring deeply about this collective effort, they have a vibrant calendar of social, volunteer and philanthropic events to make it fun and doable regardless of your busy schedule. Breakfast Club Alumni InterviewCheck out our new video interview below with Breakfast Club alumni, Katherine Rivas, who shares her experience as a mentee and how participating in the program guided her toward success in high school and beyond. Breakfast Club is a before-school mentorship program that provides 8th graders with mentoring in academics, helps build their confidence and self-esteem, and they learn skills to be successful in their transition to high school. This program is hosted by Leaders United and is in partnership with Robert Abbott Middle School in Waukegan. Would you like to be part of this powerful mentoring experience? Contact Michelle at michelle.sanchez@uwlakeco.org to learn more about becoming a Leaders United member. |
Celebrating Read Across America DayIn early March, community and corporate volunteer readers gathered in person and virtually to share the joy of reading with elementary school students at Pleviak in Lake Villa, Little Fort in Waukegan and East in Zion. Throughout the week, 62 volunteers read to more than 1,050 pre-K to third-grade students. Teachers love this interaction because it helps to provide a model of reading fluency, introduces new vocabulary, and helps to increase attention spans in our young learners. Our readers also help children see themselves in books, feel validated and confident, and have pride in their experiences and cultures. Thank you to all our incredible volunteer readers for sharing their love of reading with these students! We created a video slideshow with photos from all three locations. Check it out below. Thank you to Internet Essentials for sponsoring this event! UWLC Receives Community Service AwardThe Waukegan Park District recently presented United Way of Lake County with a Community Service Award for our support of their Before & After School Experience (B.A.S.E.) Program for elementary school students. Our funding helped keep the cost of the program affordable for local families. Thank you, Waukegan Park District! We appreciate your wonderful partnership and recognition of our impact on children in the Waukegan community. Watch the award presentation in the video below. Read Across America Book DriveIn February, we partnered with the 19th Judicial Circuit Court of Illinois, the Lake County Bar Association and the Association of Women Attorneys of Lake County (AWALC) to conduct a book drive that aimed to increase local elementary school children’s access to books promoting a positive equity message. Many community members contributed to our online fund and both the Lake County Bar Association and the AWALC presented us with $1,000 checks. We are proud to announce that we were able to raise $3,117! A huge thank you to our partners and everyone who contributed! Now more children will have access to books by diverse authors and that feature diverse characters. We will soon be dropping off 856 books in English and Spanish for grades K-5 at North Elementary in Waukegan. Keep an eye on our social media pages because we plan to share photos from the drop-off soon. Breakfast Club Sessions Back In PersonLeaders United members have returned to Robert Abbott Middle School to start up their Breakfast Club sessions with a select group of 8th-grade students. This program offers before-school mentorship and tutoring. Through bi-monthly engagement, RAMS Scholars are provided support to help them prepare for the transition from middle school to high school and build skills that will lead to lifelong, healthy habits. Register for Kindergarten Countdown CampKindergarten Countdown Camp (KCC) is our free summer learning program for children entering kindergarten this fall who have little to no preschool experience. Children who attend KCC will adjust to the classroom setting, practice following directions and rules, and practice key kindergarten skills. KCC is a great opportunity to get your child prepared to succeed in kindergarten. Registration is now open for students in the Gurnee, North Chicago, Round Lake and Waukegan school districts. KCC in Gurnee runs from June 13–July 8, North Chicago runs from June 21–July 28, Round Lake runs from June 7–June 30, and Waukegan runs from June 6–June 30. Interested? Fill out the registration form for your school district at the link below. Company Spotlight: MedlineMedline, based in Northfield, Illinois, has supported and partnered with United Way of Lake County for many years. Most recently, Medline provided its annual donation to UWLC, which helps support vital programs right here in our community. Medline employees also volunteer their time, providing additional and personal support for these programs. Medline volunteers support many UWLC initiatives, including community events, collection drives and our Leaders United group. During this past fall, Medline volunteers collected over four pallets of essentials for A Safe Place, including diapers, shampoo, toothbrushes and toothpaste. During the winter, over 20 Medline employees fulfilled community wish lists by donating items such as winter clothing, books and toys. Medline sponsors young leaders in their organization to participate in our Leaders United group, which enables long-term growth and professional development. Adding three new members in 2022, the eight Medline mentors will assist in developing young leaders in the community. They do this through the following Leaders United initiatives:
“Volunteering is one of the greatest ways we have been able to support United Way of Lake County as their programs and initiatives continue to provide essential and emergency resources needed by the community,” said Karen Frey, philanthropy manager at Medline. We are grateful for our partnership with Medline and look forward to many more years of collaboration. Thank you for helping us build a stronger Lake County for everyone who lives and works here! Follow Leaders United on InstagramLeaders United has joined Instagram to further connect with new members and keep the community up-to-date on their great work in the community. Check out their profile below! |
