The deadline for passing a fair and responsible budget by our State Legislators has come and gone. The result? Nothing yet. We are still facing massive cuts to human service programs and state-run agencies that rely on equitable funding from the State to protect and serve the elderly, the disabled, children and others who depend on these services. Social service representatives, clients, government officials and taxpayers alike came out en masse throughout the month of June to decry cuts to human service programs. Through rallies, vigils and contacting State Senators and Representatives, our voices were heard but not listened to.

As a result, agencies in our area are cutting services, programs and jobs NOW. They can’t wait two weeks more for the state legislature to get back in session and pass a budget; they have to go by what their contracts are, and those contracts reflect an average of 50% cuts in government funding. As a result, we have heard from local agencies that are reducing or cutting services, closing supportive housing and shelters, and cutting staff. Without a budget and without an extended contract, these agencies cannot continue serving our most vulnerable populations.

We continue to urge legislators in Springfield to do their job and create a solid budget that leaves no one behind. We also urge them to be clear and transparent when communicating the results of the current Springfield session. All Illinois residents have a stake in this budget, and as it stands right now human services is not only lacking funding but direction on how to proceed. Please continue to reach out to your State Representative and Senator. Click here to ACT NOW.

“Out of Poverty” is a program of personal change. “Out of Poverty” affirms that change is possible. By following a step-by-step process within a group context, participants take responsibility for their life and choices, commit to learn and practice new behavior, and finally share experiences and thus find a road to a more prosperous life. In letting go of unproductive thoughts, feelings and behaviors and replacing them with new ones participants move towards a better quality of life.

“Out of Poverty” classes will be held on 7 consecutive Mondays, from 9:30am – 12:30pm, starting September 14, 2009 through November 2, 2009 at Catholic Charities, 26 W St Charles Rd. Lombard, IL 60148. No class will be held on Monday October 12th in observance of the Columbus Day Holiday. Baby sitting will be available.

If you would like to enroll in the program or have any questions, please contact Ron Madsen (rmadsen@cc-doj.org) or Jane Tyschenko (jtyschenko@cc-doj.org). There is no fee for this program which is open to all.

Please see the attached flyer for more information.

Please visit our Press Release page to read our two newest articles. The first is about United Way of the DuPage Area’s $3.7 million investment in more than 100 health and human service programs in 30 communities. The second introduces the six new members joining United Way of the DuPage Area’s Board of Directors.

On June 21st, the longest day of the year, United Way of the DuPage Area will join United Ways across the country in the second annual United Way Day of Action. This event serves as a call-to-action for individuals to come together in collective efforts to make needed changes in their communities. With more daylight hours than any other day of the year, June 21 is the perfect day to let your actions speak louder than words. It’s the perfect way to show, by example, what it means to LIVE UNITED.

Please visit our new How I LIVE UNITED page to read about how others in our community LIVE UNITED.

In this article: What State Budget Cuts Mean

The State of Illinois has passed a budget that cuts by half health and human services across the state. However, it is not too late to reverse the dire consequences that are sure to result if this vote stands. During the week of June 22, Governor Quinn has the option to recall law makers for a re-vote on the budget. United Way is calling on its supporters to help the hundreds of thousands of people who will be affected by this budget proposal. Already, the Illinois Department of Human Services is looking to close four mental health facilities, eliminate substance abuse treatment and prevention programs and slash all human service agency budgets by 75%. The negative effects of this will impact people for years to come.

Although the state is facing a massive budget shortfall—cutting health and human services is not the answer. Studies have shown that every $1 invested in community services returns $6-8 to Illinois taxpayers.

United Way partner agency programs have once again been forced to tighten belts after already working on shoestring budgets, while record numbers of people are seeking the services they provide. At United Way alone, funding applications for programs that help people become financially stable have doubled, and for every $6 of requests, there was only $1 of funding available.

Just over 75 years ago, in the grip of the Great Depression, the people of Chicago came together to create, fund and sustain a network of community services to help people in their time of need, a network eventually known as United Way. As history seems to be repeating itself, we look to the people in our region to encourage their state legislators to work side by side with us to promote the common good and protect its citizens by maintaining funding for health and human services.

