Comments for United Way of Metro Chicago http://www.uw-mc.org Education, Income and Health Tue, 07 Feb 2012 18:27:05 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Comment on North Shore United Way Food Drive by Natalia Maciej http://www.uw-mc.org/2012/northshorefooddrive/#comment-11252 Natalia Maciej Tue, 07 Feb 2012 18:27:05 +0000 http://www.uw-mc.org/?p=16770#comment-11252 My name is Natalia Maciej and I am a Personal Banker at BMO Harris Bank in Evanston (2821 Central ST). We encourage everyone to drop off at our location. Thank you in advance for your generousity and support! I look forward to meeting all of you! My name is Natalia Maciej and I am a Personal Banker at BMO Harris Bank in Evanston (2821 Central ST). We encourage everyone to drop off at our location. Thank you in advance for your generousity and support! I look forward to meeting all of you!

]]> Comment on North Shore United Way Food Drive by Alan Kossof http://www.uw-mc.org/2012/northshorefooddrive/#comment-11203 Alan Kossof Sat, 04 Feb 2012 15:51:58 +0000 http://www.uw-mc.org/?p=16770#comment-11203 Proud to be a supporter! If you live near Teddies or Frequent Waukegan Rd. on the North Shore, We encourage you to drop off @ our Salon! Proud to be a supporter! If you live near Teddies or Frequent Waukegan Rd. on the North Shore, We encourage you to drop off @ our Salon!

]]> Comment on Get to Know Wendy DuBoe, Interim CEO of United Way of Metropolitan Chicago by Joe Jerz http://www.uw-mc.org/2012/get-to-know-wendy-duboe-interim-ceo-of-united-way-of-metropolitan-chicago/#comment-10846 Joe Jerz Wed, 11 Jan 2012 00:12:52 +0000 http://www.uw-mc.org/?p=16336#comment-10846 Fantastic profile piece, Wendy! Congratulations on the new role, you'll do great! Best to you, Joe Fantastic profile piece, Wendy! Congratulations on the new role, you’ll do great! Best to you,
Joe

]]> Comment on YLS Festivus Dreams Come True by Joe Jerz http://www.uw-mc.org/2011/yls-festivus-dreams-come-true/#comment-10475 Joe Jerz Tue, 20 Dec 2011 16:38:44 +0000 http://www.uw-mc.org/?p=16098#comment-10475 Amazaing party and story! Glad I could attend, thanks for a wonderful evening! Amazaing party and story! Glad I could attend, thanks for a wonderful evening!

]]> Comment on It Gets Better! by Joe Jerz http://www.uw-mc.org/2011/it-gets-better/#comment-10474 Joe Jerz Tue, 20 Dec 2011 16:37:32 +0000 http://www.uw-mc.org/?p=16107#comment-10474 Wonderful and inspiring video!! Bravo to you all!! Wonderful and inspiring video!! Bravo to you all!!

]]> Comment on Say YESS To Education by Paul Dean http://www.uw-mc.org/2011/say-yess-to-education/#comment-10461 Paul Dean Mon, 19 Dec 2011 22:28:27 +0000 http://www.uw-mc.org/?p=16132#comment-10461 On behalf of Family Service, I want to thank United Way for our wonderful partnership that has enabled us to bring services to the junior high school in Highwood! It was with United Way's support that we began the Nuestro Center in 1997 to bring assistance to the elementary school children and their families, the Latino Youth Initiative in 2008 to bring support to the high school youth and families, and now the YESS program will allow Family Service to provide a continuum of care from 1st through 12th grade. The heart of all of these programs is the After-School Homework Clubs where students can get one-on-one assistance with classroom work and assignments. But these programs offer *so* much more: Health and Wellness Programs (such as healthy cooking classes and Zumba classes) to address issues such as the increasing diabetes and obesity rates among children and families; ESL, computer classes and job-seeking assistance so that parents can better support their families and their childrens' education; field trips so that families can experience what the wider Chicago area has to offer (all of our families are below the poverty level and few have the resources to leave the Highwood area); cultural celebrations that mix Latino and American aspects of celebrations (such as with our yearly "Three Kings Event", a combined Mexican/American Christmas celebration of the Three Wise Men); and so much more. Not only has United Way analyzed the most critical social problems, such as education and income, but they have also researched those geographical areas that show the greatest need and have targeted their funds to have the greatest impact in those areas. United Way has also designed the Education Initiative on the best educational research utilizing the Community Schools Model, which allows the school and social service organizations to partner together and leverage resources for the maximum benefit of children, youth and their families. Again, we are grateful to the United Way for their well-deigned plans that are already bearing great results for our children and families. For example, at our Nuestro Center our goal is to have at least 85% our children achieve at least a "C" in all of their major subjects, including Language Arts, Math, Science and Social Studies. This part year we exceeded our goal by having over 90% of our children achieve this! As the principal of the elementary school said at our recent Nuestro Center Grand Opening, she would "hate to think of where these children and families would be without the help they receive at the Center". We at Family Service would hate to think of how we would sustain services to our children and families without the wonderful support of United Way! Sincerely, Paul Dean, MS, LCSW, MA Executive Director Family Service: Education, Prevention and Counseling On behalf of Family Service, I want to thank United Way for our wonderful partnership that has enabled us to bring services to the junior high school in Highwood! It was with United Way’s support that we began the Nuestro Center in 1997 to bring assistance to the elementary school children and their families, the Latino Youth Initiative in 2008 to bring support to the high school youth and families, and now the YESS program will allow Family Service to provide a continuum of care from 1st through 12th grade.

