In celebration of Read Across America, we organized 48 community and corporate volunteers to share the joy of reading with the students at Howe Elementary in Beach Park and Pleviak Elementary in Lake Villa.
The volunteers read stories that amplified this year’s theme, Celebrating Diversity, in English and Spanish. All the books were donated 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 volunteer 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 volunteers 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 Antioch, Beach Park, Round Lake and Zion school districts. Waukegan is coming soon.
Antioch: June 5 – 27
Beach Park: July 29 – August 14
Round Lake: June 3 – 27
Zion: June 3 – July 11
Interested? Fill out the form for your school district at the link below.
SUCCESS STORY
Speaking Up and Making Friends
When Ruben entered Kindergarten Countdown Camp(KCC), he felt uncomfortable talking with teachers or his classmates. He remained quiet throughout the day and would play by himself during free time and recess.
After two weeks at KCC, Ruben started participating during the class instruction, and he answered questions when he was called on. Ruben began to feel more comfortable in his new environment, and his connections with his classmates grew.
By the end of KCC, Ruben’s classmates became his friends. He would talk to them throughout the day and play with them at recess. As Ruben’s sense of confidence increased, his engagement in learning grew. He was able to express his thoughts and emotions verbally with his teachers, and he was speaking up louder and confidently when participating in class.
The progress and growth Ruben made in KCC has prepared him for successful learning in kindergarten!
Another Successful Year of Mentoring Middle Schoolers
Leaders United, our affinity group of young professionals, 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. We are wishing these students much success in high school and beyond!
Create Your Legacy
Donors from all walks of life at all income levels can make an investment in securing the future of our community. The process is simple, and the impact will last for generations.
There are many ways to make a charitable gift, such as donating stock or securities, using your IRA or donor-advised fund, and including us in your will or living trust. Learn about the many ways to give by clicking below.
Lunch & Learn About Women United
Are you looking for new ways to make a measurable difference for children and families in Lake County or new opportunities to volunteer and socialize? You can do all of that and more with Women United! Learn about becoming a member by joining us virtually on Wednesday, May 1 from 12:00 – 1:00 p.m.
Women United mobilizes more than 145 amazing women to help ensure that all children living in Lake County have an equal opportunity to start school ready to succeed. Women United also has a vibrant calendar of social, volunteer and philanthropic events to make it fun and doable regardless of your busy schedule.
In special recognition of United Way of Lake County’s 211, the Lake County Board, as well as the Villages of Antioch, Gurnee and Mundelein, and Cities of North Chicago, Waukegan and Zion, have all proclaimedFebruary 11, 2024 as “211 Day”! We are grateful to our local government partners for their generous support of our 211 service, as well as the many other 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 250,000 connections to essential health and human services in Lake County. 211 Day is a wonderful opportunity to continue to raise awareness of this vital service to improve and save lives in our community.
We invite you to help us spread the word about 211. Check out our social media channels for posts to share and visit 211LakeCounty.org for more information and promotional materials.
Black History Month Reading Day in Waukegan
In honor of Black History Month, Great Lakes Credit Union (GLCU) partnered with us again to coordinate a special reading day at North Elementary in Waukegan. This event brought GLCU readers into classrooms to share stories celebrating Black culture and traditions. GLCU sponsored all the books, which were given to the school after the event.
Thank you, GLCU, for being a wonderful partner! Together, we are not just celebrating Black history; we’re actively building a brighter, equitable future.
Create Your Legacy
Donors from all walks of life at all income levels can make an investment in securing the future of our community. The process is simple, and the impact will last for generations.
There are many ways to make a charitable gift, such as donating stock or securities, using your IRA or donor-advised fund, and including us in your will or living trust. Learn about the many ways to give by clicking below.
Young Professionals Group Makes a Difference
Leaders United members returned to COOL Food Pantry in Waukegan to help organize items and assemble 60 bags of essentials that will be distributed to local veterans.
Know a young professional interested in making a difference in their community? Leaders United provides opportunities such as mentoring local students, volunteer projects, building leadership experience, networking with community leaders, and more.
