It’s National Volunteer Month and we’d like to take this time to recognize all of the selfless individuals who lend their time, talent, and support to serve our community. As an organization that relies heavily on volunteers to carry out its mission, this annual celebration is near and dear to our hearts. Day in and day out, our volunteers help enrich the lives of those in need and help build a strong, equitable Lake County where everyone can thrive. Without volunteers, our work is simply not possible.
Thank you, volunteers!
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 open for students in the Antioch, Beach Park, Round Lake, Waukegan and Zion school districts.
Antioch: June 5 – 27
Beach Park: July 29 – August 14
Round Lake: June 3 – 27
Waukegan: June 3 – July 1
Zion: June 3 – July 11
Interested? Fill out the form for your school district at the link 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.
Join Leaders United, our group of young professionals focused on making a difference in Lake County, for a fun networking event! You will have the opportunity to speak with Leaders United members, hear about their work, and get a coffee siphon brewing demonstration from Drip and Culture’s owner Adam Carson.
When: May 8 | 5:00-6:00 PM
Where: Drip and Culture | 2015 Grand Ave, Waukegan
Thank you to Alpha Media’s Union Latina radio show and host José Rodriquez for inviting United Way to share about our Kindergarten Countdown Camp. Watch the interview on Facebook here.
We will also be participating in Alpha Media’s Día del Niño celebration at Gurnee Mills Mall (Entrance G) on Saturday April 27 from 2:00-4:00 PM. Visit our table to learn about United Way’s free early learning programs, like Kindergarten Countdown Camp, and our 211 helpline that connects people to local resources and support.
Every Child Deserves a Safe Childhood
April is Child Abuse Prevention Month and we have partnered with the Lake County Children’s Advocacy Center (LCCAC) to help keep every child safe. LCCAC’s Blue Kids Program creates awareness about child abuse in Lake County and encourages parents, teachers, and members of the community to engage youth and encourage education on the topic.
LCCAC has resources for youth, parents, schools, law enforcement, business and more. We encourage you to visit LCCAC’s website.
Hiring: Kindergarten Readiness Coordinator
We are hiring for a part-time summer position that will assist in the implementation of our Kindergarten Countdown Camp program. Learn more about the role and apply on Indeed below.
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.