UWLC Welcomes New Board MembersUnited Way of Lake County recently welcomed three new members to our 2021-22 Board of Directors: Sandi Johnson, Principal of Clearview Elementary School; Tara Thomas, Academic Enrichment Coordinator at Zion Elementary School District; and Capt. Jason J. Williamson, Commanding Officer at the Great Lakes Naval Station. “We are thrilled to welcome our newest board members,” said Kristi Long, President & CEO. “Their leadership skills, talents, expertise and genuine interest in our mission make them an asset to our diverse board and the organization.” Expanding the board has also been a key component of our DEI efforts, and we are honored to introduce our newest board members who bring a wealth of experience and offer deep connections to the communities we serve. We are proud to have such an accomplished group of leaders help steer United Way of Lake County forward and advance our commitment to building a more equitable Lake County. Lake County’s Guide to Holiday Giving & VolunteeringEach holiday season, we publish our Holiday Guide that includes giving and volunteer opportunities throughout Lake County. The guide also includes agency wish lists and contact information for food pantries to help our neighbors in need. When we work together to support our community, we all flourish, making Lake County a truly enviable place to live and work for all. Save the Date! Double Your Impact for Our Neighbors in NeedStarting November 23, you can DOUBLE YOUR IMPACT for our neighbors and children who need help now more than ever. A gift to United Way of Lake County will make it possible for us to have an even bigger impact on our local community to improve and save lives. This year, your gift goes further thanks to Healthcare Foundation of Northern Lake County who is matching all new or increased gifts up to $10K through December 23. The tough work that is needed to help Lake County recover and rebuild is the work we do every day. We’re equipping local children, youth and families with tools to build a path to education and lifelong success, and we’re connecting people with life-changing support. When we put it all together, we’re reimagining a more equitable, resilient Lake County where everyone can thrive. Watch for details next week! United Way Ranked #1 Charitable OrganizationUnited Way was recently ranked number one charity by the Chronicle of Philanthropy. The NonProfit Times also announced that United Way has moved up to the number two spot on their revenue rankings list for FY2020, and is number one in public support. Power of the Purse Raises Record $67K for Early EducationNearly 200 generous women joined forces both in person and virtually on Sunday, November 7, to raise a record total $67K in support of early education programs that will ensure the foundation for strong and successful academic futures for Lake County’s most vulnerable children. The money was raised through Women United’s signature annual fundraising event, Power of the Purse, which celebrates women, friendship and philanthropy. This year’s Power of the Purse was a first-ever hybrid event with both a sold-out champagne brunch at Royal Melbourne Country Club and an online buying and bidding shopping experience featuring dozens of trendy designer bags, silent auction purses, baskets and items. In addition, women also had the opportunity to send underserved children to Kindergarten Countdown Camp for incoming kindergarten students with little to no preschool experience, as well as buy books and toys for preschool learning centers in Lake County’s low-income communities. “We couldn’t be happier with the outcome of this year’s event,” said event chair, Judy Kotsiopoulos. “It’s our most successful Power of the Purse to date and the first time we have held an in-person event with an online option. It was wonderful to see the enthusiasm from our members and friends who truly care about early childhood education in Lake County.” ‘Wine and Learn’ About Women UnitedFinish 2021 with new possibilities! You’re invited to join Women United on December 7 from 5:30 – 6:30 p.m. on Zoom for our last Wine and Learn prospective member meeting of 2021. Whether you have been wanting to learn more or just learned about Women United, we hope you will join us to hear how WU bring together amazing women, serves the community and has so much fun making a difference. There is so much to share about this great group and the amazing women who make it special. Please RSVP by December 3 to Alina.Mozo@uwlakeco.org and she will send you the details. Alight Adds Sensory Paths to Waukegan SchoolVolunteers from Alight installed two sensory paths at Glen Flora Elementary in Waukegan. A sensory path is a multipurpose tool for educators. It can help an overwhelmed student refocus and redirect nervous energy, enrich math and reading skills, and can be used as a reward or even for indoor play. The Alight volunteers spent several hours preparing the components then placing them in a fun and engaging arrangement so that students can best benefit from these wonderful spaces. Thank you, Alight, for this wonderful gift to Glen Flora Elementary! Hispanic Heritage Books Delivered to SchoolsOur Hispanic Heritage Month Book Drive was a success! Funds from this drive allowed us to share more than 50 Spanish language books with East Elementary in Zion and Oakdale Elementary in Waukegan. This drive helped to increase access to books promoting a positive equity message for young readers. Stories in a familiar language or with relatable characters only encourages the love of reading. Reading is one of the great equalizers in our society. A great book opens so many possibilities for children. Thank you to all the donors who made these gifts possible. 211 in the NewsThank you to Comcast for shining a spotlight on United Way of Lake County’s 211! Watch Community Connection host Cindy Bravos interview Kristi Long to learn more about this vital community resource and the tremendous impact 211 has made in just two years. The segment is currently airing on Comcast OnDemand and CN100.TV. We’re Hiring: VP, Community ImpactWe are looking for an excellent leader to join our team as Vice President of Community Impact. If you know of anyone who might be a good fit, we encourage you to share this opportunity with them. |
We are excited to welcome Demetrius Nance, our newest intern! We love getting to introduce new people to the work we do at United Way of Lake County. As part of our 211 team, Demetrius will be working in community engagement, focusing on Black and veteran communities. Join us in welcoming Demetrius!
