My family has always stressed the importance of giving back to those that have been less fortunate and may be in need. When I moved to Chicago 18 months ago, I wanted to find a way to make an immediate impact in the community where I lived and worked. One of my family members had served on his local United Way board and encouraged me to reach out to the organization here. In doing so, I stumbled upon the Young Leaders Society, signed up for a volunteer event, and the rest is history.

I continue to stay involved because I know our impact on the community is real, and the knowledge that I’ve been a part of that difference is truly rewarding. I’ve met some incredible people along the way and continue to learn from their stories. I’m currently a member of the Volunteer Committee and hope to expand my reach in the future. I think the thing I enjoy most about YLS involvement is the opportunity to work with other young professionals that share my values and want to make a difference in the community. The energy and enthusiasm for each YLS cause is infectious.

One of the most interesting experiences I have had with the United Way was the Give 5 Flash Mob event. The event was designed as a “public theater” event to help raise awareness about families in crisis in Chicago and draw attention to the United Way’s Give 5 campaign. Dozens of United Way volunteers simultaneously dropped their coats to reveal LIVE UNITED t-shirts and froze into living statues scattered throughout Daley Plaza. Flash Mob members struck a pose they found relevant to the cause and some grabbed signage with facts about families in crisis. It was one of my first experiences with the United Way and one that opened my eyes to the power of taking action.

A more recent YLS event that I enjoyed was when the Volunteer Committee partnered with the YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago to host a Fresh Produce Day for families in the West Humboldt Park area. We worked closely with the Kelly Hall YMCA staff and a number of other volunteer groups to package and distribute fresh produce to local families who wouldn’t otherwise have access to these types of foods. The opportunity to interact with those community directly impacted by our efforts was incredibly rewarding. The knowledge that I was able to help those families was truly empowering for me.

I LIVE UNITED by challenging others to find a cause for which they’re passionate and encouraging them to be a part of the change.

Jason Mueller
JP Morgan Chase
& YLS Volunteer Committee Member

By: Liz deAvila

On Thursday, Feb., 18, 11 Young Leaders Society (YLS) members took time out of their busy schedules to help high school students at the Bronzeville Chicago Youth Center prepare for the college scholarship application process. YLS members were joined by the Chicago Youth Center (CYC) College and Career Readiness staff. The mission of the Chicago Youth Center is to “invest in youth in underserved communities in Chicago to help them discover and realize their full potential.” By mentoring these young students, YLS members were able to help them maximize their chances of receiving a scholarship and a higher education.

The evening began by breaking into small groups with the students to review a sample scholarship application. YLS members shared insights with the students on their own college preparation and application process, and worked with the youth on developing ideas for their personal statements.

The groups also participated in brainstorming activities and discussed essay formatting. After assisting with the scholarship application, YLS members held one-on-one mock college scholarship interviews with each student. CYC staff videotaped some of the interviews to use in future college and career readiness counseling.

Toward the end of the event YLS members shared their observations from the mock interviews and encouraged the students to keep reaching for their goals.

“I have a loss of words with describing my feelings towards the mentoring event,” said Maceo Thompson, YLS member. “Twenty years ago, I was sitting at the other side of the table. My role at that time was to listen and absorb the wealth of knowledge, wisdom and experience from those who wanted to expose me to something more than my immediate surroundings. And, thanks to them, I learned that the city wasn’t limited to my community.”

The event at CYC was a wonderful opportunity for YLS members to spend quality time with students preparing for college, and it provided the students with an opportunity to ask our YLS members about their college experiences and career paths. To learn more about the event, check out a blog by Jasmine Shaw, YLS Communications Committee Vice Chair.

Congratulations to the winners of the United Way of Metro Chicago Leadership Givers Raffle.

In its 5th year, this unique program serves to reward our current Leadership Givers as well as to provide a powerful incentive for giving at the $1,000+ level. Participation in the Raffle continues to grow each year. More than 1,700 Leadership Givers from 118 companies throughout Chicagoland entered the Raffle to win 28 exciting prizes donated by 18 generous corporate sponsors.

The 2009 sponsors are Aon, AT&T, the Chicago White Sox, Deloitte, Ernst & Young, Fortune Brands, Inc., GE Capital, Harris Bank/BMO Capital Markets, ITW, KPMG, Motorola, National City Bank, now a part of PNC, GE NBC Universal, Nicor, Northern Trust, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Microsoft, and William Blair & Company.