The heart of all of these programs is the After-School Homework Clubs where students can get one-on-one assistance with classroom work and assignments. But these programs offer *so* much more: Health and Wellness Programs (such as healthy cooking classes and Zumba classes) to address issues such as the increasing diabetes and obesity rates among children and families; ESL, computer classes and job-seeking assistance so that parents can better support their families and their childrens’ education; field trips so that families can experience what the wider Chicago area has to offer (all of our families are below the poverty level and few have the resources to leave the Highwood area); cultural celebrations that mix Latino and American aspects of celebrations (such as with our yearly “Three Kings Event”, a combined Mexican/American Christmas celebration of the Three Wise Men); and so much more.

Not only has United Way analyzed the most critical social problems, such as education and income, but they have also researched those geographical areas that show the greatest need and have targeted their funds to have the greatest impact in those areas. United Way has also designed the Education Initiative on the best educational research utilizing the Community Schools Model, which allows the school and social service organizations to partner together and leverage resources for the maximum benefit of children, youth and their families.

Again, we are grateful to the United Way for their well-deigned plans that are already bearing great results for our children and families. For example, at our Nuestro Center our goal is to have at least 85% our children achieve at least a “C” in all of their major subjects, including Language Arts, Math, Science and Social Studies. This part year we exceeded our goal by having over 90% of our children achieve this! As the principal of the elementary school said at our recent Nuestro Center Grand Opening, she would “hate to think of where these children and families would be without the help they receive at the Center”. We at Family Service would hate to think of how we would sustain services to our children and families without the wonderful support of United Way!

Sincerely,

Paul Dean, MS, LCSW, MA
Executive Director
Family Service: Education, Prevention and Counseling

]]> Comment on What it Takes to Restore a City by Bunmi http://www.uw-mc.org/2011/saving-a-city/#comment-10428 Bunmi Mon, 25 Jul 2011 21:04:56 +0000 http://www.uw-mc.org/?p=13951#comment-10428 I think a starting point is providing communities like Englewood, sustainable options for economic development. This means finding creative ways to get companies and individuals to bring businesses (which bring jobs) to the community. Arts programs are awesome but another non-profit that employs 5 people isn't going to bring the stability that the community needs. It bothers me when I see big box companies or new industries going into communities that already have a strong foundation. Someone needs to be bold enough to say, let's take this vacant building or lot and turn it into a business center or grocery store. Communities thrive on a healthy combination of business, arts&culture, and leisure activities. I think a starting point is providing communities like Englewood, sustainable options for economic development. This means finding creative ways to get companies and individuals to bring businesses (which bring jobs) to the community. Arts programs are awesome but another non-profit that employs 5 people isn’t going to bring the stability that the community needs. It bothers me when I see big box companies or new industries going into communities that already have a strong foundation. Someone needs to be bold enough to say, let’s take this vacant building or lot and turn it into a business center or grocery store. Communities thrive on a healthy combination of business, arts&culture, and leisure activities.

]]> Comment on Chicago’s Pride Parade: We Are All Part of the Rainbow by Seth http://www.uw-mc.org/2011/chicagos-pride-parade-we-are-all-part-of-the-rainbow/#comment-10337 Seth Tue, 28 Jun 2011 19:06:00 +0000 http://www.uw-mc.org/?p=13439#comment-10337 Had to share in case others were not aware that the rainbow flag has additional meaning. The rainbow was chosen because the colors mean something! Colors were designed to symbolize: red (life), orange (healing), yellow (sunlight), green (nature), blue (harmony), and purple/violet (spirit). Two colors were removed early on. The removed colors stood for sex (pink) and art/magic (turquoise). And don't forget Judy's song, "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" is a nod to coming out. Had to share in case others were not aware that the rainbow flag has additional meaning. The rainbow was chosen because the colors mean something! Colors were designed to symbolize: red (life), orange (healing), yellow (sunlight), green (nature), blue (harmony), and purple/violet (spirit). Two colors were removed early on. The removed colors stood for sex (pink) and art/magic (turquoise).

And don’t forget Judy’s song, “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” is a nod to coming out.

]]> Comment on Calling on Chicago to DO GOOD This Summer by Heidi Massey http://www.uw-mc.org/2011/calling-on-chicago-to-do-good-this-summer/#comment-10274 Heidi Massey Wed, 25 May 2011 02:54:57 +0000 http://www.uw-mc.org/?p=13260#comment-10274 This is a wonderful happening. Do you know that the 2011 Kids in Need summit will be in Chicago in June? They are an organization that provides school supplies to needy kids. AWESOME organization. Would be great to coordinate/collaborate with them...get them some great news coverage and some city of Chicago participation. This is a wonderful happening. Do you know that the 2011 Kids in Need summit will be in Chicago in June? They are an organization that provides school supplies to needy kids. AWESOME organization. Would be great to coordinate/collaborate with them…get them some great news coverage and some city of Chicago participation.

]]> Comment on Join Us For Our Community Celebration by AMatzke http://www.uw-mc.org/2011/join-our-community-celebration/#comment-10003 AMatzke Mon, 16 May 2011 16:15:40 +0000 http://www.uw-mc.org/?p=12819#comment-10003 Hi Bob- You can email Melissa Kast (Melissa.Kast@uw-mc.org) and reference the letter. She will make sure you're on the guest list. Hi Bob- You can email Melissa Kast (Melissa.Kast@uw-mc.org) and reference the letter. She will make sure you’re on the guest list.

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