The three CEOs signed an open letter to the donors of America denouncing the "overhead ratio" as a valid indicator of nonprofit performance.  This marks the beginning of a campaign to correct the common misconception about the importance of a low overhead ratio.

The letter, published on a new website overheadmyth.com, states that "Overhead costs include important investments charities make to improve their work: investments in training, planning, evaluation, and internal systems--as well as their efforts to raise money so they can operate their programs.  When we focus solely or predominantly on overhead...we starve charities of the freedom they need to best serve the people and the communities they are trying to serve."  The entire letter is available here, as well as printed at the end of this article.

Join United Way of Elgin in spreading the word about this important topic. Visit overheadmyth.com for more information, including how to share this letter through your social media networks.  

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To the Donors of America:

We write to correct a misconception about what matters when deciding which charity to support.

The percent of charity expenses that go to administrative and fundraising costs—commonly referred to as “overhead”—is a poor measure of a charity’s performance.

We ask you to pay attention to other factors of nonprofit performance: transparency, governance, leadership, and results. For years, each of our organizations has been working to increase the depth and breadth of the information we provide to donors in these areas so as to provide a much fuller picture of a charity’s performance.

That is not to say that overhead has no role in ensuring charity accountability. At the extremes the overhead ratio can offer insight: it can be a valid data point for rooting out fraud and poor financial management. In most cases, however, focusing on overhead without considering other critical dimensions of a charity’s financial and organizational performance does more damage than good.

In fact, many charities should spend more on overhead. Overhead costs include important investments charities make to improve their work: investments in training, planning, evaluation, and internal systems—as well as their efforts to raise money so they can operate their programs. These expenses allow a charity to sustain itself (the way a family has to pay the electric bill) or to improve itself (the way a family might invest in college tuition).

When we focus solely or predominantly on overhead, we can create what the Stanford Social Innovation Review has called “The Nonprofit Starvation Cycle.” We starve charities of the freedom they need to best serve the people and communities they are trying to serve.

If you don’t believe us—America’s three leading sources of information about charities, each used by millions of donors every year—see the back of this letter for research from other experts including Indiana University, the Urban Institute, the Bridgespan Group, and others that proves the point.

So when you are making your charitable giving decisions, please consider the whole picture. The people and communities served by charities don’t need low overhead, they need high performance.

Thank you,

Art Taylor, President & CEO, BBB Wise Giving Alliance

Jacob Harold, President & CEO, GuideStar

Ken Berger, President & CEO, Charity Navigator

Each August, parents rush to the store to purchase the laundry list of supplies needed for their children’s upcoming school year.  Baskets and cart are filled with pens, pencils, folders, crayons, paper, and brand new backpacks.  But for many families in Elgin, back-to school shopping is rife with anxiety and fear as parents wonder how they will ever be able to provide the necessary supplies for all of their children. These families are often facing extreme financial difficulty, struggling to put food on the table let alone able to buy multiple packs of crayons and markers for all their children.

This is where Project Backpack steps in.

Project Backpack is a collaborative effort that evolved from the Continuous Learning Calendar’s annual back-to-school supply fair.  In 2010 the fair migrated to Elgin Community College and was expanded to include parents from the entire ECC district.  The fair allows parents of local school children to not only receive a backpack filled with supplies for EACH of their registered children but it also puts parents in touch with the multitude of social services available throughout the community.  

At the 2011 event there were over 5,000 people in line at one point. Project coordinators only had 2,000 backpacks to give out.  The math tells us that there are still many families whose needs we were unable to serve.  In 2013 we’d like to be able to send backpacks home with every family who waits in line.  

We cannot do this without the support of the community.

You can take ACTION to help by purchasing any of the supplies listed here on Friday, June 21st and dropping them off at any donation collection site. These sites will also be collecting supplies throughout the summer if you cannot do it on Juine 21st.  You can also make a monetary donation to the project to help offset the costs of the supplies that we purchase to make sure there is enough to go around.

You can also organize a donation drive at your own workplace—contact United Way of Elgin or register here and we’ll send a donation box to your workplace. This is an easy way to get coworkers involved in making a difference in Elgin. Boxes will be picked up on Friday, June 21st in support of United Way's Day of Action.

Remember, every pack of pencils helps.

Project Backpack is sponsored by: Elgin Community College (Student Life, Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society, Student Government, and Faculty Association), ECCP3, Community Crisis Center, Kane County Regional Office of Education, Kane County Teachers Credit Union, School Districts 300 and U-46, United Voices for Children, and United Way of Elgin.

Youth United Way Co-President Taylor Powers, a senior at Elgin High, said that everyone had a great time playing, and that she hopes the tournament can become a regular fundraising for local children's needs.

Prizes for the games were donated by Elgin High Booster Club, Al's Cafe, Chooch's Pizzeria, Elgin Public House, Mr. C's, Prairie Rock, Marcus Theaters and United Way of Elgin.  Thanks!

United Way of Elgin and FamilyWize Community Service Partnership, the nation's leading provider of free prescription drug discount cards, along with 1,000 other local United Ways today announced the milestone achievement of having helped more than 5 million people get medicine they otherwise would not have been able to afford.  Locally, 1,809 people have been directly helped by this program. 

“Saving people money on necessary prescriptions is vital to the health and well-being of our families and our community,” said Lynne Bosley, President, United Way of Elgin.  “Too often, not taking medicine you need because you can’t afford it begins a series of consequences that could start with disease progression and end with large medical bills or even bankruptcy.”  

Since 2005, FamilyWize, United Ways and pharmacies around the country have helped people stay healthy and productive in more than 95 percent of all U.S. counties. The partnership has provided free prescription discount cards that help people get the medicine they need, accounting for more than $500 million in direct savings on prescriptions. Patients in the Elgin area have saved $239,325 since the program began.

Dan Barnes, president and CEO of FamilyWize, noted the significance of reaching the $500 million milestone, explaining that, “We set an ambitious goal for our partnership - to help families save $1 billion on the cost of medicines by the end of 2015.  Now we’re halfway there.”

Studies show the partnership addresses a critical need.  According to Consumer Reports, Americans who are financially strapped tend to skip medicine or lower their dosages. A New England Journal of Medicine article reported that the cost of medicine not taken exceeds $100 billion each year on avoidable hospitalizations and $177 billion on additional healthcare costs.  And a Harvard University/CVS Caremark study shows that taking medicine as prescribed can save as much as $7,800 per patient annually, money that otherwise would be spent on emergency rooms, hospitalizations, tests and other procedures. Financial complications that often arise when necessary medicine isn’t taken as prescribed include absenteeism, job losses, mortgage forfeitures and bankruptcies.

“The United Way - FamilyWize partnership demonstrates how a grassroots initiative can help individuals and communities avoid such consequences,” Bosley added.  We provide these free prescription discount cards to local social service agencies, faith-based organizations, schools, community centers, local government and healthcare providers so everyone can get the medicine they need.

Cards are available through United Way of Elgin or FamilyWize.org websites or even by texting the word “family” to 700700.

Savings are often as high as 75% off the price charged without the card, which can be used for any FDA approved medicine at most pharmacies. With average savings of about $20 per prescription, the FamilyWize card often means families can avoid an unpleasant choice between getting medicine or buying food.

“People’s need for such assistance will not diminish with the Affordable Care Act and Healthcare Reform,” Barnes said, adding that “the Congressional Budget Office’s recent report on the “Effects of the Affordable Care Act on Health Insurance Coverage” estimate anywhere from 29-44 million will remain without insurance over the next ten years.”  

For more information about the free prescription cards, call United Way of Elgin at (847) 741-2259.  To compare discounted prices of prescriptions at nearby pharmacies or for more about the program, visit FamilyWize.org

The outing will be held at Randall Oaks Golf Club in West Dundee. Registration begins at 9:30AM with a 10:30AM shotgun start. Your $150 (per person) registration fee includes the cart rental, hotdog/brat lunch, the pig roast dinner, PLUS a goodie bag! Not a golfer? You can just join us for the dinner; those tickets are $40 each. Sponsorship opportunities are also available and listed below.

Registration Forms can be downloaded here.  Please contact Joe Saftig at 630-774-1144 with questions.

Grab some friends, make a foursome, and come join us for a day of golf, food, and fun while helping United Way improve lives in our community.  We hope to see you there!

SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES 

UWE Hole Sponsorship- $300 

A sponsor sign with company name and logo will be prominently displayed on the tee of a chosen hole. Plus, the sponsor’s name and logo will be displayed on the golf outing literature. 

UWE Lunch Sponsorship- $600 

Sponsor will have their company name and logo displayed around the clubhouse where lunch will be provided to each golfer. Each golfer will receive a lunch ticket for a hotdog or brat, chips, soda/beer. The sponsor’s name and logo will also be displayed on the golf outing literature. 