SUCCESS STORY
Destiny’s Progress
United Way of Lake County’s Kindergarten Countdown Camp (KCC) is a free summer learning program for incoming kindergarten students who have little to no preschool experience. Students enrolled are assessed on skills that are essential for successful learning such as recognizing shapes, letters, counting and writing their names.
When Destiny entered KCC, she had difficulty writing her name. When assessed, she scored a “1” indicating she had not yet begun learning this skill.
KCC teachers worked to help Destiny learn how to write her name. She began by tracing the letters of her name over dotted lines, then graduated to writing her name independently on blank lines while looking at her name. By the end of KCC, she scored a “3” on this skill indicating she was in progress, on her way to proficiency.
Destiny’s mom shared that KCC helped her daughter be better prepared for kindergarten. “She learned how to take the school bus, she learned how to engage with other students and make more friends. She learned how to write her name and she learned her numbers.”
The progress and growth Destiny made in KCC has prepared her for successful learning in kindergarten!
Board Member Update
We are thrilled to welcome Marisa Livingston to our Board of Directors for a two-year term. Marisa is Senior Clinical Supplies Manager at Catalent Pharma Solutions and Chairs our Women United affinity group.
A special thank you to outgoing board members Julie Gordon, J. Ramon Rivera and Lupe Rodriguez for their dedicated service.
Manager, 211 Lake County
We seek 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 people of Lake County, IL.
We are pleased to share our fourth annual report for 211 that summarizes the tremendous impact 211 continues to make, including another 79,088 connections to critical services and help!
The report provides a snapshot of the demographic data and top needs requested from 211 between July 1, 2022 and June 30, 2023. The goal of this report is to share an overview of 211 data on top community needs and the populations we serve in Lake County, as well as trends and highlights throughout the year.
Creating Foundations, Building Futures
Women United recently partnered with Habitat for Humanity and joined other women volunteers in Lake County to start building two new homes in a Waukegan neighborhood being redeveloped. Our members left with full hearts knowing they helped build a brighter future for two women-led families in our community who will now have safe, affordable homeownership.
These efforts are an investment in our young children. Having a safe, stable place to call home is foundational to wellbeing and critical to children’s development. Children with a secure and nurturing home environment have a greater chance to thrive. For example, graduation rates are 19% higher for children of homeowners than for renters. And adults who own their own homes are more likely to pursue their own continued education.
We hope to continue to uplift these families on their educational journey.
View photos and video clips from the project by clicking below.
SUCCESS STORY
Writing Major
Meet Major. He is 5 years old. This summer, Major took part in our Kindergarten Countdown Camp (KCC) to learn key skills and prepare for kindergarten.
One key skill children need for kindergarten is being able to write the letters of their name. At KCC, students begin learning to write their name by tracing the letters over dotted lines.
Like many students attending KCC, Major found it difficult to hold a marker the correct way in order to write. Major’s KCC teachers worked each day to help Major enhance his hand-eye coordination and gain control over his marker. Every morning at KCC, Major would begin class by practicing with his classmates. After weeks of practice, Major learned how to hold his marker correctly. By the end of KCC, he was able to write his name successfully.
Through KCC, Major was able to build a key skill that is essential for successful learning in kindergarten.
Almost Sold Out: Power of the Purse!
Only a few tickets remain! Get your tickets by Friday, October 27.
Join Women United on Sunday, November 5 at Royal Melbourne Country Club in Long Grove for their signature fundraising event, Power of the Purse.
Come away for a fun-filled afternoon with the special women in our lives. We’ll enjoy brunch, bubbly, games and special surprises. There will be more than 40 designer bags, plus silent auction items and raffle baskets to win. All proceeds will support critical early education programs in Lake County.
Place Your Order Today: Kindergarten Readiness Calendars
Our free, bilingual Kindergarten Readiness Calendars are a great resource for families and educators. The calendars are designed for preschool-age children and filled with activities and information to help families get ready for their child’s first day of kindergarten.
Place an order to pick up calendars using our online order form.
Start a Workplace Giving Campaign
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.
We are thrilled to share that we exceeded our goal for this year’s annual Stuff the Bus school supply drive! Thanks to the generosity of our supporters, we prepared and distributed 3,072 backpacksfull of supplies to students across Lake County!