I am a senior at Northeastern Illinois University.
North Chicago, IL.
My favorite food is beef bulgogi, which is a Korean dish.
My favorite things to do are play video games and watch anime—my favorite is Fullmetal Alchemist. I also like to play volleyball.
To learn more about internship opportunities at United Way, click here.
We are excited to welcome Humera Khaleel, one of our newest interns! We love getting to introduce new people to the work we do at United Way of Lake County. As part of our Success By 6 team, Humera will be working with the Early Learning Clubs, Bright By Text, and Kindergarten Readiness Calendars. Join us in welcoming Humera!
I am a senior at Northeastern Illinois University. My major is in social work and I hope to graduate in the spring of 2022.
I’m from Waukegan, IL.
A good crispy chicken burger!
I have two cats. One male tabby named Kai, and a calico female tabby named Oreoz.
Any songs from BTS!
I love watching sitcoms in my free time. I love to read and sketch here and there. I also write poetry.
I had a quarantine wedding at the age of 20!
To learn more about internship opportunities at United Way, click here.
We are excited to welcome Eric Jones, our newest intern! We love getting to introduce new people to the work we do at United Way of Lake County. As part of our 211 team, Eric is helping set up a new site on Power BI so that more people can easily access data collected from 211. Join us in welcoming Eric!
I am a business analytics major also getting a certificate in public health at the University of Iowa. I will be graduating in the Spring of 2022.
Lindenhurst, IL.
I learned how to ride a pogo stick while jumping rope at the same time.
I love Burrito Bowls from Chipotle.
I’ve always loved the Harry Potter series ever since I’ve read them as a kid, they’ve stayed my favorite.
To learn more about internship opportunities at United Way, click here.
Become a Reading Success Tutor!Do you enjoy working with elementary-age children? Do you want to make a difference in the community where you live or work? 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 is 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:
This year, in-person and virtual tutoring options are available. Volunteering will begin in late September or early October. Our program runs through the end of May. If you are interested in volunteering as a Reading Success tutor, please contact Sue Baehr at sue.baehr@uwlakeco.org or (847) 775-1032. 4 Ways to Beat the Summer Slide“Summer slide” is the tendency for students, especially from low-income families, to lose some of the educational gains they achieved throughout the school year during their summer break. Preventing summer slide is a considerable factor in ensuring all Lake County children are on a pathway to future success. We’ve put together a list of four ways to keep your child academically and physically engaged over the summer months. United Way’s New 211 PSA CampaignUnited Way Worldwide recently launched a national PSA campaign, in partnership with the Ad Council, to spotlight the many benefits of 211. The campaign emphasizes top needs requested by 211 such as food assistance, help paying bills, health care answers and mental health resources. The main message is that 211 can be the guiding light when times get dark. We are excited to see how this new campaign will help raise awareness of 211 in Lake County, which will lead to more people getting connected to the help they deserve in their moments of need. Check out the new 60-second English ad:
Women United’s Golf FundraiserOn July 19, Women United hosted a sold out golf fundraiser, called Play A-Round for Lake County Kids, held at White Deer Run in Vernon Hills. The weather was beautiful and players enjoyed 18 holes, lunch and dinner, a silent auction, numerous contests, and games with an array of prizes. The event raised funds for Women United’s Little Kids, Big Futures Fund, which makes grants to early childhood education programs in Waukegan, Round Lake, Zion, and North Chicago. Since 2014, Women United has raised and granted $850K. Thank you to the event chairs, Judy Kotsiopoulos and Ali Walton, and all the golfers, volunteers, and sponsors for making this a successful event. We’ll share an update soon about the total dollars raised. Wine & Learn About Women UnitedYou’re invited to Women United‘s Wine & Learn on August 18 at 6 p.m. in Libertyville. You’ll learn all about what it means to be a member and how this amazing group of women is supporting early childhood education in Lake County. Women United has a flexible program structure that enables busy, successful women to engage at whatever level works best for them. We hope to see you there! Follow Leaders United on Social MediaLeaders United—our group for young professionals that creates positive change in Lake County—has a presence on both Facebook and LinkedIn. Follow them for invitations to fun events and volunteer opportunities, updates on their work in the community, and much more. Click below to view their social media profiles. |