UWE Beverage Sponsorship- $750 

This sponsorship provides the opportunity to have sponsor’s name listed on the “beverage” koozie that will be handed out to each golfer at registration. Additionally, their name and logo will be displayed on the beverage carts and golf outing literature. 

UWE Warm-Up Sponsor (includes foursome)- $1500 

This sponsorship will allow for signs displaying company name and logo to be displayed at the registration table, as well as the putting green and driving range. Furthermore, company name or logo will be displayed on a gift of choice that will be given to each golfer at registration. 

UWE Golf Ball Sponsor (includes foursome)- $2000 

In providing the golf ball sponsorship, the sponsor’s company name and/or logo will appear on a three pack of golf balls that provided to each golfer at registration. Additionally, the sponsor’s company name and logo will appear on a sign at a designated tee box on the golf course, and recognition will be included in outing literature. 

UWE ROYAL SPONSOR (includes foursome)- $2500 

Make a MAJESTIC appearance on the golf course with this sponsorship! Sponsor’s company name and logo will appear at various locations throughout the golf course & practice facilities, inside the clubhouse, at dinner, in the outing literature, and on a gift of choice to be handed out to each golfer. 

Photo Credit: josh99smith via Compfight cc

The Dolly Parton Imagination library sends free books to Elgin-area children each month from birth through age five. Over 6,000 children have received books since the program started in February 2009. Learn more about the program.

Remember, if you or someone you know has a child under the age of five, they are eligible to register and receive free books! Register here.

Families who work and earn less than $50,270 from wages, self-employment or farming may be eligible for the Earned Income Tax Credit or EITC and free help preparing their tax return. Workers who qualify for EITC could receive larger refunds. It can mean up to $475 in EITC for people without children, and up to $5,891 for those with three or more qualifying children.  EITC varies by income, family size and filing status.  

Although an estimated four out of five eligible workers and families get the credit, one in five still miss it, either because they don't claim it when filing, or don't file a tax return. This is money that can make a difference. Last year, the credit returned close to $62 billion dollars to over 27 million workers nationally. In Elgin last year 508 workers qualified for the credit, and the average EITC amount was $1,708.

Unlike other tax credits, both EITC eligibility and the amount of tax credit you are eligible for is based on several factors. These include, the amount of your income, or combined incomes if married, whether you have qualifying children and how many. Workers without children also may qualify.

The credit is complex, but worth exploring. It's even more valuable if your state has a corresponding EITC tax credit—which Illinois does!  Last year in Illinois over 1 million workers qualified for the credit for a total of 2.35 BILLION returned dollars.

The online EITC Assistant at www.irs.gov/eitc can help determine your eligibility and estimate the amount of your credit. Free help preparing your return and claiming EITC is available at the Gail Borden Public Library through the Free Tax Prep Program. Volunteer certified tax preparers know the EITC eligibility and will make sure qualified workers get their credit. 

According to the IRS, rural and non-traditional families -- such as grandparents raising grandchildren -- childless workers, and non-English speaking taxpayers are among those who most frequently overlook the credit.

In School District U-46 schools 33% of incoming kindergarteners show literacy delays. 70% of these students have no access to a preschool education. Too many of our children are simply starting kindergarten unprepared to learn, and therefore are more likely to remain at an education disadvantage throughout their academic careers.  

EPEL’s message to parents is simple: GIVE ME 5. Parents should talk, play, read, do, and write with their young children, engaging them in multiple activities to promote the development and growth of a wide range of skills. Parents can find ideas for activities from each category in our Getting Kids Ready for Kindergarten Calendar, available in both English and Spanish and in this video, produced by the Gail Borden Library.

Last year, EPEL developed a one-year work plan and secured a grant to support collaboration building from IL Department of Human Services. EPEL is currently working on several projects to further develop the work plan including a professional conference on the role of collaboration in school readiness, set for late spring.

You can download the Elgin Partnership for Early Learning’s report for more information and how you can help promote early childhood education in Elgin. 

Consider Harold's Story

He is a long-time resident of Kane County, and was always active in the community, especially with his throwback rock band that played at local festivals and restaurants in the area. But a few years ago, he was in an accident that has since cost him nearly everything.

After the accident, his mobility was very limited, and he had significant back and neck pain. The debilitating injury also left him unable to work or drive. When he came for an appointment at Senior Services, he was struggling physically and financially. He was paying rent about $100 less than his monthly income, which left him little money for food and his necessary prescription medications. He was left with a choice that many seniors face—the choice between eating and being able to buy the medications he needs.

The case manager quickly discovered that there were several programs that this client qualified for that would make his financial situation much less strained. Senior Services Associates helped him apply for and receive Medicaid and Food Stamps. He also will no longer have to pay his $99 Medicare B premium, putting nearly $100 back into his budget every month. They helped him register for the Ride in Kane program and the Illinois Circuit Breaker to ensure the client has inexpensive and reliable transportation since he is unable to drive.

This client is just one of the many seniors in our community who you have helped. Like this man, many qualify for multiple aid programs, but they don’t know about them. Because of your contribution to United Way of Elgin, seniors are receiving the assistance they need at Senior Services Associates, opening up the way for people like Harold to become financially independent and stable. Thank you for helping Harold, and the 2,726 seniors like him who have received services because of your support during the first 6 months of the program.

Senior Services Associates Economically Stable Seniors Program

United Way of Elgin supports the Economically Stable Seniors program at Senior Services Associates. The program improves the quality of life for mature adults by helping them access the social services they need, including financial analysis to connect them with benefits due to them to enhance their income. Read more about this and other United Way of Elgin Income Programs.

Would you like to help? Make a donation now.

Formed in 1997, Youth United helps young people develop leadership skills and learn the value of volunteering for benefit of the community in which they live. The group meets once a month at the United Way of Elgin office. These volunteer members work on a monthly project for the whole group as well as ongoing projects for smaller groups or individuals throughout the month.

Judy Cabrera, United Way of Elgin board member, is the longtime sponsor of the group and arguably its strongest advocate. “Youth United is an organization that mines valuable and talented resources already existing in the community,” says Cabrera. “Tapping into their energy, enthusiasm and innate leadership is nothing but a golden opportunity.”

In 2012, Youth United students logged over 4,000 hours of volunteer service.  Every year they run the coat check and the silent auction at the PADS Dancing With The Stars and the Community Crisis Center’s Benefit Auction. They have also helped at the Green Expo, Centro de Informacion’s gala, Fiesta Salsa, Fox Trot, Art & Soul, Nightmare on Chicago Street, the KaBOOM! build, and the Boys & Girls Club of Elgin benefit—just to name a few!  Additionally, during the summer Youth United students work the concession stands for the Movies in the Park, earning funds to support future projects. In the fall, students hold a neighborhood food drive to gather supplies for the local food pantries, usually collecting several van loads worth. They also do a cookie bake each November for area soup kettles—students baked over 700 cookies in one day—and help sort and distribute the thousands of gifts donated to area children through the Community Crisis Center’s annual Toy Giveaway.

During each month, Youth United members are able to sign-up for additional small group volunteer activities. Ongoing projects include working one-on-one or in small groups with children at the Community Crisis Center as well as being Reading Buddies for preschool and kindergarten classes.

For more information on Youth United, call 847-741-2259. The next large group meeting will be held on March 11th, 2013 at 8 p.m. at the United Way of Elgin offices. 1797 N La Fox Street, South Elgin, IL 60177.

United Way works year-round in the Elgin area, partnering with individuals and organizations to find solutions to the challenges that a community may face. It strives to have the greatest impact through collaboration, community building and fund-raising. To make a donation or for more information, call United Way of Elgin at 847-741-2259.

Across the country, two-thirds of our 3rd graders aren’t reading on grade level, which means they're four times as likely to drop out of high school later on. And the outlook is even worse for disadvantaged students. A staggering 83% of 4th graders from low-income families don't read on grade level.  Local students fare better than the national average, but there is still a need for improvement.  In School District U-46, 41% of 3rd graders and 39% of 4th graders from low-income families are reading below standards.  

We all want opportunity for our children. But kids who don't read well by 3rd or 4th grade tend to fall farther behind, as they start reading to learn. Too many check out, drop out and fail to reach their potential. It's no exaggeration to say that helping kids read well can help us close achievement gaps, increase graduation rates, support our local economy and build a strong community.

Families, schools and communities have to work together. We have the power to change our nation’s future if we work together to help struggling readers in elementary school. Teachers can't do it alone. Families may not know exactly what to do to help their child read, or to spot a reading problem early on. 

But the truth is all of us can be part of the solution. You can read out loud to your child, or grandchild, tonight. You can enroll them in the Dolly Parton Imagination Library. You can volunteer to read to kids at a local child care center or elementary school through our Reading Buddies program. You can volunteer as a tutor or mentor, speak up at your local school board meeting, or donate books to your local library or after school program. Take action. Because change doesn’t happen without you.

