Women United Celebrates $1 Million Raised for Early Education
Women United announced that they will distribute $186,000 this year through their Little Kids, Big Futures philanthropy fund to support nine critical early education programs. That means that Women United has also surpassed the $1 million milestone of money raised for early education in Lake County!
We are so proud of the work Women United does to help ensure the foundation for strong and successful academic futures of our community’s most vulnerable children.
Learn more about the 2022 Little Kids, Big Futures fund grantees:
Help Us Stuff the Bus!
Each year, kids across Lake County go back to school lacking the necessary supplies needed to thrive in school. The price for essential supplies is increasing and many low-income families struggle to afford everything on their child’s school supply list.
But together, we can make a difference!
Join our Stuff the Bus donation drive! By providing students with new school supplies, you’ll be helping prepare them for their academic studies, build their self-esteem and set them up for success. This is a cause worth getting involved in and we hope you’ll take part!
Now through July 7, you can contribute as an individual or your company can team up to make a difference! You can donate school supplies, make an online donation, or help us spread the word.
Play A-Round for Lake County Kids
Join Women United for their co-ed golf fundraiser “Play A-Round for Lake County Kids” on Monday, July 11 at White Deer Run Golf Club in Vernon Hills. This shotgun scramble golf fundraiser will support early childhood education in Lake County through Women United’s Little Kids, Big Futures Fund.
Last year’s golf outing was such a success, we can’t wait to welcome back our steadfast supporters and meet new friends for another fun day of great golf, food, competition and prizes at one of Lake County’s favorite courses.
Golf event tickets are $175 per person and include an on-course lunch and a buffet dinner. Golfers will register in twosomes or foursomes. Additional event details can be found on the registration page. Don’t golf? Join us for dinner! Tickets are $50.
Thank you, Monica!
UWLC Board Member, Monica Burmeister, has served as Chair of the Finance & Administration Committee since 2010. As chair, she worked with the committee to develop a Finance Committee Charter and recruited high-level volunteers with expertise in finance, accounting, and overall business management. Under her leadership, United Way has strengthened its financial position and has been in exceptional financial health earning a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator.
Thank you for your extraordinary work and leadership, Monica!
Flip Through Our 2021 Annual Report
United Way of Lake County is excited to share our 2021 Annual Report. Flip through to see the collective impact you help make possible.
We extend our heartfelt thanks to every donor, volunteer, corporate and community partner who helps us build a stronger Lake County community!
Partner Spotlight: College of Lake County
This month we’re shining a spotlight on College of Lake County (CLC). CLC is a public community college whose primary campus is located in Grayslake and other two campuses are in Vernon Hills and Waukegan.
UWLC has been partnering with CLC since 1994. We currently have two CLC leaders on our Board, Dr. Lori Suddick, CLC President, and Jesus Ruiz, Dean of the Lakeshore Campus. CLC staff have supported UWLC through giving campaigns, participated in volunteer events, such as creating hygiene kits for students experiencing home displacement, and they’ve also been a great partner in spreading the word about 211 through staff training and ongoing promotion to students.
We asked longtime supporter, Sue Fay, Executive Director of Human Resources at CLC, why she has chosen to support UWLC. “I am pleased to support United Way of Lake County through its partnership with College of Lake County. We share a focus on providing holistic support to the communities that we serve. Through United Way’s 211 helpline, the 24/7 access to information and referral services has and will continue to have a transformative impact on our students, employees and their families.”
Thank you, CLC, for your loyal support and for being an important part of the work we do to transform lives right here in Lake County.
Lake County’s COVID-19 Community Response Fund
We recently announced that $84,345 has been awarded in the ninth and final round of Lake County COVID-19 Response and Recovery Fund grants to eight local nonprofits. This grant cycle focused on summer programs for children up to age thirteen that address learning loss through academics or enrichment programming and include activities or services that address children’s social-emotional needs due to the impact of the pandemic.
Since the fund was launched on March 20, 2020, a total of $1,201,662 has been raised and granted back into the community to 51 nonprofits so they could continue their work serving individuals and families most impacted by the pandemic. This ninth and final distribution leaves the fund at a zero balance,
ending the funding process.
Thank you to the hundreds of individuals and organizations who donated to the fund! United Way of Lake County remains committed to uniting leadership and resources to build a stronger, equitable community where everyone can thrive.
Celebrating Pride in Lake County
On June 4, we had the pleasure of sponsoring and participating in the LGBTQ+ Center’s PrideFest in Waukegan, alongside many of our community partners. That same day, we also had the opportunity to join in Waukegan’s Pride Drive, hosted by Waukegan Friends.