To see the list of winners and their prizes, click here: 2009 Leadership Giver Raffle Winner List

A little about me explains why I LIVE UNITED. After ten years of military service, I followed my passion and sought employment in a nonprofit setting where I could make a positive impact on youth within my community. This led to a position working at a local United Way funded community center in Rockford, which provided educational and recreational programming for seniors and youth. This position was great because it afforded me an opportunity to see firsthand how United Way makes a difference, and instilled in me the desire to become a more committed member within my community. As a result, I become a mentor to a teenager whose mother was incarcerated, and saw his growth and understanding of making positive choices in his life.

After moving to Chicago, I knew it was my obligation to continue helping those in need. This desire led to my current employer, where our mission is providing a safe space, for youth to express themselves through the visual arts, and where we empower them to become positive leaders in their community. Seeing the impact we had, I realized I should be doing more. As a result, I jumped on United Way’s website and just happened to come across YLS. In that moment, I sent an email requesting information, and before the end of the week, I was a member of the Issue Awareness Committee, and I haven’t looked back since. During the past year, I have been part of a great team, helping bring programming on important social issues affecting YLS members and other residents of Chicago.

Being a member of YLS gives me the opportunity to LIVE UNITED through a range of volunteer activities. Since joining, my most memorable experience would be Healthy Kids Day at the Rauner YMCA. After participating on a tour of the facility, YLS members spent the day volunteering at different stations. It was a great time – engaging the children in relay races, distributing healthy snacks to families and assisting them in identifying healthy food options. Experiences like these and being able to see how I make a difference is what keeps me involved in YLS.

It’s great being part of such a dynamic group of individuals, committed to doing more than just watching from the sidelines!

Michael J. Harris
Little Black Pearl & YLS Issue Awareness Vice Chair

By: Brian Johns

In support of the YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago’s Fresh Produce Day, over 20 YLS members braved the cold temperatures on Saturday, February 6 outside the Kelly Hall YMCA to help distribute food and clothing to approximately 250 families in the West Humboldt Park neighborhood. Fresh Produce Day, which partners with The Greater Chicago Food Depository’s Mobile Food Pantry, is hosted at three YMCA locations throughout Chicago each month to deliver fresh fruits and vegetables, and sometimes clothing, to local families in need.

The morning began with volunteers sorting and organizing food from the Mobile Food Pantry truck. Volunteers also helped sort and organize a large amount of winter clothing, which was donated by patrons of Mission of Our Lady of the Angels and YLS members.

After the items were organized, volunteers assisted the recipient families as they made their way through the makeshift assembly line to gather their food and clothing.”The best part about volunteering for The Fresh Produce Day was the opportunity to meet the families and hear how grateful they were for the help I was providing,” Tim Petersen, Analyst Northern Trust and YLS Volunteer Committee member.

Kelly Hall YMCA opened in January of 2009 in the recreation center formerly used by Our Lady of Angels Catholic School with the goal of providing key services to the severely underserved community of West Humboldt Park.The Mobile Food Pantry is one of those key services and is the result of a successful partnership between Kelly Hall YMCA and the Mission of Our Lady of the Angels.

View photos

By: Mattie Wilson

On January 23, YLS members came out to the K.L.E.O Community Family Life Center in Washington Park to learn about an issue affecting the health and wellness of residents in many Chicago neighborhoods. The highlighted issue was Food Deserts, or rather how lack of access to healthy food- geographically and financially- affects the health of many Chicago residents. Over 30 YLS members heard from a panel of experts and then broke out into smaller, issue centered discussion groups.

The panel consisted of James M. Galloway, Regional Health Administrator for the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services; Dr. Hsin-Yi Chang, bariatric surgeon at Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital; Willie B. Cochran, Alderman of the 20th Ward; Emile Pendarvis, Director of Corporate and External Affairs for Centers for New Horizons, Inc.; and Pastor Torrey Barrett, Founder and Executive Director of the K.L.E.O. Center.

If you haven’t heard the topic of Food Deserts, or thought it was supposed to read ‘desserts’, you’re not alone. The topic of Food Deserts recently came into the public eye in July 2009 through a study by research and consultant group Mari Gallagher. The Chicago and Detroit based study pointed out geographic areas with less access to healthy food options and more access to junk food- basically an imbalance of choices. Areas with easier access to unhealthy food- many west and south side community areas in Chicago- were classified as Food Deserts.