We are so proud that many more children will have the supplies they need to succeed during this new school year! Thank you to the dozens of companies and donors who supported this drive and the volunteers who donated their time to pack, sort and stuff each backpack.
View the long list of organizations that helped make Stuff the Bus a huge success below.
Hispanic Heritage Month Book Drive
Through October 15, you can join us in celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month by sharing the joy of reading with local children and being a part of their storytelling adventure! Your support will enrich elementary school libraries by promoting cultural awareness, celebrating diversity, and honoring Latinx and Hispanic culture.
Reading is one of the great equalizers in our society.
A great book opens so many possibilities for children.
Results and Reflection: Kindergarten Countdown Camp
We are pleased to share the results of Kindergarten Countdown Camp (KCC), our free summer learning program for incoming kindergarten students with limited preschool experience
This year, in addition to returning to Round Lake and Waukegan, we expanded KCC to Antioch, Beach Park and Zion.
Before camp, only 46% of students averaged at least “in progress” or better across the eight skills assessed (shapes, colors, letters, name writing, counting, book familiarity, rhyming and fine motor skills). After camp, we saw that average increase to 69% “in progress or better” in those same eight skills. That’s a 50% increase!
We are also pleased by the feedback we received from the school districts. “Every year, we have an opening parent night for our families,” said Aron Borowiak, Antioch District 34 Superintendent. “The room that was best attended and had the most energy was for KCC. The parents were really excited for their kids to have this opportunity. We saw growth and success for the students who attended. We appreciate how KCC is organized. It made it easy for us to put into place. The program coordinators did a tremendous job of helping and supporting our teacher. We plan to open up KCC to more classrooms next year.”
Connections Magazine recently published an article about KCC’s expansion to Antioch. Check it out below!
SUCCESS STORY
Alan: Becoming a Model Student
Kindergarten Countdown Camp (KCC) was not easy for Alan. The pandemic delayed his early social development, and KCC was the first place where Alan interacted with peers in a structured classroom setting. During the first few weeks of KCC, Alan often felt frustrated. Learning new skills such as raising his hand, walking in a line, taking bathroom breaks, following a schedule, and group play were challenging. Alan’s behavior required constant redirection from his KCC teachers. Each time he was redirected, Alan would apologize. He wanted to learn how to do better. Despite the challenges, Alan showed up to KCC each day with a smile.
A couple weeks after KCC ended, Alan started kindergarten in Beach Park. Alan’s kindergarten teacher shared that Alan is an exemplary student! “Alan is the ONLY kindergartner in my classroom that is raising his hand to speak. He can walk in a line in the halls, he understands the classroom schedule and he engages in patient turn-taking during group play.” Alan’s teacher shared that his confidence is through the roof. “His beaming smile is all the evidence I need to see how proud he is of himself.” Through KCC, Alan was able to prepare for the classroom expectations and environment. And now, Alan’s teacher looks to Alan as a model student to guide other kindergartners.
To view the full story on our website, click below.
You’re Invited: Power of the Purse!
Join Women United on Sunday, November 5 at Royal Melbourne Country Club in Long Grove for their signature fundraising event, Power of the Purse.
Come away for a fun-filled afternoon with the special women in our lives. We’ll enjoy brunch, bubbly, games and special surprises. There will be more than 40 designer bags, plus silent auction items and raffle baskets to win. All proceeds will support critical early education programs in Lake County.
Place Your Order: Kindergarten Readiness Calendars
Our free, bilingual Kindergarten Readiness Calendars are a great resource for families and educations. The calendars are designed for preschool-age children and filled with activities and information to help families get ready for their child’s first day of kindergarten.
Place an order to pick up calendars at our office using our online order form.
Board Member Update
We are thrilled to welcome four new members to our 2023-2024 Board of Directors: Bill Gould, President & COO at Trustmark, Matthew Rizzie, Executive Director at Great Lakes Credit Union’s Foundation for Financial Empowerment, Samer Saleh, Divisional Vice President at Abbott, and Captain Steve Yargosz, Prospective Commanding Officer at Naval Station Great Lakes.
Bill Gould will serve on the Community Impact Council, Matthew Rizzie will serve on the 211 Advisory Council, and Samer Saleh will serve on the Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee.