While celebrating progress, we understand how far we still have to go. Across the country, the LGBTQ+ community continues to face challenges, inequities and discrimination. If you are someone whom an LGBTQ+ person trusts with their whole selves, your encouragement matters and your love makes a difference.
UWLC Commemorates Juneteenth
United Way of Lake County gathered with the community on Saturday at the Juneteenth Festival of Lake County. Our staff and Board members participated in the Black Expo to share education opportunities and a wide range of health resources, financial assistance, employment services and more available through 211.
In celebration of Juneteenth, we honor the present and reflect on our shared history and tradition. Together, we are building a brighter, equitable future for all our children and families to thrive.
Introducing New Team Members
We recently welcomed two new people to our United Way family; Katie Martinez joined as our Donor Relations Specialist and Taylor Bellson joined as an Account Manager.
Learn more about Katie and Taylor’s roles, what they like to do in their free time, and how they connect with our programs by clicking their names below.
Premier Leaders Event Raises $275K for Our Education Programs and 211
On May 19, Lake County civic and business leaders gathered for our 9th annual Premier Leaders Event at The Shanty in Wadsworth. Attendees mingled while enjoying food and cocktails, learned about our work and plans to increase programming, and then raised their paddles in support of our programs.
We are thrilled to share that we surpassed our fundraising goal and raised $275K for our education programs and 211! We are so grateful for the generous support we received from many individuals as well as our sponsors. Thank you to everyone who helped make this year’s Premier Leaders Event a great success!
View photos from the event below.
Help Us Stuff the Bus!
Each year, kids across Lake County go back to school lacking the necessary supplies needed to thrive in school. The price for essential supplies is increasing and many low-income families struggle to afford everything on their child’s school supply list.
But together, we can make a difference!
Join our Stuff the Bus donation drive! By providing students with new school supplies, you’ll be helping prepare them for their academic studies, build their self-esteem and set them up for success. This is a cause worth getting involved in and we hope you’ll take part!
Now through July 7, you can contribute as an individual or your company can team up to make a difference! You can donate school supplies, make an online donation, or help us spread the word.
AbbVie Awarded for Vaccine Efforts
AbbVie was recently awarded by the PR News’ Social Impact Awards for their temporary vaccination clinic. When vaccines were first approved in the U.S., AbbVie launched this drive-thru clinic for local, underserved seniors in Lake County. We were proud to collaborate with AbbVie and our 211 partners to promote the clinic. The awareness building campaign resulted in more than 6,000 people in Lake County getting their vaccines safely, conveniently, and at no charge. Thank you, AbbVie, for making a remarkable impact on the lives of people right here in our community.
Attend an Upcoming Event with Leaders United
Leaders United—our group of young professionals who give, advocate and volunteer in Lake County—are hosting two upcoming events.
On June 1, from 6-7 p.m., Leaders United will be hosting a virtual conversation with Ruth Rosales, owner of Coffee Break and Lunch in Waukegan. Participants will learn how this female and minority-owned business is creating change in Lake County. To attend, please contact Michelle.Sanchez@uwlakeco.org and she will send you a link.
On June 16, from 6-8 p.m., join Leaders United for their Summer Social networking event at Light the Lamp Brewery in Grayslake. This will be a great opportunity to meet other young people who are passionate about giving back and making a difference in their community.
Learn more about the events by clicking below.
Play A-Round for Lake County Kids
Join Women United for their co-ed golf fundraiser “Play A-Round for Lake County Kids” on Monday, July 11 at White Deer Run Golf Club in Vernon Hills. This shotgun scramble golf fundraiser will support early childhood education in Lake County through Women United’s Little Kids, Big Futures Fund.
Last year’s golf outing was such a success, we can’t wait to welcome back our steadfast supporters and new friends for another fun day of great golf, food, competition and prizes at one of Lake County’s favorite courses.
Golf event tickets are $175 per person and include an on-course lunch and a buffet dinner. Golfers will register in twosomes or foursomes. Additional event details can be found on the registration page.
Golfers who register by June 13 will be entered into the Early Bird Raffle for a special prize. Don’t golf? Join us for dinner! Tickets are $50.
Women United Hosts Early Learning Clubs
Women United has partnered with Whispering Oaks Apartments in Waukegan to provide five monthly Early Learning Club (ELC) sessions for resident families in the onsite community room. This program supports foundational skill development for preschoolers and helps parents become their children’s first and best teachers. In addition to fun and learning, Women United provides a hot dinner and dessert, a new book for every child, and access to everyday items like household cleaners, paper goods and personal hygiene products.