“In our country, you need to pay a premium to eat healthy and stay healthy,” said YLS Member Leah Marshall. “This means that families who are most vulnerable and who could most stand to benefit the most from walkable neighborhoods, backyard gardens, and access to healthy food, are often the least likely to have them.”

Unless you live in a Food Desert, you may not fully understand the challenges some face when it comes to buying healthy food. If you can easily walk to a full service grocery store and have multiple options you most likely do not live in a Food Desert. Many YLS members live in areas full of healthy choices, so we explored the issue further through small breakout groups. The breakout groups focused on food costs, transportation issues, educating the public, health concerns and innovations to create change. It was inspiring to see the thought provoking questions and discussions that ensued.

“It was so energizing, therefore, to come together with like-minded community members and hear the ways in which individuals and organizations are turning challenges into opportunities,” said Marshall. “For example, the Center for New Horizons, under the leadership of Emile Pendarvis, has helped bring a “pizza garden” to Bronzeville elementary schools. Rather than getting their pizzas from the frozen food aisle, students are planting veggies and tomatoes and learning how to make pizzas with their own two hands – one small step in the direction of a healthier world.”

The YLS Issue Awareness Committee hopes you’ll join us at our future events, highlighting another area that affects health and wellness in Chicago. Thank you to everyone who came and contributed to such a successful event!

View photos

Why are volunteerism and philanthropy important to you?
I spent five years as a “Big Sister” and the influence my “Little Sister” had on me has been life changing. Since I’ve settled in Chicago, I’ve been working with the United Way, and I’m looking forward to finding a place to really dedicate my energy and support. I have been a Leadership Giver for the past five years, and I am inspired by the successful results of individuals that have been helped by the United Way.

Sandy Williams, Leadership Giver and Accounts Receivable Manager for the William Wrigley Jr. Company.

How long have you been giving to United Way?
I have contributed to the United Way for 35 years. When my nephew was young he often spent afternoons at the local United Way sponsored day care facility. It was the first time I experienced how integral United Way was to improving a community. The day care really opened my eyes to United Ways’ efforts to support the communities and individuals around them by customizing their programs; whether it was child care or a food bank.

Why do you see it as important to give to United Way?
I have seen what a positive change can come from the impact of the United Way’s programs, and I think it is critical to support that positive growth and development in every community.

What is your favorite part of living in Chicago?
Chicago is such a warm city, no I don’t mean the weather. I came to Chicago from the East Coast and the people here are very friendly, they will go out of their way to make a new person feel welcome. I love that Chicago is always doing something new and interesting; I never know what I’m going to find right outside my front door.

The state owes the University of Illinois $421 million. It owes its public schools another $564 million. A recent survey by the United Way of Metropolitan Chicago of more than 500 non-profits found that 59 percent were waiting on back payments from the state. Almost a third reported laying off more than 10 percent of their staff. 
Read full story.  

Nominations for the prestigious United Way Partner Awards are now being accepted. Applications are available online and must be submitted by February 15, 2010. Award winners will be recognized at the United Way Community Celebration Event on May 14, 2010.

The United Way Awards Program recognizes our extraordinary supporters who go above and beyond, and set the bar for what it means to LIVE UNITED. There are 17 awards to apply for, and several that do not require an application. We encourage all of our supporters to apply for one or more of these awards or nominate others.

Award applications can be found at http://www.uw-mc.org/campaign/awards/

United Way of Metropolitan Chicago has appointed George Brooks, President North Central Region, UPS; David B. Speer, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Illinois Tool Works Inc. and  Frederick H. Waddell, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Northern Trust Corporation to its board of directors. Speer will also serve as Vice Chairman of the Board.

“The generous spirit of our corporate leaders is always moving,” said Laura Thrall, United Way President and CEO. “Our new board members and the companies they represent have always shown a deep commitment and dedication to advancing the common good in our communities. I can think of no better leaders to serve on our board.”

The United Way of Metropolitan Chicago Board of Directors is responsible for setting policy and making the critical funding decisions that affect the network of programs and services that address metropolitan Chicago’s greatest needs, which include income, education and health.  Last year, the board approved $47 million for investment in community programs that improve lives and strengthen communities.