We welcome you to join us in our annual North Shore Food Drive, February 11th-18th, 2012!

More than 25 local businesses and organizations are participating as “collection sites” for your donation across the region. Last year, North Shore United Way (NSUW) volunteers collected 10,000 lbs of donations for local pantries from community members like you. With need on the rise, help NSUW volunteers make this year an even greater success. Your donation will make a difference for a family in need.

2012 North Shore Food Drive donations will benefit seven North Shore pantries: Northfield Township Food Pantry (Glenview), New Trier Township Pantry (Winnetka), West Deerfield Township (Deerfield), Church of the Holy Spirit (Lake Forest), Moraine Township Pantry (Highland Park), Salvation Army (Evanston), and Harvest Food Pantry (Evanston).

Pantries report that, in addition to food needs, requests for more expensive toiletries have increased in the past few years. Items such as laundry detergent, feminine products, and toothpaste are welcome parts of any traditional food drive. A full list of pantry needs is avaliable below.

For questions about the North Shore Food Drive, please contact North Shore United Way at 847-674-2668. See below to find the collection location nearest you. Thank you for your support!

Food items requested:

[Unopened and unexpired cans and boxes (no glass, please)]
- Canned fruits and vegetables (with pull tops, if possible)
- 100% fruit and vegetable juice (cans or plastic bottles only)
- Personal care items (feminine products, toothpaste, diapers, shampoos & conditioner, laundry detergent)
- Baby food
- Canned meat, fish & poultry (tuna, spam, ham, chicken)
- Pasta & sauce, bagged rice, bagged pinto beans
- Chips and cookies
- Peanut butter and jelly
- Salad dressing and condiments
- Hamburger Helper, stuffing, mashed potatoes
- Evaporated or powdered milk (in packets)

Collection box locations:

Deerfield Village Hall 465 Elm Street, Deerfield
Deerfield Park District 836 Jewett Pk.Drive, Deerfield
Deerfield Bank & Trust 660 Deerfield Road, Deerfield
At Properties 1821 Benson Avenue, Evanston
McGaw YMCA, Lobby 1000 Grove Street, Evanston
Harris Bank 2821 Central Street, Evanston
Glencoe Nails 342 Tudor Court, Glencoe
Glencoe Park District at the Takiff Center 999 Green Bay Road, Glencoe
The Comprehensive Group 3703 W. Lake Street, Glenview
Glenview Park District 1215 Waukegan Road, Glenview
Glenview Park District Fitness Center 2400 Chestnut Avenue, Glenview
Equinox Fitness 799 Central Street, Highland Park
Sunset Foods 1812 Green Bay Road, Highland Park
HP Recreation Center 1207 Park Avenue, Highland Park
Lake Bluff Library 123 East Scranton Avenue, Lake Bluff
Northern Trust 265 E. Deerpath, Lake Forest
Lake Forest Hlth & Fitness 1200 N. Westmooreland, Lake Forest
Lake Forest High School 1285 N. McKinley Road, Lake Forest
Gorton Center 400 E Illinois Road, Lake Forest
Northbrook Bank & Trust 1100 Waukegan Road, Northbrook
West Northbrook Bank/ Wintrust 875 Sanders Road, Northbrook
Teddie Kossof’s 281 Waukegan Road, Northfield
Northview Bank 245 Waukegan Road, Northfield
No. Shore Comm. Bank 1145 Wilmette Avenue, Wilmette
Gold Medal Cleaners 1123 Central Avenue, Wilmette
Northern Trust 62 Green Bay Road, Winnetka
Round Table Books 572 Lincoln Avenue, Winnetka
The Private Bank 1000 Green Bay Road, Winnetka
At Properties 30 Green Bay Road, Winnetka
Winnetka Community House 620 Lincoln Avenue, Winnetka

View North Shore Food Drive in a larger map

Blog post submitted on behalf of Mary Teeter, Development Manager at North Shore United Way. 

North Shore United Way (NSUW) is proud to announce Jonathan Webb, of Evanston, and Buddy Hoffman, of Deerfield, have joined the NSUW Board of Directors. Webb and Hoffman are joining 23 board members from across the North Shore region. The Board is responsible for more than $1.3 million allocated to local health and human service agencies annually, as well as programs serving North Shore residents in crisis.

Jonathan Webb, a native of Philadelphia, PA, currently serves as the Community Health Division Manager for the City of Evanston. Webb manages programs on important issues including obesity, tobacco, diabetes, cancer screenings, children’s dentistry and family insurance programs. He is staff support on the city’s Mental Health Board. Webb also serves on the Board of Directors for the Evanston Community Development Corporation and was previously a member of the McGaw YMCA’s Program and Membership Committee (currently serving on their Residence Committee).

