In early March, community and corporate volunteers gathered to share the joy of reading with students at Howe Elementary in Beach Park and at Pleviak Elementary in Lake Villa.
The volunteers read stories that amplified this year’s theme, Bringing Communities Together, in both English and Spanish. Each reader shared about their jobs and roles in the community. Then all the books were given to the teachers so that they could continue to grow their classroom libraries.
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! View photos from both events below.
Register for Kindergarten Countdown Camp
Kindergarten 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 Beach Park, Round Lake and Waukegan school districts. KCC in Beach Park runs from June 5 – 22, Round Lake runs from June 5 – 29, and Waukegan runs from June 5 – 29.
Interested? Fill out the form for your school district at the link below.
Another Successful Year of Mentoring Middle Schoolers
Leaders United, our affinity group of young professionals, recently wrapped up another successful year of their mentoring program called Breakfast Club with the 8th graders at Robert Abbott Middle School in Waukegan.
The students were eager to participate in each session and the conversations were meaningful. They engaged in discussions around topics to support mental wellness and social-emotional learning. We are proud that these students are leaving middle school with more of the tools they need to successfully overcome obstacles as they transition into high school.
To celebrate the students and prepare them for their next steps, each student was gifted with Waukegan High School spirit wear. Each student was also given a journal to keep track of their journey and earbuds to use for their assessments and testing. We are wishing these students much success in high school and beyond!
Thank you to Medline for your support of this program!
Women United’s Corporate Future Leaders of Color Closes Inaugural Year On a High Note
The eleven strong women who took the risk to join the first-ever cohort of Women United’s Corporate Future Leaders of Color program celebrated the end of a wonderful year with their mentors and other United Way supporters on March 14.
The program offered networking, community service, leadership, social, and mentorship opportunities to these women whose companies sponsored their $1,000 investment in Women United. Through a community service project sponsored by AbbVie, one-on-one personalized mentoring meetings, and a series of unique Success Seminars focused on strengths, these leaders grew in their confidence to step into their own leadership professionally and in the community.
Everyone involved enjoyed and learned so much from the program, and Women United is proud to announce they’ll launch a second cohort this coming fall. If you’d like to be a cohort member, mentor, or if you’re a business leader who wishes to invest in one of your up-and-coming women of color, please reach out to Jessica Ceisel at Jessica.Ceisel@uwlakeco.org.
Help Us Win $15K!
Help us win up to $15K from Old National Bank! Old National is donating $500K to community nonprofits in Illinois, Iowa, Northwest Indiana and select areas of Southeast Wisconsin. Use the link below to vote for United Way of Lake County once a day thru March 31!
Black History Month Reading Day in Waukegan
In honor of Black History Month, Great Lakes Credit Union (GLCU) partnered with us to coordinate a special reading day at North Elementary in Waukegan. This event brought GLCU readers into classrooms to share stories that celebrated Black characters, culture and traditions. GLCU sponsored all the books, which were given to the school after the event. Each student also received a copy of the book “Nigel and the Moon” to take home to build their at-home book collection and encourage reading outside of school.
Thank you, GLCU, for being such a strong supporter of Black History Month and our Lake County community!
Aon Serving the Community
In celebration of Women’s History Month, Aon volunteers spent time at Keeping Families Covered where they collected items to share with local families. During their time on site, the volunteers helped with packing diapers and sorting clothing in preparation for future community distributions.
Aon is also gearing up for their Employee Giving Campaign next month. Since 1996, Aon employees have been generous supporters not only with their donations but also with their time. Aon continues to be a great supporter of our work and events.
Thank you to Aon and all the Aon volunteers for taking the time to support our Lake County families! We would also like to thank Michelle Hansen, Senior Partner at Aon and UWLC Board Member, for helping to coordinate this wonderful volunteer event.
Honoring Gale Graves’ Impact
Gale Graves, our VP of Community Impact, was recently honored as a local hero for her work in breaking barriers and impacting the next generation of African American leaders in Lake County. Congratulations, Gale! Thank you to the scholars at Affirm Leadership Christian Academy for recognizing Gale’s impact in the community.
