Women United Allocates $133,250 Towards Funding for Early Literacy Programs
Women United is Lake County’s premiere 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 allocate $133,250 in grants, through its Little Kids, Big Futures Philanthropy Fund to support six critical early prevention and early literacy programs that will ensure the foundation for strong and successful academic futures for Lake County’s most vulnerable children.
Women United members toured the Child Development Center at the Round Lake Area Park District to see $24,000 in action! From Left, Joan Ellis, Judy Armstrong, WU member, Beth Krenzer, WU Member, Lynn Morrissey, Jeanne Kearby, WU member, Jennifer Sparrow, Amy Pruitt.
Directed by Women United members, the following programs will receive grants this summer:
$60,000 – Success By 6 – Kindergarten Countdown Camp in Beach Park, North Chicago, Round Lake & Waukegan
Kindergarten Countdown Camp (KCC) ensures that children who are entering kindergarten with little or no preschool experience, get the basic skills they need to start school prepared. This initiative has proven to be successful in Waukegan and has now expanded to reach more kids. Funding will expand KCC in Waukegan, Beach Park, Round Lake, and North Chicago and serve 150 children.
$24,000 – B.E.S.T. Pre-K Program
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.
$23,000 – Success By 6 – Home Visiting in North Chicago, Waukegan & Zion
This program provides in-home early intervention for families with infants and preschool-age kids struggling with poverty and who have limited access to health and community services. Funding will support high-risk families in North Chicago, Waukegan and Zion with their most critical needs.
$15,000 – Better Together – Green Bay Early Childhood Center (GBECC)
This early learning program focuses on family engagement and building learning skills for children 0-3 years old by providing individualized attention to families. Funding will support 36 sessions. Each session will serve 12-18 families.
$8,000 – Early Learning Club – Waukegan Public Library
Early Learning Club provides children entering kindergarten with the basic skills they need to be ready and able to learn, and empowers parents as their child’s first teacher. The library will hold 1 – 2 early learning classes monthly.
$3,250 – HUGS Baby Talk Initiative – 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 caring and resources it needs to succeed. This year, Women United’s HUGS Committee started a new partnership with Waukegan’s Baby Talk, that identifies families with children ages birth-to-three in need of early intervention programming or preschool special education services.
Thinking ahead to 2019 and beyond, UWLC’s Women United philanthropy group is positioned to continue grow and mobilize community-minded women through leadership and resource development to expand its impact on early childhood literacy.
To learn how you can get involved in UWLC’s Women United and to know about the Little Kids, Big Futures Philanthropy Fund Guidelines, please contact Affinity Group Manager, Diana Nielander, at Diana.Nielander@uwlakeco.org or plan on attending their next Wine and Learn on August 21 at 6 p.m. in Libertyville. Click here for more information about prospective member events such as Wine & Learns.
For more information about Women United, visit: www.LIVEUNITEDlakecounty.org/womenunited