Webb received a Bachelor of Science Degree from Virginia Union University and a Masters Degree in Public Health from George Washington University. He and his wife, Lara, live in Evanston with their two children. Webb also volunteers as an Assistant Coach for the Federation of African American Men’s Youth Basketball league.

Buddy Hoffman is currently a Managing Member at Mastermind Advisory Council, Partner at Buddy Hoffman CPA, and an independent consultant to privately-held middle market companies in various industries. In the past, he has served as Audit Director at Deloitte and Partner at Grant Thornton and successor firm. Hoffman has a strong background in accounting and finance. He has advised CEOs of national and international high growth companies, including lending his expertise to projects in the U.K., Germany, Spain, Romania, France, Israel, India, Norway, Netherlands and China.

Hoffman graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign with an accounting degree. He and his wife, Alysa, live in Deerfield. Hoffman enjoys traveling, biking and the St. Louis Cardinals baseball team.

Photo Credit: Luis Argerich

Amanda Zhou, a senior at Lake Forest High School, is President of the North Shore United Way Youth Board and truly a community leader. Amanda, Youth Board Vice President Katie Schott, and Youth Board members are organizing Lake Forest’s first Cross-Town Classic, an ice hockey game between the Lake Forest High School Scouts and Lake Forest Academy Caxys at 5:30pm on January 22 at the Winter Club of Lake Forest.

Here’s what Amanda has to say about this exciting event, and being a part of the United Way family.

“This Sunday is going to be the First Cross-Town Classic Ice Hockey Game United Way and Lake Forest has ever hosted. I absolutely cannot wait to see the finalized event – it will be a culmination of the hard work of many people. The members of the Youth Board have made a huge effort to put this event together, just as the community has really opened up to support the Cross-Town Classic.

The Youth Board has grown to be a significant part of my life. I admit, I’m in a lot of different activities, but none of them are as rewarding as United Way. United Way presents me with an opportunity to make impact in my community. Few activities, related to school or not, give students the occasion to completely plan a fundraiser from conception to completion. I don’t think many students are aware of just how many details have to go into planning an event, but the Cross-Town Classic has given us a taste of the real world. United Way has given my peers and me a fun, enjoyable way to help our community.

I am so thankful and proud to be a part of United Way. I find that it is extremely easy to get wrapped up in the “Lake Forest Bubble” and forget that there are bigger problems in life than what to wear to school, your grades, or the drama amongst your friends. Being in United Way brings about a sense of perspective on my life and gives me the opportunity to give back to the community. The Cross-Town Classic is our first major event for this year, which we hope will be a successful beginning to a wonderful year.”

The Youth Board is a student-run committee dedicated to service projects for local non-profits, and fundraising to support the Jean Youngs Baddeley Fund. Students get first-hand experience on reviewing and providing grants to programs addressing the needs of youth in crisis in the North Shore Region. Throughout the year, the Youth Board organizes special fundraising events including a spring community Walk-a-thon.

In addition to leading the NSUW Youth Board, Amanda swims for both club and varsity high school teams and plays the cello. She participates on the Math Team, Scholastic Bowl and Science Olympiad.

To purchase tickets for the Cross-Town Classic, click here.

North Shore United Way’s (NSUW) Youth Board is proud to host the first Lake Forest Ice Hockey Cross-Town Classic between the Lake Forest Varsity Scouts and the Lake Forest Academy Varsity Caxys on Sunday, January 22 at 5:30 p.m. at the Winter Club of Lake Forest. All proceeds from the evening will go towards the Board.

“The Youth Board is an amazing organization to be a part of because it enables students to collaborate with their peers to make a real impact in our community,” said Youth Board President Amanda Zhou. “The Cross-Town Classic is especially exciting for me because the idea for the event came entirely from the students and I’m very grateful that our community has been extremely supportive.”

The NSUW Youth Board is a committee comprised of local students ages 12-18 who actively fundraise and volunteer in the community. The Board is dedicated to completing service projects for local non-profits and raising funds to support the Jean Youngs Baddeley Fund, which provides grants to programs serving the crisis needs of youth in our community.

“The Youth Board is a great way for us to engage the next generation in our community,” said Lorelei Beaucaire, Chief Professional Officer at North Shore United Way. “Students are learning about the real needs across our region and helping address those needs through volunteer projects, fundraising and advocacy. It’s inspiring to have the talents of young people – like Youth Board President Amanda Zhou and Vice President Katie Schott – helping United Way make a difference in our communities.”

The event begins at 5:30 p.m. at Winter Club of Lake Forest at956 North Sheridan Road. The evening includes Mites on Ice, Captains Shoot-Out, “Chuck the Puck” competition, as well as premier event merchandise sales. Parking is limited; please consider carpooling or using the train station’s north parking lot.