How you can help:

Contact your Illinois legislator and tell him or her that holding the line on Health and Human Services funding is critical if Illinois is to be positioned for future growth and prosperity. Click here for information on how to reach your State Senator or your State Representative. If you need to figure out who your local senator and representative are, go here and enter in your zip code.

Please visit United Way of Metropolitan Chicago’s website to see their advocacy toolkit. It includes the ability to locate the name, address, phone and fax number of of someone’s state representative or senator; a phone script to use when contacting a legislator; and a sample letter to mail or fax to legislators.

For more information, please email Jack Kaplan, director of public policy and advocacy for United Way of Metropolitan Chicago and Untied Way of Illinois at jkaplan@uw-mc.org.

Back To School Fair
Wednesday August 5, 2009
DuPage County Fairgrounds

Back to School Flyer (English)

Back to School Flyer (Spanish/Español)

The Fair is held at the DuPage County Fairgrounds in Wheaton and is coordinated by Catholic Charities. It is a one-stop shopping event of health and human services for families living on low incomes in DuPage County with children ages newborn to 18 years.

Last year, more than 4,200 individuals representing 1,057 families attended the Fair and visited the 82 participating organizations! 2,015 children each received $10 gift cards for school supplies from Catholic Charities. The Regional Office of Education distributed 1,500 school backpacks, 2,500 boxes of crayons, and 12,000 pens, pencils and assorted supplies. St Vincent DePaul Society distributed clothing and coat coupons valued at $14,580. DuPage County Human Services issued 102 Payless Shoe vouchers worth over $1,500. In addition, County and volunteer medical professionals performed 147 vision screenings and 216 dental exams.

If you have specific questions about the Fair, please contact:
Mary S. Tarnow, Coordinator
630.495.8008 ext. 2110
mtarnow@cc-doj.org

Please take a look at a new section of our website where we will be posting our press releases. You can go here to read about our two newest releases. One focuses on UWDA volunteer Phil Smith winning United Way of Metropolitan Chicago’s Volunteer of the Year award at the United Way Community Celebration. The other is about UWDA’s Top 5 Corporate Citizens. Once again, Kellogg Company of Elmhurst and Oak Brook is the #1 Top Corporate Citizen.

Get ready for another night at the ballpark with United Way at the fourth annual “Salute to United Way Supporters” at U.S. Cellular Field on August 18. Come watch the Chicago White Sox slug it out against the Kansas City Royals where United Way and the White Sox have reserved 1,000 ground level bleacher seats directly behind left and center field. You can purchase tickets for just $21 which includes a LIVE UNITED T-shirt and the chance to walk around the warning track on the field for a pre-game LIVE UNITED parade.

Companies can purchase up to 150 tickets on a first-come, first-served basis and are encouraged to consider using these tickets to recognize their $1,000+ Leadership Givers or their Campaign Committee and Solicitors.

Tickets will be limited so you are encouraged to place your order early. Last year, more than 1,650 United Way supporters from 70 companies and organizations sat together at U.S. Cellular Field.

If you have any questions, please email Barbara Kaplinsky at BKaplinsky@uw-mc.org, or call 312.906.2406. Thank you for your continued support and commitment to United Way.

United Way of the DuPage Area’s annual board meeting will be held at 6:30 p.m. on June 17th, 2009 at The Community House in Hinsdale.

Free Foreclosure Prevention Help May 30th
DuPage County Administration Building

Workshop Helps Homeowners Get Assistance and Avoid Scams

Struggling DuPage County homeowners can get information on President Obama’s Making Home Affordable foreclosure prevention initiatives and other strategies to help them save their homes at a free workshop Saturday, May 30, 2009, from 2 pm to 4 pm at the DuPage County Administration Building Auditorium, 421 N. County Farm Road, Wheaton, IL 60187. The workshop is sponsored by the DuPage Homeownership Center, a nonprofit HUD-certified housing counseling agency serving DuPage County.

“This free workshop will give homeowners practical advice on the foreclosure prevention options currently available and valuable tips on how to get organized to work with their lenders,” said Dru Bergman, Executive Director of the DuPage Homeownership Center. “We’ll also have important consumer alerts about avoiding scam artists who are preying on homeowners in crisis.”

Although the workshop is free, reservations are required. For reservations or information, call the DuPage Homeownership Center at (630) 260-2500, ext. 2501, or visit their website at www.dhoc.org.