March 2011 Wrap-up: United Way and Elgin Nonprofit News

Every month we send out an eNewsletter with United Way of Elgin and area non-profit updates, education, income and health initiatives and news, and information about volunteer opportunities. Below is a summary of March’s newsletter. You can also sign up for the monthly eNewsletter to get news and information delivered right to your inbox.

• April 10-16 is National Volunteer Week! United Way of Elgin will be thanking our volunteers all week through a variety of activities and recognition. You can also browse our local nonprofit volunteer opportunities and sign up to help out today!
• United Way of Elgin is committed to starting the conversation on how to get our kids ready for school and keep them in school to succeed. Take our Education Pledge and stand up with us for Education in Elgin.
• We spotlight perennial United Way of Elgin supporter Shales McNutt Construction in our Company Spotlight.
• Anticipated results for the 2010-2011 Campaign show a 5% increase in dollars for the community.
• United Way Worldwide has been supporting Japan since the devastating earthquake and tsunami of March 11^th.
• United Way of Illinois has released the Field Notes for their January/February sessions in Springfield.
• We’ve got 3 new Caring Club members!

February Wrap Up: United Way and Elgin Non-profit News

Every month we send out an eNewsletter with United Way of Elgin and area non-profit updates, education, income and health initiatives and news, and information about volunteer opportunities. Below is a summary of February’s newsletter. You can also sign up for the monthly eNewsletter to get news and information delivered right to your inbox.

Making Every Contribution Count:

One of the questions we are most often asked is “What exactly does my contribution do?”  Well, here are some highlights of what your dollars accomplished through our partner agencies last fall!

Making Kane County FIT FOR KIDS:

In Kane County, a startling 1 out of 5 kids is considered obese.  To reverse this trend, Kane County partners created the Making Kane Fit For Kids initiative.  Read more about what the group hopes to achieve by 2020 here.

Update on the WorkKeys/Key Train Program:

Considering taking the WorkKeys assessment to get your skills certified?  First stop by one of Elgin Community College’s Key Train Open Labs to get personalized help, information, and practice before taking the exam.  Read more about what this program is doing for Elgin’s workforce here.

Company Spotlight: City of Elgin

City of Elgin employees know first-hand what it means to serve a community.  In addition to helping residents of Elgin on a daily basis, many city employees give up their free time to help local organizations serve the most vulnerable of our neighbors.  Read more about how the City of Elgin truly LIVES UNITED for their community here.

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Announcements:

Two years and 3,700 kids later, United Way of Elgin’s Dolly Parton Imagination Library program is going strong. Of course, we could not have provided monthly books to all these children and their families without our great sponsors: JPMorgan Chase Foundation, Provena Saint Joseph Hospital, EFS Foundation, Elgin Township, KCT Credit Union, The Fideliter Club of Elgin, and people like YOU who gave an additional $5,000 in campaign pledges this year for the program.  We can’t say it enough: THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU for helping us give the gift of reading to Elgin Area children!

We’re excited to announce a new Caring Club member: Big Apple Bagels! United Way of Elgin Caring Club card holders can now get 12 bagels for the price of 6!  See the complete list of Caring Club participants and find out how YOU can become a Caring Club member here.

Don’t forget to spread the word about the FREE TAX PREPARATION program currently going on at the Gail Borden Public Library.  Download the flier to share with your neighbors, and read more about the program here.