Click here to purchase tickets for the Cross-Town Classic. 

NWSUW volunteers ready to serve Thanksgiving dinner to community members

Submitted on behalf of Jessica Lesniak, Marketing and Communications Specialist at Northwest Suburban United Way.

Spirits soared as Northwest Suburban United Way held their fourth annual Community Thanksgiving Dinners. The dinners took place simultaneously on Tuesday, November 22, 2011. When the clock struck 5 p.m., community guests and their family members made their way into Bristol Court Banquets in Mount Prospect and Holiday Inn Chicago North Shore in Skokie.

As the years go by, the numbers attending the dinner increase. This year, NWSUW served 500 warm meals to community members in need. They are thankful that so many people want to be apart of this holiday and help serve traditional food while spreading the Thanksgiving spirit.

Zumba dancers from the Palatine Opportunity Center, one of Northwest Suburban United Way’s many agency partners, provided a fun dancing activity for those in attendance at Bristol Court Banquets. A clown also performed and provided entertainment for children.

Events such as the Community Thanksgiving Dinner help connect people in need with resources during the holidays. This was truly a community dinner, with guests who live and work in the community and volunteers who want to help their neighbors by serving food and extending the spirit of Thanksgiving!

United Way of DuPage/West Cook hosted its first community event on October 26th at Pleasant Home in Oak Park where Wendy DuBoe, Chief Operating Officer at United Way of Metropolitan Chicago, spoke to local donors, partner organizations, board members and volunteers about United Way’s 10-year vision, LIVE UNITED 2020.

The focus of the event was to present how United Way is advancing the common good in our three focus areas income, education and health throughout the Oak Park/River Forest/Forest Park community. Of United Way’s $9.3 million regional investment, United Way is investing $300,000 of that into Oak Park/River Forest/Forest Park, impacting more than 30,000 individuals in this region.

Contributing attendance consisted of Oak Park and River Forest early childhood partner organizations United Way will be working with over the next several years including Elizabeth Lippit, Executive Director at The Children’s Clinic, Kathy Kern Executive Director at Parenthesis, Lynda Schueler, Executive Director at West Suburban PADS, Mena Boulanger, Oak Park/River Forest Community Foundation Board President, and Gavin Morgan, Oak Park Township Manager.

I believe these community events are important for our donors, volunteers and partner organizations so they can not only understand the impact of what United Way dollars are doing, but understand what our strategy is for the next 10 years, why we are headed in this direction and what their support can do.

The Southeast DuPage/Health Initative (SDHI), now in its second year of operation, is a highly innovative collaboration between Access DuPage, the DuPage Community Clinic, the DuPage Health Department and United Way of Dupage/West Cook that continues to help close the gap in access to holistic, affordable health services throughout DuPage County.

SDHI has connected over 2,200 low-income adults to a trusted medical home and improved the health of communities across the entire county, just in the past year. Of those adults, over 1,100 have utilized services at the clinic, and about 20% have utilized additional coordinated services, such as mental health or case management for additional obstacles they may face. Patients received over 13,000 affordable prescription medications in the past year.

Because of the model’s effective care of the uninsured, SDHI has created new partnerships with local health services to increase access to dental services, ophthalmology and other critical specialty care. The program is forging new partnerships with local health students as well, including mental health clinical partnerships with United Way partner agency Metropolitan Family Services.

To learn more about this initiative click here.

When we think of advocacy we may think of marching up to the capitol in Springfield, signage in hand, with a catchy chant against budget cuts. We may pose the question: what effort in advocacy creates meaningful impact? How do we get the attention of a legislator—and make our voice heard?

Here at North Shore United Way, we didn’t make the trip to Springfield but we are making our voices heard. Earlier this month, we visited Congressman Robert Dold’s office to discuss important issues affecting our area and his constituents in the 10th District.

Lorelei Beaucaire (North Shore United Way Chief Professional Officer), Jack Kaplan (Director of Public Policy & Advocacy for UWMC & UW of Illinois) and I sat down with Congressman Dold’s District Representative, Eric Miller.

Lorelei, Jack and I shared our stance on the charitable tax deduction (Congress is considering tax law changes that would reduce giving to charities!), as well as the work of our local United Way. We highlighted LIVE UNITED 2020 and education issues in one of our United Way Partner Communities, Highland Park/Highwood. We also discussed our work in the areas of income and health, and how that ties into the regional effort to improve the lives of children and families across our region.

