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  • Overview of UWLC
  • Board of Directors
  • Volunteer Committees
  • Staff
  • Managing Our Funds
  • FAQ
  • Job Opportunities
  • Directions
  • Conference Center
  • Contact Us
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  • Program Overview
  • Success By 6 Program
  • Reading Success Program
  • Stay in School Program
  • Safe and Stable Families
  • Research
  • Results
  • Our Partners
  • Advocacy
  • Find Help Lake County
  • Allocations
  • Statisticks
  • FamilyWize Drug Savings
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  • Online Donation
  • Holiday Catalog
  • Product Donations
  • Stock Donations
  • Agency Wish List
  • Personal Fundraising
  • Page it Forward
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  • Toqueville Society
  • Corporate Sponsors
  • Leaders in Giving
  • Women's Leadership Council
  • Latino Leadership
  • Lake Effect
  • Diamond Donors
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  • Current Opportunities
  • Internships
  • Other Organizations
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  • Campaign Benefits
  • Campaign Tool Kit
  • Electronic Campaign
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  • eNewsletters
  • Media & Press
  • Press Releases
  • Calendar of Events
  • Community Calendar
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Frequently Asked Questions:

Is United Way an American organization?

United Way Worldwide is the leadership organization for the network of nearly 4,000 community-based United Ways in 46 countries and territories. They advance the common good, creating opportunities for a better life for all by focusing on education, income and health. The United Way movement mobilizes millions to action—to give, advocate and volunteer—to improve the conditions in which they live.

How does United Way work in Lake County?

Working with over 50 agencies, we have identified four key programs to prepare our children to succeed in a changing world:

• Success By 6: providing children with the core skills to succeed in school and ensure a healthy start.
• Reading Success: building literacy skills to ensure all students are able to read at grade level by the end of 3rd grade
• Stay in School: keeping students engaged in school to reduce truancy and improve graduation success
• Safe and Stable Families: empowering families to support their children’s educational and developmental needs

Why is positive community change United Way of Lake County’s goal?

It takes a whole community working together to produce lasting, positive change. United Way is well positioned to help lead this important effort because of its expertise in human service, its strong relationships with a huge network of partners throughout the community and its in-depth knowledge of the needs, strengths and potential of Lake County. Through education, United Way is shifting the focus from reactive measure to preventative programs designed to create lasting change and opportunities for a better life for all.

Will United Way of Lake County continue to fund local agencies?

At this time, United Way will continue to follow our current funding model in which funding is tied to one of our core key programs: Success By 6, Reading Success, Stay in School, and Safe and Stable Families. Agencies that receive funds meet the of one of these programs, and funding allocations are reviewed each year. Therefore, some agencies may lose funding, but it will also mean new or increased funding for other agencies that serve priority areas.

How can I give to United Way of Lake County?

GIVE. ADVOCATE. VOLUNTEER.
Individuals can give through employer payroll deduction, or through individual gifts, or online contributions. There also are opportunities for Corporate Giving, Grants/Sponsorships and Planned Giving. Please call our office at 847-775-1000 for details. You can also donate your time and talent as a volunteer.

There are several other ways you can support United Way:

• Tell your friends and colleagues how your investment of time and/or dollars is helping United Way make an impact in the community.
• Forward United Way e-mail communications to colleagues and friends.
• Share the success stories featured in our online newsletter.
• Share videos/press coverage from our Web site.
• Get involved with our public policy agenda.

If you already are a partner with United Way of Lake County, thank you! We value and appreciate your support and contributions. Stay involved and tune in to how United Way of Lake County is preparing our children to succeed in a changing world.

If you’re not yet a partner, please consider how you can contribute to United Way of Lake County’s mission: Uniting leadership and resources to create lasting change that will improve lives in Lake County.

Is my donation tax deductible?

Donations to United Way are tax deductible in the U.S. We strongly urge you to investigate further with legal or tax experts before making giving or program decisions.

How does my contribution help the community?

Our community’s issues are complex and growing while government funding for important health and human services is shrinking. Now more than ever, we need your financial investment. Supporting United Way of Lake County is the most powerful way a person, business or group can make a difference to those in need in this community. United Way of Lake County not only delivers the results you want—better lives and a stronger, healthier community—but also measures, quantifies and reports those results to partners to show the positive impact of their contributions. United Way of Lake County partners are assured that their contributions, when combined with those of so many other like-minded individuals and generous organizations, will yield a return on investment beyond dollars raised or services delivered: a better Lake County in which to work and live.

What else can I do to help United Way and my community?

We need a variety of partners to help us prepare children to succeed in a changing world.

Here are seven simple ways you can support United Way:

1. Sponsor a child or sponsor a school library.
   Ensure students are able to read at grade level by the end of 3rd grade & provide families with guidance, skills and tools for “One Year, One Child, One Hundred Dollars.” Go to www.uwlakeco.org/wishlist to donate online.
2. Collect & deliver books.
   Help children that don’t have books at home by labeling, sorting and bagging books at Bernie’s Book Bank warehouse or by starting a drive at your business, school, church, etc. Check out www.berniesbookbank.org for more info.
3. "Like” us on Facebook.
   Become a fan and receive timely updates on United Way’s programs and results. Search for “United Way of Lake County” on Facebook and hit the “Like” button. Then, suggest our page to all of your Facebook friends!
4. Donate used computers.
   Provide technology to high school families committed to improving their child’s attendance and grades in our “Computer Learn and Earn” Stay in School program. Contact Michelle Crombie for more info.
5. Be a reading or tutor volunteer.
   Help children build literacy skills in our Reading Success Program. Go to www.uwlakeco.org/readers to sign up or get more information.
6. Host an informational gathering.
   Invite us to your home or business where we can share the great work being conducted by UWLC. Contact Kristi Long for more info.
7. Serve on our committees.
   Volunteer committees direct all programs. We especially need volunteers with social media expertise. Contact Kristi Long to get involved.