United Way of the DuPage Area’s Inaugural LIVE UNITED 5k Run/Walk will be held on Saturday, May 8, 2010, beginning at 8 AM at Cantigny Park in Wheaton, IL. To learn more about the event and to register, please visit our LIVE UNITED 5k webpage.

United Way of the DuPage Area’s Women’s Leadership Council would like to thank everyone who attended the Kickoff luncheon on November 12, 2009. Over 50 women were in attendance and all enjoyed a healthy meal and cooking demonstration provided by College of DuPage’s Hospitality Administration department.

UWDA’s Chief Professional Officer, Christine Lewis, gave an overview of United Way’s work in the community and shared some compelling statistics about our region that truly demonstrated the increasing needs in the DuPage area. Women’s Leadership Council member Natasha Bonomo shared why supporting United Way is important to her and how the Council will work to shine a light on health and human service needs and how the members will work together to help meet these increasing needs.

Over the next year, the Women’s Leadership Council will be offering volunteer and educational opportunities throughout the DuPage area, while making long-term plans that will guide the Women’s Leadership Council into the future.

If you would like to be a part of what we are doing, please visit the Women’s Leadership Council section of our website and contact Christine Lewis at clewis@uw-mc.org or 630-645-6352.

*A special thank you to Trader Joe’s of Downers Grove and Glen Ellyn for providing beautiful floral centerpieces for the event and to Genesis One Design for donating the invitations for this event!

The DuPage Federation on Human Services Reform, Illinois Department of Human Services, and Rescue & Restore invite you to participate in a Brown Bag Discussion on Human Trafficking

Come learn about the basics of human trafficking (What is human trafficking? How do I recognize human trafficking?), what local efforts are currently taking place including information on Rescue & Restore, and how you can be involved.

This Brown Bag discussion will be an interactive and informal opportunity to learn, exchange, and network in a relaxed environment.

Please bring your own lunch and we will provide drinks and dessert.

For: Those working in the areas of domestic violence, health care, mental health, homelessness, youth, human services, services for immigrants and refugees, law enforcement, legal advocates, etc.

Friday, July 31, 2009
12:00 P – 1:00 P

DuPage County Government Center
421 N. County Farm Road, Room 3-500B
Wheaton, Illinois

Please R.S.V.P.
Amy Snodgrass (630) 782-4783 or asnodgrass@dupagefederation.org

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.

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.

Contact: Dru Bergman, (630) 260-2500, ext. 2502 or dru@dhoc.org

Free Home Buyers Fair Saturday, February 28th

Consumer Event Helps First-time Buyers Avoid Housing Pitfalls

The DuPage Homeownership Center and the DuPage County Department of Community Services are sponsoring a Free Home Buyers Fair on Saturday, February 28, 2009, to help first-time buyers avoid the pitfalls that have plunged so many current homeowners into crisis.

The Fair will be held from 10 am until 3 pm at the DuPage County Administration Building, 421 N. County Farm Road, Wheaton, IL 60187.

“Despite all the bad economic news, this actually is a great market for first-time buyers,” said Dru Bergman, Executive Director of the DuPage Homeownership Center. “They don’t have properties to sell, there’s ample housing inventory and interest rates are low. But buyers have to be prepared.”

The Fair offers free workshops on all aspects of the home purchase process, as well as exhibits by area lenders, Realtors, insurance agents and other service providers. HUD representatives will be on hand to discuss FHA loans and DuPage Habitat for Humanity will host an application session for buyers interested in their programs at 10 am. (DuPage Habitat is an equal opportunity houser at www.dupagehabitat.org.)

The DuPage Homeownership Center is a HUD-certified housing counseling agency serving DuPage County. In addition to sponsoring the Annual Home Buyers Fair, the Center offers free classes and individual counseling for first-time home buyers, free foreclosure prevention counseling for DuPage County homeowners in financial crisis and free reverse mortgage counseling for senior homeowners.

For more information about the Fair or any of the DuPage Homeownership Center’s services, call (630) 260-2500 or visit their website at www.dhoc.org.

It’s that time of the year again when approximately 130 million people around the world gather for what is usually the most-watched television broadcast of the year—the Super Bowl. The NFL has again graciously agreed to provide United Way with a 10-second ad during the first half of Super Bowl XLIII to promote our joint initiative around youth health and fitness. United Way will use this highly-visible spot to raise funds for in-school and after-school fitness programs via the innovative text-to-give vehicle. Text-to-give is a quick and easy way for viewers to donate $5 to United Way fitness programs using their cell phones.

We need your help! And it’s never been easier. Pull out your cell phone. Text “FIT” to UNITED (864833) and donate $5 to United Way in-school and after-school fitness programs. Recruit your friends to help too. This is a great way to help advance the common good and move the needle on our ten-year goal to get 1.9 million more healthy young people. Together, we can reverse the growing epidemic of childhood obesity!

Thanks, in advance, for your help in supporting and promoting youth health and fitness and our NFL partnership.

Naperville United Way’s 2008 Outdoor Art Garden Party will showcase 39 colorful fiberglass sculptures, including ladybugs, frogs, benches and butterflies. Any one interested in the Garden Party pieces can place their bids Sept. 12th during an auction at Bobak’s Signature Events in Woodridge.

Individual ticket price is $100, and a table (seats 8 individuals) is $750. All auction proceeds benefit United Way of the DuPage Area.

Please RSVP no later than September 5th
630.369.2676 or kchval@uwmc.org

For more information, visit Naperville United Way’s website.

Jim Skinner, Vice Chairman and CEO of McDonald’s Corporation hosted a Tocqueville Society reception on January 29, 2008. We would like to thank Mr. Skinner for a very educational event and would like to thank our corporate partners, Tocqueville donors, and volunteers for braving the weather to attend this special event.  Take a look at our pictures from this great event under the “Photos” tab!