“Our new members’ leadership skills, knowledge of the communities we serve and genuine interest in our mission make them an asset to our diverse board and United Way of Lake County,” said Kristi Long, President & CEO.
A special thank you to outgoing board member Kevin Slawin for his dedicated service.
United Way of Lake County Ambassador Program
Are you passionate about making a difference in your community? Do you have excellent communication skills and a desire to engage with local businesses for a worthy cause?
If so, consider becoming a United Way Ambassador! This volunteer role is essential to the success of our fundraising campaigns, as you will be the bridge connecting our mission to local businesses in your assigned geography. By joining our team of dedicated UWLC Ambassadors, you’ll play a pivotal role in helping United Way create lasting change in your community. View all the details below.
If you’re interested in becoming a UWLC Ambassador, please email our VP of Resource Development, Quinton Snodgrass at quinton.snodgrass@uwlakeco.org.
In special recognition of United Way of Lake County’s 211, the Lake County Board, as well as the City of Waukegan, Village of Gurnee, and City of Zion, have all proclaimed February 11 as “211 Day”! We are grateful to our local government partners for their generous support of our 211 service, as well as the many other partners and individuals who have contributed to help make 211 a reality for our community.
211 has already made a tremendous impact, making nearly 200,000 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.
We invite you to help us spread the word about 211. Check out our social media channels for posts to share and visit 211LakeCounty.org for more information and materials.
Help Create and Revitalize Our Early Learning Trails
As we look ahead to spring and warmer days, we are looking for volunteers to create and revitalize our Early Learning Trails (ELTs) across Lake County. ELTs are publicly accessible outdoor learning games designed to develop children’s academic readiness and encourage active movement and play. The brightly painted trails marked by numbers, letters and shapes help children develop social, cognitive, and kinesthetic skills in a fun and safe space.
Thanks to the generosity of our corporate and community sponsors, children in Lake County have access to dozens of these trails. If you’re interested in creating or revitalizing an ELT with your organization, please contact Bobbi.Selvik@uwlakeco.org.
Because Kids Don’t Come With Instructions
Bright by Text is a great free resource for anyone looking to receive activities, child development information and other tools to assist in their parenting journey. This national texting program’s messages include topics like brain development, health and wellness, STEM, safety and more. The content comes from trusted partners like PBS and Sesame Street and is available in English and Spanish.
It’s easy to sign up. Simply text “UWLC” to 274-448. We only ask for your child’s birth date and zip code. That way, you’ll get messages timed to their exact age and information about local events and resources, including information about our very own early education programs. We will never share your information.
Young Professionals Who Make a Difference
Want to create positive change in your community while connecting and having fun with other young professionals? Leaders United of Lake County is a group within United Way that provides opportunities such as mentoring local middle school students, volunteer projects, building leadership experience, networking with community leaders, and more.
In celebration of Better Together being back in session for spring, we would like to share a story about a boy who attended our program named David.
When David was just one year old, David’s mom, Lia, knew how important it was to spend time educating David, so she signed up for United Way of Lake County’s Better Together program. Better Together is for North Chicago families with children birth to three years old. Through Better Together, parents can learn how to become their child’s first teacher and the program provides a safe place where children can develop the readiness, physical and cognitive skills crucial to their education.
David engaged in the weekly program, learning, playing, and exploring. It fostered David’s love of learning and helped to prepare David for success in school. Lia shared that “Better Together helped shape David’s development and prepared him for school in so many ways. David is so smart and detail oriented. He already knows his multiplication!”
When we give children a solid educational foundation, they are better prepared to succeed in school and life. David is well on his way—on his path to success.
Welcome, Angela Ramirez!
Angela Ramirez recently joined our United Way family as Community Engagement Coordinator. Angela comes to us with over three decades of experience in Family and Community Engagement and Bilingual Education within a local school district. In her new role, Angela will assist with our community and volunteer projects.
Get to know Angela—her favorite part of her job, what she does in her free time, and more—by clicking below.
We are pleased to share our third annual report for 211 that summarizes the tremendous impact 211 continues to make, including another 57,374 connections to critical services and help!