We’re Hiring: 211 Manager
We are seeking an innovative individual passionate about serving others to develop and lead a team in ensuring that 211 Lake County excels in the delivery of referral services and information to the residents of Lake County. The 211 Manager will be responsible for ensuring that 211 Lake County provides a positive experience for individuals, non-profit organizations and government agencies and is a valued partner to stakeholders throughout the county.
Diversity, equity and inclusion are at the heart of what it means to LIVE UNITED.
We celebrate unique and diverse identities and experiences. We believe that all people deserve fairness, justice and security. We create a welcoming environment in which everyone feels valued and respected.
We commit to aligning our culture and business practices to advance diversity, equity and inclusion to better address our community’s needs.
View our anti-racism statement, goals and DEI Committee members below.
You’re Invited: Power of the Purse!
Join Women United on Sunday, November 7, for their signature fundraising event, Power of the Purse.
After an online event in 2020, we expect to be in person with CDC protocols in place. Those who attend the in-person event will enjoy a champagne brunch and a fun-filled afternoon of games, prizes, and special surprises. We will also have a virtual option again this year; an online buying and bidding shopping experience that includes dozens of designer bags, silent auction purses, baskets and items.
100% of all proceeds and items purchased will support early education programs in Lake County’s most vulnerable communities through our Little Kids, Big Futures Fund. Since 2014, Women United has distributed $850K to worthy nonprofits to ensure children living in Lake County’s most vulnerable communities are prepared for kindergarten and ready to succeed.
Whether you join us in person or online, you will have many opportunities to shop, support children’s education and have fun! Buy your ticket today!
Join Us Tomorrow to Celebrate Two Years of 211
We are proud to celebrate the second anniversary of 211 services for Lake County. Join with community leaders and stakeholders on September 23 to learn how 211 has grown to become a lifeline for people across the county seeking help meeting basic needs.
You’ll hear about 211’s measurable impact, data on community-specific needs, and the results we have seen in year two during this critical time of the pandemic. You’ll also hear stories of how 211 has made a real difference for community members, employers, agencies and local government. Marc L. Jones, Waukegan Township Supervisor, will moderate a panel of local leaders discussing how 211 more efficiently guides people to resources to help improve lives, including a more in-depth discussion on the top needs and solutions to address them.
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 Lake County, and celebrate the results we’ve achieved together.
Women United Brightens a Waukegan School
Women United members recently took on an Early Learning Trail volunteer project at Clearview Elementary School in Waukegan. They painted paths marked by numbers, letters and shapes to help students at Clearview develop social, cognitive and kinesthetic skills in a playful and safe space. Thank you to all the women who braved the heat to make Clearview an even better place to learn and play!
Company Spotlight: Aon
Aon and United Way of Lake County have been working together to improve lives in Lake County for nearly a decade. We are grateful to the Aon colleagues who have volunteered their time on dozens of projects in our neighborhoods and schools—from creating and painting early learning trails at local schools to organizing school supply drives.
During this challenging year, Aon colleagues stepped up to support our School Supply Drive benefitting Waukegan Public Schools and other local school districts. Several colleague groups organized donations of school supplies and volunteered their time at a massive distribution event this past August. The participation of our partners helped us surpass our goal of 800 backpacks by almost double!
We are fortunate to have Aon’s Michelle Hansen, Senior Partner in Aon’s Wealth Solutions business, as a member of our board of directors and our Women United affinity group. Michelle’s energy and enthusiasm for our mission reflects how Aon colleagues represent the best of the firm by demonstrating a commitment to service that extends beyond their day-to-day business responsibilities.
We look forward to continuing our partnership with Aon on our shared goal to enrich and improve lives in Lake County.
If you would like to learn more about volunteering with your organization through United Way of Lake County, please contact Bobbi.Selvik@uwlakeco.org.
Launch a Workplace Giving Campaign
Change doesn’t happen alone. Your organization, large or small, can help us create a stronger Lake County through a United Way workplace campaign. Whether your campaign is virtual or in-person, we’ll provide you with the tools you need to plan, coordinate and implement a successful fundraising campaign.
Is your organization ready to LIVE UNITED? We’ll help you get started.
Get Involved with Leaders United
Leaders United is a caring group of young professionals committed to generosity and volunteerism in Lake County, IL. They are on a mission to engage young leaders in creating a positive impact in Lake County through giving, advocating and volunteering. Together, they support one another, have fun and strengthen our community!
