In honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr, we partnered with McCall Elementary in Waukegan to host a new reading event—Voices United: A Celebration of MLK. Black community leaders from across Lake County were invited to read to the students. Each book provided a unique opportunity for meaningful discussions focused on and around the work of Dr. King.
Thank you to all our wonderful volunteers who came out to participate in this event. The students were very engaged! Whether in person or virtual, your presence and service were felt throughout the school. Also, we are so grateful to McCall School for working with us to host this joyous event. Through meaningful partnerships like this, we strive to continue to create positive impacts throughout Lake County.
Year-End Campaign Raises $173K!
At the end of 2022, we raised funds for our education programs and 211 helpline. Thanks to the generosity of many individuals and foundations, we raised $173K! That amount includes a $10K matching gift from our sponsor, Healthcare Foundation of Northern Lake County. Thank you to our supporters for making it possible for us to have an even bigger impact on our local community. Now more local children will be prepared to succeed in school and more of our neighbors will get connected to critical resources.
Women United’s New Manager: Jessica Ceisel
We are pleased to announce that Jessica Ceisel is the new Manager of our Women United affinity group!
Jessica has spent the last year at United Way as a Community Engagement Coordinator working closely with community partners, both corporate and social service agencies, to create meaningful community engagement experiences. Her background is in education, and she’s taught in the very Lake County communities Women United is serving. She’s also personally involved with medical advocacy at the legislative level through the Wisconsin Hospital Association and patient advocacy through Harmony 4 Hope, Children’s Wisconsin, and the Children’s Miracle Network.
We know Jessica will lead Women United toward their goals of strengthening the community through philanthropy, leadership and volunteerism while creating a meaningful sense of belonging for all members. Women United is a critical community within our organization and their work supports our mission by focusing on early education.
To learn more about Jessica and her role, click below.
Learn About Women United on Your Lunch Break
Are you looking for new ways to connect to amazing women in our community, new opportunities to volunteer and socialize, or new ways to make a measurable difference for those underserved in Lake County? Please join Women United on Tuesday, February 21 from 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. on Zoom for a prospective member Lunch & Learn.
Women United mobilizes more than 130 amazing women to help ensure that all children living in Lake County have an equal opportunity to start school ready to succeed. In addition to caring deeply about this collective effort, we have a vibrant calendar of social, volunteer and philanthropic events to make it fun and doable regardless of your busy schedule.
Company Spotlight: Amcor
This month we are spotlighting our partner, Amcor, a global packaging company. Amcor’s North American headquarters is based in Deerfield, IL. Since 2019, Amcor employees have generously donated both their time and money to support our community. For example, in October 2022, Amcor employees created snack packs for students in the Diamond Lake School District after school program. The volunteers also created cards with jokes and drawings to include in each pack in hopes of spreading joy and laughter to the students.
We asked Amcor why they choose to partner with us and this is what they said:
“As a proud supporter of United Way for many years, I believe their impact on our communities has improved the lives of many people through its funding of local agencies, programs and services. Together, we at Amcor can help all of our communities become more healthy, safe and thriving for everyone.”
–Fred Stephen, President, Amcor Flexibles North America
Thank you, Amcor, for partnering with us to strengthen our Lake County community for all who live and work here.
If you’re interested in joining Amcor and other companies to create a successful workplace campaign or volunteer opportunity, please reach out.
To celebrate Black History Month, we are hosting a virtual book drive during the month of February. Help us put books featuring Black characters and influential Black American figures into the hands of eager young readers in our community. We will use the funds to purchase the books and donate them to local elementary schools, increasing access to books promoting a positive equity message.
Lake County Recognizes February 11 as 211 Day
In special recognition of our 211 helpline, the Lake County Board proclaimed February 11 as “211 Day” in Lake County, Illinois. We are grateful to Lake County government for their partnership and generous support of our 211 service, as well as the many partners and individuals who have contributed to help make 211 a reality for our community.
211 has already made a tremendous impact, making more than 70,000 connections to essential health and human services. 211 Day is a wonderful opportunity to continue to raise awareness of this vital service to improve and save lives here in Lake County.
Watch as Lake County Board Member Linda Pedersen reads the special recognition of 211, followed by remarks from Deanna Olmem and Quinton Snodgrass from United Way of Lake County, as well as Lake County Board Chair Sandy Hart.
Save the Date: March 18
From corporations to communities, in offices and in homes, people are eager to better understand the issues that divide and unite us based on culture and race. Within our own Lake County community, residents want to take action to break down barriers, bridge differences, and bring people together. Despite all that we see on the news, social media, and within our inner circles, many of us still don’t know what first steps to take. This community dialogue aims to change that. The purpose of this county-wide conversation is to listen, learn and then lead.
Women United of Lake County will be hosting this “Lake County Community Dialogue on Race” on Thursday, March 18 from 6:00 – 7:30 p.m. Registration information will be shared soon. Mark your calendars today.
Company Spotlight: Amcor Technologies
This month, we would like to highlight Amcor Technologies and its employees at the Buffalo Grove and Mundelein locations. Amcor hosted a variety of raffles and awareness events in support of their annual employee giving campaign that raised nearly $20k for United Way of Lake County’s programs. Thank you so much, Amcor!
Interested in learning more about starting a United Way campaign at your workplace? Learn more below or contact Dennis Burke at (847) 775-1014 or dennis.burke@uwlakeco.org.
Sign Up for Bright by Text
United Way of Lake County has partnered with Bright by Text to provide parents and caregivers of children prenatal to age 8 with information on child development plus local events and resources. We encourage you to try out this free service, and you can stop at any time.
When you sign up, you will receive text messages in English or Spanish that are specific to the age of your child and include local community resources targeted by your zip code. Bright by Text messages include research-based content on child development and learning, as well as information about valuable community services and events happening right here in Lake County.
To sign up, text “UWLC” to 274448; or by clicking below.
We Accepted the Challenge. Will You?
We’ve joined our neighbors across the state to learn how inequity and systemic racism impact our lives and communities. Join the more than 1,000 people from Lake County who have already signed up for the free 21-week Equity Challenge. The Challenge started on January 18 but it’s not too late to join, as it runs through June 19, 2021. You will receive one email per week.
United, we can help create a stronger, more equitable Illinois economy and stronger, more inclusive Illinois communities.
Meet Our New Intern: David Astudillo
We are excited to welcome our newest intern, David Astudillo! We love getting to introduce new people to the work we do at United Way of Lake County.
As part of our 211 team, David is capturing 211 caller stories for our newsletters and collecting monthly report data. He is also assisting the marketing team by gathering social media analytics, offering ideas to enhance UWLC’s presence on social media, and more.