Tell us how you are celebrating Read Across America Day on our Facebook page and remember to upload a photo of your reading activity.  

Here are just a few stories from our partners working in the community.

Easter Seals DuPage and Fox Valley Region

Maria who is almost three years old is receiving physical therapy in her home to address weakness and gross motor delays.  When Maria first started her walking was unstable and she had poor endurance.  She would rather sit than stay on her feet, ready to go, as most children that age would do. After a year of therapy provided by Easter Seals DuPage and Fox Valley Region she now developed improved strength, balance and coordination needed in gross motor play activities.  She received the help she needed to live an active life and enter school with the developmental skill needed to succeed.

One Hope United, Elgin Child and Family Resource Center

One Hope United’s Elgin’s Child and Family Care Center is providing opportunities for 275 children to grow and learn at their own pace.  The children from infants to preschoolers are given a variety of experiences that foster their developmental growth. The teachers provide quality care through nurturing interactions and by creating meaningful activities that are taught in a variety of methods to accommodate all of the children.  Currently six students are getting the extra services they need to have a chance at being successful in their education and to bring their development to their age level.  

YWCA Elgin

When little Javier began attending ESL preschool at the YWCA Elgin he was very shy and would often hide behind his mother, hardly ever talking.  With gentle encouragement in the classroom, Javier has become more comfortable and verbal.  He is making progress in his social and academic developments. Both his teacher and mother are very proud of the progress.  He is only one example of the 45 students in his classroom reaching their developmental expectations.

Sixty-one children are participating in the YWCA’s School Age Child Care program.  90% of the students are from families living below poverty. United Way funding provides scholarships to those families that make too much money to qualify for subsidized childcare assistance but are struggling to make ends meet. The program is providing the extra academic help and encouragement to ensure that the students maintain their grades and advance to the next grade level; helping them they stay on track to graduate from high school on time.

Boys and Girls Club of Elgin

When children enter elementary school help is still there.  Boys and Girls Club of Elgin is helping 574 elementary students gain leadership skills and academic success.  Elena, a 7th grader is a shining example.  At one point she described herself as being a loner who felt bullied by her peers. Through her contact and participation in after school programming, Elena has discovered her ability to lead others and engage in activities with other club members as well as classmates.  Elena has encouraged her younger siblings to join the Boys and Girls Club of Elgin and has acted as a mentor to them and other young people.

Youth Leadership Academy

Youth Leadership Academy is providing tutoring assistance to 25 middle school and high school students. Through their program they engage and inspire youth to maximize their potential to become successful community leaders through the access and responsible utilization of post-secondary education.  Because the program has seen a steady increase in the number of cadets seeking tutoring help, older cadets have been recruited to be volunteer tutors.  One of them, Samir, is so well received by younger cadets that they request him by name.  He seems to have a natural talent for teaching.  He is becoming a critical part of the leadership team that is helping to shape the future of the Tutoring program.

As you can see from these examples, no one organization or agency alone can meet the needs of so many people in the Elgin area; however, by partnering together, we can accomplish much to further our community goals. Together we can help to inspire hope, and create opportunities for a better tomorrow, and for a better Elgin and our partners are doing just that…one child and one youth at a time, reaching 1,541 Elgin area children and youth.

Photo Credit: aarongilson via Compfight cc Photo Credit: sk8geek via Compfight cc

You can read the great story as written in KaBOOM's Newsletter here.

Relive Build Day with our slideshow here.

Commercial: Co-Chairs Scott Budd, Edward Jones Investments, and Laurie Totton, Sherman Health

• Deb Anderson, Anderson Graphics, Inc.
• Rachel Bloomberg, Kirkpatrick, Jones & Herzog Insurance Agency, Inc.
• Ernie Gamino, Edward Jones
• Suzanne Ness, Living Forward

Construction: Chair Jennifer Rakow, IHC Construction Companies

• Terry Bryant, IHC Construction Companies
• Walt Dwyer, IHC Construction Companies
• Kevin Huyvaert, IHC Construction Companies
• Craig Lamp, Lamp Incorporated
• James McDonough, IHC Construction Companies
• Joe Madonia, IHC Construction Companies
• Alan Orosz, IHC Construction Companies
• Diane Papenhause, IHC Construction Companies
• Lisa Phin, IHC Construction Companies
• Tom Rakow, IHC Construction Companies
• Jack Shales, Shales McNutt Construction

Finance: Co-Chairs Michael Brown, THE National Bank, and Dr. David Sam, Elgin Community College

• Sue Ehlers, JPMorgan Chase
• Michael McKay, Edward Jones Investments

Health Care: Co-Chairs Donna Ackermann, Presence Saint Joseph Hospital, and Rev. Nathaniel Edmond, Second Baptist Church

Manufacturing: Chair Mark Seigle, Seigle’s Cabinet Center

• Scott Damish, THE National Bank
• Paul Doran, MPR Plastics
• Carol Gieske, Elgin Area Chamber of Commerce
• Jennifer Norton, Lamp Incorporated

Public Administration: Co-Chairs, Cherie Murphy, City of Elgin and Glenn Theriault, City of Elgin Police Department

• Jean Bednar, Judson University
• Judy Cabrera, Community Representative
• Karla Guzman, School District U-46
• Patrick Mogge, School District U-46

Every one of these individuals played a crucial role in our campaign success. 

The best news is that there is still time to get involved!  The success of the United Way campaign relies on the giving spirit so prevalent in the ordinary people who live or work in the Elgin area.  A donation to United Way is one of the most effective ways to help so many people in our community who need our help.  People give $20, $10, or even just $1 a week from their paychecks. Workplace campaigns are by far the easiest way to support United Way.  If your workplace is interested in helping to support the work of United Way of Elgin through an employee campaign, please contact Christina Pearson at 847-741-2259.

We'd like to take this opportunity to recognize some of our more outstanding employee campaign results. Many of our long-time supporters saw an increase in their campaigns like:

• Sherman Hospital, whose campaign was up by almost 18%!
  
• Hoffer Plastics' giving increased by 9%!
  
• Elgin Sweeper saw an increase of 6%! 
  
• We have also seen a 9% increase in individual giving. Thank You!

Our tireless volunteers, led by Campaign Chairs Dan Walter and Glenn Murphy, have been working hard planning and implementing strategies for successful fundraising efforts. Volunteers have been busy visiting local businesses to talk to corporate leaders about their companies' philanthropic interests and how they can partner with United Way to make a difference in Elgin. 

We have engaged several new companies in the community investment process, connecting employees to opportunities to give and volunteer. Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to give what you can—every dollar makes a difference, and we could not do our work without the help and encouragement of the community.

The best news is that there is still time to get involved! The success of the United Way campaign relies on the giving spirit so prevalent in the ordinary people who live or work in the Elgin area. A donation to United Way is one of the most effective ways to help so many people in our community who need our help. People give $20, $10, or even just $1 a week from their paychecks. If you'd like to make an individual donation, you can do so online here.

Workplace campaigns are by far the easiest way to support United Way. If your workplace is interested in helping to support the work of United Way of Elgin through an employee campaign, please contact Christina Pearson at 847-741-2259 or contact us through our form.

Thank you, again, for your donations so far!

Elgin Partnership for Early Learning (EPEL) was formed in 2011 as a collaborative community partnership to ensure the healthy growth and optimal development of young children in the context of their families. EPEL’s mission is to engage the whole community in preparing children to succeed in school and in life.  With these grant funds and local support from United Way and Grand Victoria Foundation, work towards EPEL’s mission of collaborating with partners to ensure that children are supported in becoming ready for Kindergarten will occur over the next year. Watch for activities in the community, including: 

• Education on school readiness and supporting all children to succeed
• Community meetings 
• CEO roundtables on education
• Professional training conference for early care and education professionals 

The Elgin Partnership for Early Learning coalition includes representatives from United Way of Elgin, Grand Victoria Foundation, School District U-46, Gail Borden Library, Kane County Health Department, Child Care Resource and Referral Center, One Hope United Elgin Child and Family Resource Center, and YWCA Elgin.

United Way of Elgin’s strategic approach is to focus on what they consider the 3 Building Blocks of a good life EDUCATION  *  INCOME  * HEALTH, each with its established set of goals.

UWE Staff, Board Members, and many Community Volunteers follow a Community Impact Model, dedicating much time & energy to ensure resources are spent wisely on programs and initiatives that are aligned with these goals and that demonstrate an ability to meet our local needs and prove results.

EDUCATION- helping children and youth achieve their potential

  -Providing quality early education that leads to school readiness

  -Helping youth to achieve academic success in the classroom

  -Developing productive and engaged young adults

A few examples of agencies we partner with and/or special UWE initiatives:

Easter Seals DuPage and Fox Valley Region- Jayne Shover Center

Children with disabilities receive at-home therapy, providing them with opportunities to reach their full potential.  Learn more at www.eastersealsdfvr.org. 

