Letter from the President

Dear United Way Friends and Supporters,

As a network of support through United Way of Metropolitan Chicago, United Way of DuPage/West Cook will focus on LIVE UNITED 2020, a decade-long vision to transform communities of greatest need throughout our region. United Way has embarked on this bold journey; one that links solid, research-based community strategies to the resources needed to implement them. By connecting families to the building blocks of independence and economic stability – Income, Education and Health – United Way will continue to ensure people have the tools they need to thrive. United Way is mobilizing all of its assets: funding, volunteers, legislative advocacy, technology, in-kind resources and corporate partnerships to deliver transformative, measureable results.  By giving, advocating and volunteering you become a critical part of the movement.

Education: Over the next ten years United Way is focusing across our six-county region on preparing 50,000 kids to graduate from high school. Education programs focus on early childhood and middle school support programs that ensure children and students stay on track for graduation while engaging their parents and community as a critical factor in their success.

Income: DuPage/West Cook’s unemployment rate fluctuates greatly. Starting with an average of about 3.8% at the beginning of the millennium, that rate has more than doubled to 9% in 2010. By advancing economic stability for 100,000 households over the next ten years, we will help low-income adults become more financially literate, find and keep jobs, and generate savings.  Through these interventions, United Way is creating opportunities and putting financial stability within the reach of people who seek to become self-sufficient.

Health: Poor health negatively impacts every aspect of a person’s life. By connecting over 200,000 people with available, preventative health services over the next ten years, we will decrease a person’s chance of developing a preventable disease and give them practical help when they experience health problems.

Crisis: Across the six-county region, United Way will answer the immediate crisis needs of one million people every year by providing shelter, food and freedom of violence.  Crisis programs not only provide these critical interventions but also connect clients to continued support systems in order to keep from returning to crisis.

This year, UWDWC is focusing on the ever-increasing education needs in our region. Without access to high quality education, research shows people and communities are less financially stable and substantially more likely to experience poor health outcomes. The strategy is twofold: ensuring children 0-5 years old enter school ready to learn, and helping students transition successfully into 9th grade via community school interventions for middle school students. Through United Way’s Education Initiative we are building a foundation through our school systems where children are able to learn, thrive and graduate from high school on time, ready for college and work. In DuPage/West Cook, United Way will focus on the communities with the greatest need and capacity to bring the vision to life while continuing to support people in crisis across our footprint and providing the resources to keep themselves out of crisis.

Join the movement. GIVE, ADVOCATE and VOLUNTEER to help United Way continue to meet the needs of our communities by mobilizing caring people like yourselves to invest where your resources are needed most.

Sincerely,

Phil Lorenzini

United Way of DuPage/West Cook Board President

Give to United Way of DuPage/West Cook

Checks payable to United Way may be mailed to:
United Way of DuPage/West Cook
P.O. Box 5317
Oak Brook, IL 60522