All sessions are run by Women United volunteers who have been trained in United Way of Lake County’s ELC curricula. We are proud to offer a program that brings families together and will help ensure these kids are ready to start school strong!
Community service projects are a great way to encourage students to think about the world around them. At St. Gilbert School in Grayslake, it is an annual tradition to raise money for an organization as a school-wide service project. This year, we are thrilled that the student council members selected our Lake County COVID Response & Recovery Fund! United Way of Lake County established the fund to ensure our neighbors left most vulnerable by the coronavirus can access critical needs, including emergency food and shelter, rent and utility assistance, health care and mental health services, and more.
To help local families who are struggling from the effects of the virus, St. Gilbert students held a coin collection fundraiser from March 1 – April 1. The students were inspired to help others less fortunate while having fun reaching their goal. Each class had a collection jar in their homeroom and classes competed in a series of different weekly challenges, including a penny challenge and a dollar bill challenge. To boost teamwork, classes had the opportunity to win prizes such as earning dress-down passes. The overall winning class with the most money raised at the end of the month earned cookies for their whole class and extra recess.
Small donations add up and can make a life-changing difference. Working together they raised a whopping $2,000! Thank you to the amazing students and families at St.Gilbert for a successful fundraiser in support of our Lake County neighbors.
Thank You, Volunteers!
This week is National Volunteer Week and we’d like to take this time to recognize all of the selfless individuals who lend their time, talent, voice and support to serve our community. As an organization that relies heavily on volunteers to carry out its mission, this annual week of celebration is near and dear to our hearts. Day in and day out, our volunteers help enrich the lives of those in need and build a stronger, more equitable community. Without volunteers, our work is simply not possible.
As a thank you, we created videos for each of our volunteer groups. Check them out below.
Black History Book Drive Delivers 200 Books to Kids
During the month of February, we celebrated Black History Month by hosting a virtual book drive to help put books featuring Black characters and influential Black American figures into the hands of eager young readers in our community.
Thank you to everyone who contributed to the fund and helped us raise nearly $2,000! We were able to purchase 200 books that were donated to the following schools: Carman Buckner School in Waukegan, Glenwood School in Waukegan, West School in Zion, and Pleviak School in Lake Villa.
Now so many more students will have access to books that promote a positive equity message!
Register for Kindergarten Countdown Camp
Kindergarten Countdown Camp is a free summer program for children, entering kindergarten in Fall 2021, who have no preschool experience. This year, registrants can choose between hybrid learning (a mix of in-person and remote) or full virtual learning. Registration is now open for students in the Round Lake School District.
Interested? Fill out our registration form below.
Play A-Round for Lake County Kids
Join Women United for Play A-Round for Lake County Kids on Monday, July 19 at White Deer Run Golf Club in Vernon Hills. This co-ed shotgun scramble golf fundraiser will support early childhood education in Lake County through Women United’s Little Kids, Big Futures Fund.
Enjoy a day of great golf, food, competition and prizes. Golf event tickets are $150 per person and include an on-course lunch and an outdoor buffet dinner. Golfers will register in twosomes or foursomes. Additional event details can be found on the registration page.
Golfers who register by May 31 will be entered into the Early Bird Raffle for a special prize.
Don’t golf? Join us for dinner! Tickets are $50.
Women United’s Community Dialogue on Race
On April 7, Women United hosted “Community Dialogue on Race: Moving from Ideas to Action.”
Chris Kubic, Racial Equity Facilitator and Principal at New Tech High School in Zion Benton Township and Sandra Bankston, MSW, LCSW, Victim Advocate with Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office, engaged in a conversation about anti-racism. They shared details about their own personal journeys with issues around race, discrimination and racial healing. Audience members were able to ask questions in the chat as they listened, learned and became better prepared to be an ally for racial equity. The event culminated in the panelists sharing actionable steps that everyone can use going forward.
This event was planned by Women United’s Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging Initiative which was established in mid-2020 to focus on diversifying membership, getting to know more diverse women, and providing information to members so we can learn, grow and take action in support of racial equity.
Watch the recording below.
Opportunity to Host Early Learning Clubs
Early Learning Clubs (ELCs) are community-led early childhood education workshops designed to help 3 to 5-year-old children and their parents be better prepared to start kindergarten. Children and parents receive a variety of free bilingual educational tools and instruction on how to continue using the tools at home.
If you are interested in hosting an ELC at your organization, school, library or club and serve families who reside in Beach Park, Zion, North Chicago, Round Lake or Waukegan, contact Shareny Mota, Success By 6 Initiative Coordinator, at Shareny.Mota@uwlakeco.org or 847-775-1040. For more information about Early Learning Clubs and parent resources, click below.