The report is now available for download and provides a snapshot of the demographic data and top needs requested from 211 between July 1, 2021 and June 30, 2022. The goal of this report is to share an overview of 211 data on top community needs and the populations we serve in Lake County, as well as trends and highlights throughout the year.
On October 17, we celebrated the third anniversary of 211 services for Lake County with a virtual event highlighting 211’s measurable year-three results and impact. We are thrilled with the number of community members who joined us to learn more about 211 and how it is benefiting Lake County. We are grateful to our host/moderator, expert panel, and 211 leadership team who shared data, insights and real-life stories of how 211 is making a difference every day.
In case you missed it, you can watch a recording of the event on YouTube below.
UWLC Receives Grant from Highland Park Community Foundation
United Way of Lake County was recently awarded a grant by the Highland Park Community Foundation. The grant will support our 211 helpline that connects people in our community to local health and human services.
211 is here to answer the call every day and in times of crisis. We are proud to have supported the community throughout the pandemic and in response to the July 4th shooting tragedy. Thank you, Highland Park Community Foundation, for your generous support of 211!
Little Kids, Big Feelings Event
On October 15, Women United hosted an event called “Little Kids, Big Feelings” at the Whispering Oaks apartment complex in Waukegan. Building on the theme of Social Emotional Learning as introduced by their Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging Initiative during a September educational forum, the HUGS Committee took the reins and brought the book, Feelings by Todd Parr to the little ones at Whispering Oaks.
A special thank you to Rosalind Franklin University for sending the Community Care Coach bus so families could get free flu shots, blood pressure tests and blood sugar tests.
We love working with the families there who are doing everything right to put their children on the path to academic success. Look how much fun we all had!
Don’t Miss Out on Power of the Purse!
Join Women United on Sunday, November 6 at Royal Melbourne Country Club in Long Grove for their signature fundraising event, Power of the Purse.
Come away for a fun-filled afternoon to celebrate the special women in our lives. We’ll enjoy a champagne brunch, games, prizes and special surprises. There will be 50+ designer bags, silent auction purses and baskets to bid on in person. 100% of the proceeds will support critical early education programs in Lake County.
SUCCESS STORY: Kindergarten Countdown Camp
This summer, Dayana entered our Kindergarten Countdown Camp as the shyest and most quiet student in her class. Within just a few days, Dayana began confidently belting out the alphabet and leading the class number song!
KCC is a free summer learning program for incoming kindergarten students who have little to no preschool experience. Through KCC, licensed teacher, Mrs. Monbrod, worked with Dayana and her classmates to build key kindergarten readiness skills like writing her name, counting 10 objects and learning her ABCs. Dayana’s skills improved from “beginning” to “in progress” by the end of the summer.
Through KCC, Dayana gained the skills she needed to be on track with her peers and ready to succeed (and sing!) when she entered her first day of kindergarten.
Company Spotlight: Nexus Pharmaceuticals
Nexus Pharmaceuticals is a family-owned and minority-owned company located in Lake County. While Nexus is a newer supporter of United Way of Lake County, it is already becoming one of our most generous corporate partners. We are thrilled to spotlight their incredible commitment to giving back and the impact they are making right here in our community.
Nexus has generously supported our education programs and 211 helpline through sponsorship of our annual Premier Leaders Event. Nexus employees have also been very generous with their time and have partnered with us to complete a variety of community service projects, including painting the Midwest Veterans Closet and installing Sensory Paths and Early Learning Trails at local schools and libraries.
We asked Nexus why they choose to partner with us, and this is what they said:
“We are proud to support United Way of Lake County’s vast initiatives that benefit the lives of so many in Lake County. With our own families and employees living and working in this community, we value and seek to be stewards of service and support to the families that benefit from United Way. Giving back and having a purpose-driven mission mirrors both United Way’s mission as well as our own company mission at Nexus Pharmaceuticals. We seek to be an active partner in the community for various philanthropic initiatives and echo United Way’s efforts in furthering education and investing in the positive development of our community’s youth.”
Thank you, Nexus, for partnering with us to address critical community needs and build a stronger, equitable Lake County!
If you’re interested in joining Nexus and other companies to create a successful workplace campaign or volunteer opportunity, please reach out.