Or click here to learn more about one recipient’s story, South Elgin resident Zach Borst 

Dolly Parton Imagination Library

An age appropriate FREE book is mailed to children ages 0-5 every month to encourage families to read daily… inspiring a love for reading & literacy at an early age.  Learn more here. 

Youth Leadership Academy

Youth (7th -12th grade) participate in programs that help them develop problem solving, social, and leadership skills; they receive support to make positive academic progress to be prepared for college.  Visit www.ylaecc.org for more information.

INCOME - helping individuals & families get out of crisis and become financially stable & independent

  -Promoting self-sufficiency

 -Addressing emergency needs

 A few examples of agencies we partner with and/or special UWE initiatives:

Administer Justice

Individuals & families receive professional help to address the legal & tax issues surrounding home foreclosure and eviction to prevent homelessness & achieve financial stability.  Visit www.administerjustice.org for more information.

1000 Worker Skills Initiative

Unemployed/underemployed residents enhance their employment opportunities by taking a free WorkKeys assessment to determine skill levels and identify gaps that can be addressed with vocational counseling and additional job skills training.  The program is championed by UWE, the Elgin Chamber and Elgin Community College.  Watch Don's story here.

Northern IL Food Bank- Backpack Program

This program partners with U46 elementary schools to identify chronically hungry children.  Children benefit from weekend backpacks that provide nutritious food ensuring children in our community do not go hungry.  Read more at www.solvehungertoday.org/Programs/ChildNutrition/BackPack.aspx

HEALTH- helping individuals lead healthy lives

  -Improving access to healthcare

  -Improving people’s health

A few examples of agencies we partner with and/or special UWE initiatives:

Kane County, Making Kane “Fit for Kids”

A consortium of Kane County-based public & private funding agencies that have joined forces to reverse the epidemic of childhood obesity in our community.  Learn more at www.makingkanefitforkids.org.

Well Child Center- Pediatric Dental Clinic

Preventative and restorative dental care for children from ages 0-17, including education for children and their parents regarding dental care and the importance of oral health.  View one recipient, Wendy's story here. 

Salvation Army Golden Diners- Senior Nutrition Program

Dining centers provide nutritious home-style meals served weekdays to individuals age 60 and over.  Volunteers deliver hot, nutritious meals and check in on adults who are homebound.  Read 9/20/12 Chicago Tribune article here for more information.

KaBOOM! Playground Build

United Way of Elgin’s 2012 Day of Caring project just took place 9/28/2012. Discover Financial Services, the City of Elgin, KaBoom!, United Way of Elgin, and volunteers from local businesses and the community joined forces to construct a new playground in just one day, providing kids in the Wright Ave. neighborhood with a vibrant, new, safe place to get outdoors and play, helping kids to stay active and healthy.  You can read the 9/29/12 Courier News article here or view our photo slideshow the day here. 

Please consider making a donation to United Way to help us continue to have a positive impact on our community.

Check out this video of some of the best pictures from the day, and watch the playground come together.

You can also enjoy a time lapse video of all the activity from the day of the build:

THANK YOU to  all our wonderful sponsors: 

KaBOOM! • Discover Financial Services • City of Elgin

Grand Victoria Casino • Presence St. Joseph Hospital • Sherman Hospital • Hoffer Plastics • IHC Construction Companies, LLC • First Community Bank • THE National Bank • Lamp Incorporated • City of Elgin Parks & Recreation and Public Works • City of Elgin Police Department • SEIU Employees • Community Restitution • C.E.R.T. Volunteers • Neighborhood Housing Services • Starbucks • Jimmy Johns • Sam’s Club • Bearco Management • JB Harris Construction Company • Home Depot Store #1934 • Wal-Mart Store #1814 • Hinckley Springs • Dairy Queen • Downtown Neighborhood Association • Nestlé • Red Hot Chicago • Milano Baking Company • Coca-Cola • Diamond Landscaping • Youth United Way • Boys and Girls Club of Elgin • Parents & Teachers of Huff Elementary

United Way of Elgin is so excited to announce that in September 2012, we mailed our 100,000th book in the Dolly Parton Imagination Library program. The program, active in Elgin since February 2009, mails a new book each month to children from birth to age 5 who sign up and live in Elgin, South Elgin, Hampshire, Burlington, and Pingree Grove. Since the beginning of the program, we have sent books to over 5,000 children.

"This is a tremendous milestone that has been made possible by a community pulling together behind a program aimed at getting our kids ready for kindergarten," said Lynne Bosley, President of United Way of Elgin. "We would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge all of our partners in literacy. Thank you all for helping us make it to this 100,000th book." 

United Way of Elgin is planning an event to celebrate the 100,000 book milestone in October.

The program was launched in February 2009 through a generous sponsorship from Provena St. Joseph Hospital and it continues in large part funded by JPMorgan Chase. Other current partners in literacy include EFS Foundation, Hoffer Foundation, Elgin Township, and the Fideliter Club, as well as individual donors.

The Dolly Parton Imagination Library is one of United Way of Elgin's Education Impact Initiatives. It is meant to encourage early literacy, as it provides children with a library of books, instilling a love of learning at an early age. It helps children enter kindergarten prepared to succeed, which leads to greater success through elementary, middle, and high school. 

The program is free for all children who sign up, and the cost to mail one book every month to one child for a year is $30. Register your child to receive free books. Or, if you would like to help support the program, donate $30 to sponsor one child for a year.  

Thank you also to other community partners: 

Gail Borden Public Library

Ella Johnson Memorial Public Library

Elgin Day Care

U-46 Parents as Teachers

Greater Elgin Family Care Center

Head Start

Well Child Center

WIC Program

VNA of Fox Valley

Kane County Health Department

Kane County’s Clerks Office

Elgin Police Department’s Residents Officer

View a video slideshow of the Design Day event! You can also view the photos close up on United Way of Elgin's Facebook page.

Traditionally, for Day of Caring, we bring together hundreds of volunteers throughout Elgin to work toward a common goal—whether it is a community-wide food drive or splitting into various projects around the city to help where help is needed. This year, since we were fortunate enough to be chosen by KaBOOM! to build a brand new playground in the area, we will use Day of Caring to come together and build a playground from the ground up in one day. The playground will be funded in large part through a generous contribution from Discover Financial Services.

The playground will replace the existing wooden playground equipment at Wright Avenue Park, which is old and in need of replacement. There aren't many volunteer projects where you can see the fruits of your labor so clearly. When you arrive for Day of Caring, there will not be a playground. When you leave hours later, there will be a safe place for kids in the area to play.

A playground planning committee has been meeting regularly to plan and prepare for the construction of the new playground. Due to the nature of the build, we have to limit the number of volunteers we can accept for this project. Volunteers will be needed not just on Build Day, but also on Build Prep Days scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday, September 26 and 27.

Information regarding volunteer sign-up is available online. Once we fill our volunteer needs for the playground, there are additional opportunities to help beautify the neighborhood around the park by working with Neighborhood Housing Services and their NeighborWorks program. This program helps families refresh and rejuvenate the front of their homes, creating a cleaner, brighter neighborhood for all.

KaBOOM! is the national non-profit dedicated to saving play. Children today spend less time playing outdoors than any previous generation, a fact that is having disastrous consequences on their health, achievement levels, and overall well-being. The playground will be the 18th built by KaBOOM! and Discover and is one of more than 150 playground builds KaBOOM! will lead across the country in 2012 in an effort to provide a great place to play within walking distance of every child in America.

Thank you to our sponsors, who have made this build possible.

• Coca-Cola
• Dairy Queen
• Diamond Landscaping
• Downtown Neighborhood Association
• First Community Bank
• Hinckley Water
• Hoffer Plastics Corporation
• Home Depot
  
• IHC Construction Companies, LLC
• Parents and Teachers at Huff Elementary School
• Provena St. Joseph Hospital
• Sam's Club Elgin
• Shales McNutt Construction
• Sherman Hospital
• Starbucks
• THE National Bank
• Wal-Mart Store #1814

Dr. Stirn grew up just down the street from Elgin in Aurora. He also has the distinction of being the first in his family to graduate from college, and says his parents played an important role in his achievement by encouraging and supporting him. That's one of the reasons he is so passionate about education and helping kids succeed. His priorities are providing resources and education opportunities to families and ensuring they receive the support they need to grow personally and within the community. 

He has served the community in many ways through church activities, the Wounded Warrior Project, Mutual Ground, and other events to support our men and women in uniform. He currently sits on the administrative board for Elgin Community College Alliance for College Readiness and the 301 Education Foundation. As if that wasn’t enough, Dr. Stirn also teaches graduate level courses for Aurora University.

