July 2018 e-Newsletter
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Premier Leadership Event Raises Over $210,000 For Our Education ProgramsOn June 26, Lake County civic and business leaders gathered for our fifth annual Premier Leadership Event at the Warbird Heritage Foundation in Waukegan. We are proud to share that over $210,000 was raised to support United Way’s education programs and the pending launch of 2-1-1 thanks to the generosity of our guests and sponsors. We would like to say a special thank you to Paul Wood, Skip Goss and Herwig Schmidts for their hospitality and partnership to make our Premier Leadership Event happen. A special thank you goes to the following event sponsors for their support:
Click the button below to view a video recap of the event. Click here to view all of the photos from the night.
Join in on the Summer FUNdraiser!Grab your friends and join Women United for a night of summer fun to support early childhood literacy in Lake County. On Saturday, August 4, Women United invites you to their Booze, Bites, Beats and Bingo event at the North Shore Distillery in Lake Bluff. There will be something for everyone:
All proceeds will support critical early prevention and early literacy programs through their Little Kids, Big Futures Fund. Since 2014, Women United has distributed over $370,000 to worthy nonprofits to ensure children living in Lake County’s most vulnerable communities are prepared for kindergarten and ready to succeed. Tickets are available now. Click the button below to buy your tickets.
Volunteers in Action: Snap-On CreditOn July 11, a group of 20 volunteers from Snap-On Credit helped paint Early Learning Trails outside the Robert W. Rolek Community Center in Round Lake. Early Learning Trails are great because they can spark meaningful learning moments for a child as they begin their first day of school. Thank you, Snap-On Credit! Together, we are transforming communities and expanding our impact to ensure that kids entering kindergarten today receive the support they need to be successful in school and life. Watch a slideshow of photos from this volunteer event by clicking below.
Program Highlight: Kindergarten Countdown Camp in Round LakeKindergarten Countdown Camp (KCC), an initiative under our Success By 6 Program, was designed to bridge the “opportunity gap” for Lake County’s youngest learners. These free camps are open to incoming kindergartners with little to no preschool experience nor have been in a classroom setting. This summer, we have KCCs in four communities, including Round Lake, where we are serving 29 students. Round Lake’s KCC is taking place at Pleviak Elementary School. We recently spoke with the principal at Pleviak, Jason Smith. One of the questions we asked him is why he thinks it’s so important for children to be on track and ready to learn when first starting kindergarten. He had this to say: “Recent research has shown that students that lack any formal preschool experience often start kindergarten at a disadvantage when it comes to basic literacy, numeracy, social and emotional skills. The more that parents can do to prepare their children for their first formal year in education, the better! A successful year of kindergarten often translates to success in elementary school and beyond.” Read Jason’s full Q & A by clicking below.
Program Highlight: Kindergarten Countdown Camp in North ChicagoThis summer, we are providing Kindergarten Countdown Camp (KCC) in four communities, including North Chicago. Since 2016, Women United has built a strong partnership with the North Chicago community, providing resources and funding to support many early childhood programs at the Green Bay Early Childhood Center. Earlier this year, Women United allocated $60,000 to KCC, which allowed the program to expand into the North Chicago and Round Lake communities. Members of Women United also get involved in KCC by volunteering their time as “Reading Buddies”. Diana Nielander, Women United’s Affinity Group Manager, had this to say about KCC: “We are thankful to have worked within the North Chicago community over the past few years. We loved getting into Green Bay Early Childhood Center and providing some of the resources needed to enhance the children’s learning experiences. We are proud to be able to continue our presence there now and provide additional funding for exceptional programs. We believe that these layered services have the biggest impact.” Read more about Women United’s connection to KCC and the North Chicago community by clicking below.
Become a Reading Success TutorDo you enjoy working with elementary-age children? Do you want to make a difference in the community you live in or near? United Way of Lake County’s Reading Success Program welcomes you! Our program serves elementary schools in Waukegan and we place volunteers in first through third grade classrooms. No prior experience is required. We are always in need of bilingual Spanish speaking volunteers. To be a volunteer tutor, you must:
If you are interested in volunteering as a Reading Success tutor, simply fill out this online form with your basic information. Our volunteer coordinator will call or email you with more information in a few days. Volunteering begins in late September and early October. Our program runs through the end of May. For more information, please contact Sue at sue.baehr@uwlakeco.org or
Learn More About Women United at Wine & LearnWomen United invites you to attend their next Wine & Learn on Tuesday, August 21 from 6-7:30 p.m. to learn how this amazing group of women mobilizes leaders and resources in Lake County, while connecting and having fun through philanthropy. The meeting will be held at a member’s home in Libertyville. What to expect:
Want to RSVP or ask a question? Contact Janice at janice.scarbalis@uwlakeco.org or (847) 775-1033.
Connect With Us On Social MediaWant to keep in touch more often than just our once-a-month newsletter? Become a part of our social community by following us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn or Instagram, where you can see what’s new, share your thoughts and be among the first to know about all the ways that United Way is creating lasting change in Lake County.
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