Community Impact News Alert!

From: Jack Kaplan

United Way Director of Public Policy and Advocacy

Last week Governor Blagojevich proposed budget cuts totaling $1.4 billion, including eliminating $210 million for social services, $100 million for education and $600 million for healthcare . Income, education and health are the three building blocks to independence; that’s why United Way focuses on these areas to help people improve their lives. Now is not the time to stop agency programs that help people do just that.

Final decisions about the next Illinois budget are being made right now, and YOU can make a difference! Don’t let a sixth straight year of state budget cuts eliminate programs that help people in our area get on their feet again.

Help advocate for people in our community who need health and human service programs so they can become self-sufficient. Your State Senator and Representative need to hear from you now:

1) Find your Senator’s Springfield phone number here and find your Representative’s Springfield phone number here . (If you do not know who your legislators are, go to this website and plug in your home address to find out who they are.)

2) Call each of them and ask to speak to them personally. Give them the following message: “I live in your district, and I want you to support full funding for social services, education and health care. We need to protect the most vulnerable residents of our state.”

3) Send us an email to let us know you made the calls, and any feedback you received. And if you have questions, please let me know via this same email link.
Your calls can make the difference!

Thank you for helping us advocate for services to help people become independent!

Give. Advocate. Volunteer. LIVE UNITED.

Rachel Baker

Rachel is the Web Experience Manager for United Way of Metropolitan Chicago.