In his rare free time, Dr. Stirn enjoys fishing, reading, riding his motorcycle, spending time with family, and anything Elvis. Well, in the words of The King, “Thank you, thank you very much” for joining our team!

At a planning retreat in February, the United Way of Elgin Board of Directors committed to taking a more active role in resource development and returning to the all-volunteer campaign cabinet. And, that’s just what they’ve done. 

We are proud to announce that the 2012 Campaign Chairs are Dan Walter of Lundstrom Insurance and Glenn Murphy, a community volunteer. The chairs’ responsibilities are to oversee the entire campaign, plan and implement strategies for successful fundraising efforts, and to make sure that all United Way supporters are aware of the importance of their investment and appropriately thanked for their generous contributions. 

The Campaign Cabinet is made up of volunteers who will work with various divisions representing our entire community. These chairs will recruit volunteers from the community-at-large to help advocate and facilitate United Way of Elgin’s message across all platforms, and to assist businesses in conducting their employee campaigns. Division Chairs and their respective divisions are:

• Mark Seigle, Seigle’s Cabinet Center is chair of the Manufacturing Division.
  
• Laurie Totton, Sherman Hospital, and Scott Budd, Edward Jones Investments, are chairs of the Commercial Division.
  
• Jennifer Rakow of IHC Construction Companies is chair of the Construction Division.
  
• Cherie Murphy, City of Elgin, and Glenn Theriault, Elgin Police Department, are chairs of the Public Administration Division.
  
• Donna Ackerman, Provena St. Joseph Hospital, and Pastor Nat Edmond, Second Baptist Church, are chairs of the Health Care Division.
  
• Mike Brown, THE National Bank, and Dr. David Sam, Elgin Community College, are chairs of the Finance Division.

“The level of enthusiasm is very high and this year’s group of campaign volunteers is committed to raising both awareness of United Way’s role in the community and increased financial resources to support our work,” said Lynne Bosley, United Way President. “I know they will be successful because they are respected leaders who care deeply about our community and know how to get things done.” 

If you are interested in helping to support the United Way of Elgin’s work through an employee campaign, please contact Elissa Kojzarek at 847-741-2259.

To celebrate, United Way of Elgin is giving away a set of train bookends. To enter, simply post a picture of you and your child reading together on the United Way of Elgin Facebook page. A winner will be randomly selected at the end of July. The bookends are a perfect way for children to store their new library of books—if they are signed up from birth, they will receive 60 books by their 5th birthday.

“Reading to your children often encourages a love of reading and helps them enter kindergarten ready to succeed,” said Lynne Bosley, President of the United Way of Elgin. In a 2011 survey, 61% of parent respondents claimed that they read to their child more often since enrolling in the program, and 93% believe it has helped prepare their children for kindergarten.

The United Way of Elgin and community partners have a goal of reaching 5,500 children by the end of this year. Parents can register their children online now. 

Children receive one book per month beginning 8-10 weeks after signup. Each book is age appropriate. The collection of books includes such titles as The Little Engine That Could, The Poky Little Puppy, The Tale of Peter Rabbit, Favorite Finger Rhymes, Little Cloud, The Owl and The Pussycat, and Llama, Llama, Red Pajama.

The Dolly Parton Imagination Library was started by Dolly Parton in 1996 in her hometown, and launched as a national program in 2000. The goal is to foster a love of reading by providing all children, regardless of family income, with a library of books. At United Way of Elgin, the program is currently sponsored by JPMorgan Chase Foundation, EFS Foundation, Hoffer Foundation, Elgin Township, Fideliter Club, and individual donors. The program is one of many Education Initiatives that work to give families the capacity to act as primary caregivers, with particular focus on creating home and school environments where children and youth have every opportunity to become literate, secure, and prepared for productive adulthood. Learn more about the Dolly Parton Imagination Library.

Dr. Steve Joyce, chair of the Community Vision Council, says of the process "funding decisions are some of the hardest work performed by the United Way of Elgin.  We're focusing on leveraging your donations to impact critical areas of need, going to root causes of suffering and crisis in our community. United Way supports programs that track performance and demonstrate outcomes, like early development and reading, healthy meals, food support, after school programs, domestic violence, healthcare access, mental health services, crisis counseling, financial, housing and literacy services. We're working to  move ahead together, for the better of all."

The Impact Councils prioritize funding for programs that addressed the priority issues, which include creating home and school environments for preparing successful children, promoting financial stability and independence and increasing access to quality, affordable health care and providing safe life choices for everyone in our community.

In addition to the $535,000 in agency allocations, the United Way of Elgin allocated $100,000 for special initiatives such as the Dolly Parton Imagination Library, Getting Ready for Kindergarten calendar, Free Tax Preparation program, FamilyWize Prescription Drug Discount program, Kane County Fit for Kids, the Kane County Guide, and 1,000 Workers Skills Initiative.

You can find more information on the Community Vision Council or the community programs we currently support on our website.

During the 2012 tax season 1,330 current year and 77 prior year returns were completed resulting in over 2.6 million dollars in state and federal refunds.  In comparison, 2010 returns resulted in 2.1 million dollars and 2009 returns resulted in 1.9 million dollars.  The average federal refund was $2,056. Free preparation saved families over $265,000 in tax preparation fees that they would have been charged elsewhere.

The program begins each October when volunteers can register to receive the free training.  Once completed, they are a certified tax preparer and can assist others with tax preparation.  The Center asks that volunteers commit to 20 hours during tax season, which runs from the end of January through mid-April. This year we had 73 volunteers, both experienced and newly trained.  Volunteers spent over 2,300 hours helping families prepare their tax returns.

The Free Tax Preparation Program relies on volunteers, trained by the Center for Economic Progress, to prepare tax returns for local families who make less than $50,000/year and individuals who make less than $25,000/year. The average adjusted gross income for 2011 filers was $17,012.95.  In addition to getting help with their taxes, many families took advantage of having their refunds direct-deposited into a bank account, promoting savings and fiscal responsibility.  The tax preparation program also helps keep Elgin families away from refund loan programs, which often end up costing families more in interest than the original loan itself.

The CEP hopes to expand the program in Elgin for the 2013 tax season, as some seeking assistance were turned away this year due to capacity.  Watch the United Way of Elgin’s website this fall for information on how to register to volunteer for the 2013 tax season.

Celebrating their 100th Year in 2012, Glenview-based Illinois Tool Works (ITW) was a recipient of a Summit Award for Philanthropic Engagement. ITW overall raised $11.4 million for United Ways across the country in 2011. This includes a dollar for dollar match, plus an enhanced match to incent participation and leadership giving. They are also piloting a volunteer program, where the company will match every volunteer hour with an additional $10. 

In 2011, the four local ITW locations Shakeproof, Paslode, Buildex, and Powertrain Fastening raised over $86,000 for Elgin-area programs and services and were our #1 workplace campaign. They are also consistent volunteers on our annual Day of Caring. Please join us in congratulating all the ITW divisions on this award and thanking them for their continued commitment to bettering the community.

The assessment results highlight the significant social and economic changes we have seen in Kane County. This report provides a summary of the key findings from the community assessment as well as a synopsis of the Community Health Improvement Plan.

You can download the document and learn more about the state of our community, and how our partners intend to continue moving the needle forward in public health. Printed copies will be available at the United Way office in about two weeks.
 

Al is a partner attorney at Brady & Jensen Law Firm and has practiced in Elgin since 1977, and previous to that practiced in Chicago with the firm of Jenner & Block. Al joined the United Way board in January 2012, and brings with him over 40 years of non-profit board experience. He has served and held various offices on the boards of many local organizations such as the U-46 Foundation, YMCA, and Greater Elgin Family Care Center, where he has served since it began its initial operations.

Al has also been active in the community for many years, having raised 9 children in Elgin with his wife, Janine. He has worked on past United Way of Elgin drives, Easter Seals’ Telethons, auctions for the Community Crisis Center, coached the YMCA’s Women’s Swim Teams, coached multiple Elgin Youth Football teams, and served on the Larkin High School ParentsAssociation committee.

With all that activity and experience, one would think he would be ready for a breather—so why would he agree to serve on United Way of Elgin’s board? Al’s commitment to Elgin runs deep—he is a lifelong Elgin resident, raised his family here, and is generally interested in maintaining and improving where possible the quality of life for other residents of the community. His professional experience in the business world has given him a unique perspective on the role of non-profits in community life, and having observed the role of United Way and local nonprofits and the City government as it affects the quality of life in the community, he feels that he has a basis to contribute to the pursuit of United Way’s goals in this regard.

In his free time, when there is any, Al enjoys golf, traveling, the theater, and visiting family, which includes 10 grandchildren. Please join us in thanking Al for putting his talents to good use through the United Way of Elgin!