In our conversation, I could start to see how the lines DO connect, how our three issue areas coalesce naturally to form a platform of critical support for families across our region. This is something that resonated with Congressman Dold’s staff – they wanted to know how we are caring about the well being of children and families in the 10th District. In the course of one meeting, we saw the real common thread – GIVE. ADVOCATE.VOLUNTEER. – all come together. The Congressman’s staff said they had never realized the significant force United Way has as a community partner and convener of social services-and that they definitely want to be a part of our movement.

As we move forward in this new relationship, we will seek opportunities of engagement at all levels-leveraging resources, bridging community partners, and most of all, sharing positive change in the community. We are ALL a part of this change. Advocacy is about voice, about a stance, and most of all, a message that stands by strong, commitment, and intent for the common good.

Posted on behalf of Jessica Vlahogiannis, Program Manager at North Shore United Way.

Posted on behalf of Ghida S. Neukirch, Deputy Village Manager, Village of Buffalo Grove & Northwest Suburban United Way Executive Board Member.

I’m like many of you. I work full time, I have two kids, and I try to volunteer to make my community a better place to be. Although summer was wonderful, I’m glad it’s September and my kids are back to school. Learning, exploring and having fun in the process – I like the structured schedule of school. Undoubtedly, it can be challenging to balance marriage, work, kids, and life.

I completed what seemed like 1,000 forms for schools and day care, and wrote so many checks I now have to re-order. At parent orientation, we paid for my daughter’s participation in field trips and the teacher spent more time talking about financial assistance than describing the trips that the class would take. Similarly, I spoke to a mom who expressed concern because she wanted to sign up her child for a program at school which cost $12 but wasn’t sure how she was going to pay for it given all of her other expenses. Times are tough. I have volunteered with United Way for more than 16 years because I believe in their mission and know that they are supporting valuable programs. There are people in need all around us – neighbors, friends, family, colleagues, and the person who may be sitting next to my child at school. For me, the greatest thing about United Way is they are providing support for adults, kids, seniors, families and everyone in between.

Through LIVE UNITED 2020 United Way will help 50,000 underperforming middle school kids enter high school ready to succeed. We will do this by helping children be prepared to enter kindergarten, through at home visitation programs, and ensure that children have a smooth transition from middle school through high school, through community school programming.

I’m blessed to have a wonderful job and an amazing family. For individuals and families that are going through a challenging period, I hope we can all promote that through United Way, there is comfort that every dollar raised is invested into the critical needs of the community – all focusing on education, income & health.

After a year of planning, United Way of DuPage/West Cook, in partnership with United Way of Metropolitan Chicago, was preparing to launch LIVE UNITED 2020, a decade long vision to transform communities of greatest need throughout our region. At the same time, the OfficeMax Foundation was gearing up to make one of their largest philanthropic investments into a school sponsorship. United Way had recently identified the Berwyn region as one of its target communities.

In a neighborhood where 63% of students are low income and will be entering a high school with the lowest graduation rate in west Cook County, Freedom Middle School and Youth Crossroads are partnering to create the Berwyn Community School Initiative, a program aimed at providing the highest quality classroom and extracurricular activities to enhance the lives of students and their families.

Following the community school model, The Berwyn Community School Initiative ensures families and students are provided with an array of on-site programming and services that are essential to the building blocks of a quality life- income, education and health. Programs and services range from tutoring and mentoring to tax assistance and nutrition classes. Each community school is unique to its respective community as the programs are developed through different partnerships with agencies, businesses, families, students and residents. While the programs and services of a community school are fundamental to improving a population, they can also be expensive and difficult to fund.

Understanding the potential of the community school model and the necessity for funding, OfficeMax Incorporated, headquartered in Naperville, stepped up to the plate to adopt and help maintain a community school in one of United Way’s target Partner Communities. Recognizing United Way’s expertise in identifying community needs and delivering results, OfficeMax granted $1 million over three years to support Freedom Middle School and Youth Crossroads and back their mission to improve education by boosting classroom and community services.

“We are excited to partner with United Way on its Education Initiative and to be the first company to adopt a community school,” explained Carolynn Brooks, President of OfficeMax Charitable Foundation. “Education is an important cause for OfficeMax because, as a leading office products supplier, we interact with the education community on a daily basis. When we help improve education, we can help improve entire communities.”

On August 22, United Way and OfficeMax surprised the Principal of Freedom Middle School, Jim Calabrese, and the Executive Director of Youth Crossroads, Dave Terrazino, with a check addressed to the Berwyn Community School Initiative. This money will allow Freedom Middle School and Youth Crossroads to supply their students and families with the resources and education needed to achieve success.

“One of the things we know is that it is extremely difficult to catch students up once they have fallen behind without a tremendous amount of resources,” said Jim Calabrese, Principal at Freedom Middle School. “With the help of this funding, we are able to offer an after school program to do just that- catch students up in time for high school. The benefits are nearly endless for our students and in turn, our community.”