The Township Board has been a loyal supporter of the program since the beginning.  Trustees helped register children during the DPIL kick off in February 2009, and continue to advocate for the program in the community.  We applaud the board’s commitment to early childhood literacy and their understanding that when a child begins school ready to learn, they are far more likely to be successful throughout their educational careers and better able to transition into productive adults.

We extend our greatest thanks to the board, which includes Township Supervisor Annette Miller, Township Trustees Pat Hudgens, Bob Johnson, Vicki Pelock, and Carol Rauschenberger, and Township Clerk Kurt Kojzarek.  We want to thank and recognize these individuals for continuing to LIVE UNITED.

Karla is a proud product of U-46 schools—she attended Sunnydale and Channing Elementary Schools, Ellis Middle School, and Elgin High (Go Maroons!!).  She began her career with the school district over 7 years ago as the Hispanic Community Outreach Coordinator and now works to get all families involved in their children’s academic lives by enhancing parental communication with their children’s schools.  She also assists in accessing resources that can help U-46 families.  It is her commitment to education in Elgin that makes Karla a natural fit for United Way of Elgin and our education initiatives.

Besides her work with United Way, Karla is also active with the Elgin Hispanic Network, the local LULAC chapter, and is also a board member of the Prairie Valley Family YMCA. 

Karla is also the proud parent of a 5-year old, who is a recent graduate of the Dolly Parton Imagination Library and is now enjoying kindergarten as part of Channing Elementary School’s Dual Language Program.  In her free time—as much as her community involvement and active 5-year old allow—she enjoys Zumba classes, smart shopping, spending time with her family, and loves watching reality t.v.

Please join us in welcoming Karla to the board.  Her expertise in education and community engagement is a great addition for United Way of Elgin. 

Volunteer-driven councils

Volunteers are vital to the United Way of Elgin’s funding decisions. These decisions aren’t just made by United Way staff and board members. There are many community volunteers who offer their time and talent to ensure that donors get the best possible return on their investment. 

Fifty-five volunteers, including some partner agency executives, serve on one of three councils that are organized around United Way’s priorities of need in the Elgin community. The councils are:

• Education, focusing on helping children enter school ready to learn and to succeed in school and in life
• Income, strengthening families – providing for basic needs in times of crisis and helping individuals reach financial stability
• Health, ensuring all people have access to affordable, quality medical care including mental health and dental care and fostering a healthy life style, free of violence and neglect

With agency executives prohibited from participating in the investment process, a total of thirty-six volunteers will serve on one of the councils’ review teams.

Investment process

The investment process, which began in November, is open to all health and human service organizations serving our area. In a highly competitive environment, 40 letters of intent were submitted. Of those, 32 programs were approved to complete a full application. The funding requests total $942,280. 

Under the guidance of Betsy Cappas, Education council chair, Mary Martini and Sue Ehlers Income council chair and co-chair, and Ed Hunter and Tina Link, chair and co-chair of the Health council, the volunteers have the rigorous task of evaluating the written applications. Agency leaders also have the opportunity to sit down with council volunteers to answer questions that were not covered in the application.

Program evaluation

The key criteria for investment decisions include:

• alignment with the strategies set by the Vision Council and the community
• program quality
• capacity to deliver results
• appropriate performance measures and improvement plan
• a reasonable budget with diversified funding

After careful deliberations each council will present its funding recommendations to the Vision Council, which oversees the impact councils’ work and reports directly to the United Way Board of Directors. The United Way Board of Directors has the final vote on recommendations.   

The community goals and strategic partnerships combine to create a cohesive investment plan for the Elgin area, says Lynne Bosley, United Way of Elgin President. “The residents of our community entrust us with their dollars, and we owe it to them to invest those dollars for the maximum positive impact. Our partners will be accountable for results, and United Way will be accountable to donors. It’s that simple. We understand that United Way dollars alone will not move the needle on the community’s most pressing issues. We hope our investment plan will serve as a catalyst for investment by other funders.”

• In August, members of YUW sold water, juice, snacks, and popcorn at the movie in the park as a fundraiser.
• In September, YUW helped with the Centro de Informacion Gala dinner auction.
• October's project was helping with the set up and clean up for Elgin's inaugural Nightmare on Chicago Street.
• In November, YUW baked and bagged over 800 cookies that were donated to the Soup Kitchen as a treat for the homeless. 
• December's projects included a food drive and volunteering at the Toy Give Away at Hemmens. Carloads of food were delivered to the Community Crisis Center and to Feeding Greater Elgin. YUW volunteers helped sort toys the day before the Toy Give Away and helped parents select toys on the day of the event.

Now, the youth are taking a much-deserved break and enjoying the holidays. We are excited for the new year, which certainly will offer more opportunities to volunteer and give back to the community.

1. 32,381 books were delivered to 2,763 Elgin area children, thanks to our sponsors: JP Morgan Chase, EFS Foundation, Provena Saint Joseph Hospital, Elgin Township, KCT Credit Union, and the Fideliter Club of Elgin.
2. 8,000 Getting Ready for Kindergarten calendars and 500 Math is Everywhere kits were distributed to families thanks to our partnership with Allstate Insurance and PNC Bank.
3. 541 preschoolers were assessed for developmental milestones and school readiness at area childcare providers.
4. 27,031 Kane County residents were connected to local health and human services through KaneCountyGuide.org, and more than 2,500 Help for Hard Times Guides were distributed throughout the Elgin area.
5. 48 Reading Buddies volunteers read to 225 preschoolers in 2 Elgin preschools every Friday.
6. More than 50 members in United Way’s Youth United volunteered at Movies in the Park, Thrones of Summer, Food Drives, Reading Buddies, Cookie Bake, and Nightmare on Chicago Street events.
7. 310 corporate and community volunteers donated a total of 1,240 hours of service valued at $26,523 to 32 Day of Caring Projects throughout the Elgin area.
8. 1,850 students received backpacks filled with school supplies thanks to the support of community partners.
9. 9,041 low-income Elgin area children received school physicals, immunizations, sick care appointments, and dental exams.
10. 1,236 tax returns were completed for a total value in Federal and State refunds of $2,150,217.
11. 200 unemployed/underemployed residents have taken the WorkKeys®, workplace assessment to enhance employment opportunities. 

• Nearly 1 in 3 Illinoisans are now considered poor or low-income. Median income has steadily declined in Illinois and stands at $52,972, down 3.4 percent from the recession.
• Unemployment in Illinois skyrocketed 82.3 percent during the recession, and since then unemployment has held steady around 10 percent.
• The average length of time Illinois workers are unemployed has nearly doubled since 2007, with unemployed workers spending an average of nearly 37 weeks unemployed in 2010.
• 1 out of every 4 households in Illinois is now considered to be severely rent burdened with housing costs comprising more than half their income.
• In 2011 the average debt of Illinoisans increased 37 percent over 2003 to $13,416

“These living arrangements are unsustainable in the long run and are the last step before homelessness for many,” according to Amy Rynell, Director of the Social IMPACT Research Center. These conditions have also led to a considerable erosion of assets and mounting debts, increasing the economic vulnerability of families across Illinois for many years to come.

Illinois Safety Net Assistance Stats

Without government assistance, nearly twice as many people nationally would have experienced poverty. Unfortunately, not all of Illinois’ safety net assistance programs responded quickly and effectively to growing hardship. And even the most responsive programs have not grown commensurate with need.

• 64 percent more households (a total of 874,109 households) are now receiving assistance from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (food stamps).
• The Earned Income Tax Credit, a refundable federal income tax credit, has grown 10 percent from pre- to post-recession.
• The caseload for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) in the year before the recession remained about the same during the recession. Since the end of the recession, the caseload has grown 64 percent to 46,694 families.

“Personal, social, and economic costs of low family incomes are far too great, compromising Illinois’ economic strength, human capital, and future well-being,” said Sid Mohn, President of Heartland Alliance for Human Needs & Human Rights. “State policies and investments need to support an economy that works for everyone, promote work that pays a living wage, ensure that all have access to a quality education, and that families are able to access adequate income supports to help make ends meet.”

Download the report and access county-level data.

"We are thrilled and grateful that JPMorgan Chase Foundation has chosen to continue supporting this important program," said Lynne Bosley, President of the United Way of Elgin. "This grant is critical foundation to a program that helps our local children enter kindergarten prepared to succeed." The JPMorgan Chase Foundation’s goal is to be the catalyst to meaningful, positive and sustainable change within high-need neighborhoods.

Since launching in the area in February 2009, the Dolly Parton Imagination Library has sent over 72,000 books to 4,500 children in Elgin, South Elgin, Burlington, Hampshire, and Pingree Grove. The United Way of Elgin and community partners have a goal of reaching 5,000 children by 2012. Parents can learn how to register their children to receive books here.

The Imagination Library was started by Dolly Parton in 1996 in her hometown, and launched as a national program in 2000. The goal of the program is to foster a love of reading by providing all children, regardless of family income, with a library of books. At United Way of Elgin the program is one of many Education Initiatives, which work to ensure that the families in our community have the capacity to act as primary caregivers, with particular focus on creating home and school environments where children and youth have every opportunity to become literate, secure, and prepared for productive adulthood.

In addition to this grant, the Dolly Parton Imagination Library in the Elgin area is supported by grants from local groups like the EFS Foundation, The Fideliter Club of Elgin, and donations from community members.

Dan is a well-known member of our community.  With over 30 years as an Employee Benefits Broker/Consultant, he is a Senior Vice President at Lundstrom Insurance, a premier insurance agency now in their 6th decade of serving clients. Lundstrom has been a Gold-level United Way campaign supporter for several years.

Dan and his wife Cathy, an employee of Provena Saint Joseph Hospital, have been committed United Way supporters for over 15 years.  About 5 years ago, Dan started volunteering with United Way in several capacities, including serving on program investment committees and sitting on the Education Impact Council.  Dan has also been active in our Day of Caring activities.  On his involvement with United Way of Elgin, Dan states that he is “most enthused about the recent transition to impact based awards,” and that he “appreciates having the opportunity to help allocate funds to programs and services that have a meaningful impact in our community and holding organizations accountable for that performance.”

In addition to his United Way involvement, Dan’s experience includes two elected terms on the Kane County Board and Kane County Forest Preserve District, founding member of the South Elgin Economic Development Council, former President of the South Elgin Chamber of Commerce, former Advisory Board Chairman for the World Vision Storehouse-Fox Valley, former Board President for Westminster Christian School, a founding Board member of the U46 Educational Foundation and has served on several other non-profit boards or committees. These organizations, along with Lundstrom Insurance, the United Way of Elgin Board and Christ Community Church have provided a forum to give back to the community.

Dan saw the timing as being right for Board membership because, “The community’s support is needed now more than ever. At a time when the State of Illinois has been appallingly negligent in meeting its commitments, I want to assure members of the community that there is significant diligence in seeing that their dollars accomplish what they hoped for when they committed to giving.” 

We are thrilled that Dan has agreed to lend his talents and voice to the United Way’s mission of Building Community, Improving Lives, and Making Every Contribution Count.

Click here for a full list of the 2011 United Way of Elgin Board Members.

I volunteered with United Way to try to show kids that books are an invaluable part of growing up. Forming a friendship with them early on can be a recipe for success in the future. The kids I read to were wonderful listeners, and I hope they'll be wonderful readers someday soon.

-Luke Trayser, Demi & Cooper Advertising

You can sign up to volunteer at either Elgin Child and Family Resource Center or Illinois Park Elementary School.  Multiple times are available!

We asked our board members and staff for thoughts, memories, and tributes to Munson:

Steve Munson was unflappable. Even during his difficult illness he viewed the glass as half full not half empty—a lesson we could all stand to learn from and remember him by.
-Mark Seigle, President, Seigle's Cabinet Center

Steve was a steady, consistent presence in the Elgin community, always willing to assist and lend his expertise in any way he could. I mostly knew Steve as the greatest supporter of his wife Ruth, while she was State Representative; also as the finest advocate DNA could have had as their leader. Finally, Steve and Lynne Bosley met with me prior to my coming on the United Way Board. His cool, calm yet clear and decisive explanations regarding United Way were a large part of my decision to join the Board. His presence around our Board table will be dearly missed.
-Laurie Totten, RN, MS, Director of Corporate Health Services, Sherman Health

He was a kind man who was always there to help whenever we needed it.
-Christina Pearson, Office Manager, United Way of Elgin

Steve embodied the idea of helping others. No matter what was going on, he always had time to stop and help a friend or neighbor. I think that spirit was reflected in the way his friends and neighbors rallied around him when he needed help.
-Elissa Kojzarek, Resource Development and Special Initiatives, United Way of Elgin

Steve was a true advocate for United Way of Elgin. We would always run into him around town or wearing his Live United T-shirts or, at meetings, proudly wearing his United Way of Elgin nametag. He was a great person to have on our team.
-Diane O'Connor, Director of Community Impact, United Way of Elgin

He was a great asset because he knew the community so well. He was familiar with so many of the organizations and what was going on in the community. He always seemed to, through his connections, have his finger on the pulse of what was happening.
-Lynne Bosley, President, United Way of Elgin

Read more:

• Daily Herald: Elgin entrepreneur, software guru was 'unflappable'
• Chicago Tribune: Steven B. Munson, 1956-2011
• Elgin Courier: Obituary

Steve was extremely active in the Elgin community, particularly in the technology arena. Steve co-owned Everyware Inc., a downtown Elgin software development company that develops software applications to promote productivity at businesses. He was a programmer, and then served as chief innovation officer since 2002. He also cofounded BocaJump, a website focused on the happenings in Elgin. And he was a board member and served as president to the Downtown Neighborhood Association for several years, where he helped launch their current technologies, including their first website, a blog, and their enewsletter.

He is survived by his wife, Ruth Munson, and two adult children, Ryan and Olivia.

United Way needs volunteers (either as individuals or teams) to read to small groups of preschool or kindergarten children. Volunteers are trained and asked to commit to a minimum of 30 minutes per week reading to children at Illinois Park Elementary School or Elgin Child and Family Resource Center under the supervision of a classroom teacher. If you are in a team, your group could coordinate schedules so that each volunteer takes a week that works for them.

This is a great opportunity to help enrich a child's life and ensure that they develop age-appropriate language and literacy skills.  The program will last the duration of the school year, so we ask individual and team volunteers to make sure they can commit for a full school year. 

To sign-up, complete the Volunteer Form and return it to United Way by mail, email, or fax.  You can also visit our volunteer opportunities page. For more information about the program contact Diane O’Connor at 847-741-2259.

This year for the Day of Caring, volunteers gathered to work on group projects within the community. Over 30 projects were submitted by Greater Elgin area agencies and nonprofits.  Almost 100% of the projects were assigned, with over 300 volunteers signing up to help.  Projects included outdoor activities such as landscaping group homes, painting, and client picnics as well as indoor activities such as sorting clothing donations, distributing food to families in need, reading to preschoolers, and packing meals for homebound seniors.

The Day of Caring marks the beginning of United Way of Elgin’s annual campaign.  The morning always starts with a free breakfast for all volunteers and supporters, graciously hosted by the Grand Victoria Casino.  The breakfast program gives supporters a chance to hear how their contributions have made a difference in the lives of local families.  Awards are also given out to local businesses for their prior year campaign results.  19 local businesses were honored for their accomplishments in the 2010 campaign.  A special award, Champions of Children, was given to the EFS Foundation for their support for the Dolly Parton Imagination Library. The 2010 Jack Shales Spirit of Community Award, United Way of Elgin’s highest award, was given to Hoffer Plastics Corporation for their decades of support, both financially and through volunteerism. 

You can also read about our Day of Caring activities courtesy of the Daily Herald and the Elgin Courier News.

Mark has been involved with United Way of Elgin for over 18 years.  He served 13 years on the Board of Directors, beginning in 1993 and ending with his retirement in 2006.  During that time, he served as Campaign Chair in 1994, becoming the first chair to raise over $2,000,000!  He also served a two-year term as Board Chair from 2004 to 2005.  Since leaving the board, Mark has continued to be an active volunteer and advocate for United Way of Elgin.   He and his wife Robin are members of the Alexis de Tocqueville Society, which is a national recognition program for United Way donors who give $10,000 or more each year.

Mark currently serves as the CEO of Seigle’s Cabinet Center here in Elgin.  He is also involved with The Seigle Family Foundation which supports charitable programs in Elgin and the surrounding communities.  

Please join us in welcoming Mark as a Lifetime Director here at United Way of Elgin.  Our community is truly strengthened through Mark’s work and dedication to Elgin.

The WorkKeys® assessment is available, free of charge, through the 1,000 Worker Skills Initiatives, sponsored by United Way of Elgin and Elgin Community College. All unemployed and underemployed residents of the Elgin Community College district are eligible to take the test and receive free training and personalized career guidance. Over 60 companies in the Elgin area have signed on to the program, agreeing to use the certificate as a valid proof of skill levels. 

If you are interested in taking the assessment, we encourage you to attend the Key Train Open Lab Workshops at Elgin Community College. These workshops will provide information on the WorkKeys® system, including how to register for the assessment, support and training on the computer and the Key Train test preparation program at your own pace, information on the skill levels recommended for thousands of jobs, personalized career guidance, and potential job leads. The workshops are held every Friday from now until April 29th from 10:00 a.m. to noon in the Instruction Center Room 129. No registration is required to attend a workshop, but you can call 847-214-7399 for more information about the sessions. 

Other partners in the program include the Gail Borden Library, which has practice tests available as well as test prep materials, and School District U-46, who now offers the WorkKeys® additional units to seniors taking the regular ACT exam.

If you or someone you know could benefit from the 1,000 Worker Skills Initiative, please download and print this brochure. The WorkKeys systems was brought to our community by Elgin Community College, United Way of Elgin, Elgin Area Chamber of Commerce, the City of Elgin, Gail Borden Public Library, School District U-46, the Illinois Department of Employment Security, and the River Valley Workforce Investment Board.

Does your business currently accept the National Career Readiness Certificate?  If not, download this brochure to learn why signing on to recognize this important certification is crucial for building up your skilled workforce.

The campaign to decrease obesity in our community really began back in 2008, when the Fit For Kids program was first proposed by the Kane County Health Department through a Leadership Summit attended by over 100 leaders of the Kane County community.  At this summit, the Health Department presented 4 Strategic Action Principles around which the plan would be developed: Providing parents and children with reliable, up-to-date information in multiple settings regarding healthy physical activity and eating habits; Supporting a culture of wellness and health  promotion in our workplace, schools, and other institutions; Develop land use, planning and other public policies that foster and support physical activity for all in our community; and Assure that fresh fruits and vegetables are affordable and accessible to all families in our community.  United Way has been at the table since this summit, providing a $10,000 grant to help establish the plan and to raise the funds necessary to implement the plan’s action steps.  The plan has even attracted national attention with a $360,000 four-year grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

The Fit For Kids 2020 Plan represents 6 months’ worth of research, discussion, and planning to develop the steps necessary to combat childhood obesity.  The action steps needed to address the 4 Strategic Principles are centered on 9 Workgroups: Schools & Education; Mobility; Food Policy; Faith Community; Economic Strength; Family, Culture & Community; Built & Natural Environment; Healthcare & Medicine; and Recreation & Lifestyle.  Representatives from each field will design programs and initiatives to address the plan’s goals relevant to their sector. 

Currently, the program is accepting grant applications from local organizations that have a great project to implement the strategies listed in the 2020 Plan.  That application can be found on Fit For Kids’ website.  The site also contains lots of great tips and ways to get your kids healthy and moving!

DONUT HOLE, FamilyWize Card Helps Seniors

For anyone entering the Medicare “donut hole” in 2011, the FamilyWize Prescription Discount Card may help with the cost of Generic Drugs while in the coverage gap. If you enter the donut hole in July or later, you probably won’t spend enough to exit the donut hole and qualify for new, lower rates through catastrophic coverage.  In that case, the FamilyWize card can be a big help. 

GENERIC DRUGS IN THE DONUT HOLE
Under Medicare Part D, you pay 93% of the cost of your medicine with only a 7% discount.    Discounts on generic drugs with a FamilyWize card can be up to 70% making it the better option in many cases.  Always ask your pharmacy to do a price comparison between Medicare and FamilyWize cards to be sure you are paying the lowest cost. For specific questions regarding your plans details be sure to check with your Plan Sponsor.

BRAND NAME MEDICINE IN THE DONUT HOLE
** FamilyWize Prescription Discount Cards should NOT be used for Brand Name Drugs**
Seniors who fall in the coverage gap will receive a 50% discount on brand-name drugs covered by Medicare Part D from the brand drug manufacturer. However, the full, non-discounted amount counts toward your out-of-pocket costs.  When purchasing branded drugs it is usually in your best interest to not use any discount cards.

MEDICINE NOT COVERED BY MEDICARE
The FamilyWize card can always be used for any FDA approved medications which are not covered by Medicare whether in the “donut hole” or not.
Specific questions should be directed to your Plan Sponsor.  Additional details regarding the 2011 Medicare Part D can be found at:
https://www.medicare.gov/find-a-plan/questions/home.aspx
http://www.cms.gov/

The 1,000 Worker Skills Initiative consists of an assessment called WorkKeys®, which is used to determine a person's current skill level and identify gaps in their training.  The assessment measures a person’s abilities in three essential skill areas: Applied Mathematics, Reading for Information, and Locating Information.  Those who complete the assessment are awarded a National Career Readiness Certificate, which records their individual skill levels and abilities, and enables them to access a local database of currently available jobs whose needs match their skill levels.  Vocational counseling and additional job skills training will also be available to those who complete the assessment.  For those who score low on the assessment, further training and courses will be available at ECC to bridge those gaps.  They will then be able to retest and get certified at higher skill levels, thus making them more eligible for currently open jobs.

The plan for the 1,000 Worker Skills Initiative flowed from EACC’s Workforce Development Committee. The committee, made up of business representatives from industries throughout the Elgin community, is currently engaged in educating other Elgin area businesses of the advantages of the WorkKeys® program and the benefits to using the certificate in their hiring process.  "This initiative, as well as the National Career Readiness Certificate program for high school seniors, demonstrates the vital role played by the partner organizations involved in our Workforce Development Committee," Leo Nelson, President of the Chamber, commented.  Businesses who partner with the program agree to recognize the value of the National Career Readiness Certificate in their hiring process, and can recruit new employees from the pool generated by the program. 

United Way of Elgin Board Chair Mickey Brown said in support of the $10,000 grant "the initiative is to secure stable employment with family-supporting wages for participants, reducing the unemployment rate and providing a skilled labor force for the Elgin businesses.  This unique collaboration provides another opportunity to assist Elgin residents in achieving long-term financial stability, one of United Way’s primary goals."

Along with the leadership of the Elgin Area Chamber of Commerce and the $10,000 grant from United Way of Elgin, other key partners include Gail Borden Library, Illinois Department of Employment Security, River Valley Workforce Investment Board, City of Elgin and School District U-46.  Additionally, ECC will provide $5,000 towards the cost of the testing, administer the testing and issue the certificates.  ECC will also offer pre-test tutoring and special remediation courses for those who wish to improve their scores.  The Elgin Office of the Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) will provide additional information and referral services for the unemployed in Elgin.

The WorkKeys® assessments began on Tuesday, June 15 at ECC's Main Campus; on Wednesday, June 16th at the Fountain Square Campus; and Thursday, June 17th at the Streamwood Village Hall.  Individuals interested in taking the assessments must register, as time and dates of testing will vary for each site.  Please contact the United Way of Elgin for information on registration.

We've been urging you to "Live United", but what exactly does that mean? Watch the video to find out several ways you can work to Live United. From making someone laugh to advocating for a cause, you can find opportunities to Live United every day. Do your part. Plant a seed. Watch it grow. Live United.

Because of these record numbers, we thought we'd remind you of a few resources available to those experiencing difficult times, as well as some job hunting tips.

Elgin Area Community Resources

• United Way of Elgin's Hard Times Guide. The guide includes:A quicklist of resources for emergency services, utility help, foreclosure help, food resources, rent/mortgage assistance, and employment services, tips on evaluating finances and job search, and more.
• Familywize Prescription drug discount card. This free card is accepted at most local pharmacies and can save a family up to 30%.
• Our Community Resources page. Here you'll find a listing of some of our impact programs that can help you, from health services to financial counseling to daycare and more.

5 Job Search Tips

Searching for a job can be an overwhelming process. Here are 5 steps you may be able to take to get the process going.

1. Set up an appointment at Illinois workNet Center by calling 847-888-7900.
2. Take advantage of career counseling offered by your company or other community groups.
3. Utilize various employment agencies (fee paid by the employer), job listings, Job Services, etc., for job leads. Visit the Kane County Department of Employement and Education website or the Illinois WorkNet website for more information and help.
   
4. Maintain contact with former co-workers, union, church, or other community groups for emotional support as well as job leads.
5. File for Unemployment Insurance. File online at the Illinois Department of Employment Security or visit your nearest IDES or Illinois workNet Center (in the Elgin area, it’s at 30 DuPage Ct.). You will need: your Social Security card or some ID that has the number on it; a second form of ID; if claiming dependents, you will need their SSN and date of birth; if you are not a United States citizen, your Alien Registration Information; and if you worked since Sunday of this week, the amount of gross wages earned this week. Once you’ve filed, you’ll need to call 888-337-7234 bi-weekly to certify that you are unemployed and are approved for benefits.

Job Hunting Resources

• Gail Borden Public Library Job Hunting web page
• Elgin Area Chamber of Commerce Job Posting download
• The Federal Government's Official Jobs site

Companies looking for an easy, streamlined way to conduct their United Way of Elgin Employee Campaigns now have the option of using the new E-Pledging Module.  This module gives employers more freedom and options to create the best campaign for their staff.  E-pledging allows companies to bypass the traditional paper pledge forms, saving time, money and the environment!  Employers simply need to assign each employee with an ID number and the module automates the rest. 

The module is now available for companies running fall campaigns.  It takes about seven to 10 business days to get a company registered and customize the module for their company.  Any employers who are interested in running their campaign via the E-Pledge module should contact the United Way of Elgin today!