GIVE. ADVOCATE. VOLUNTEER.
United way focuses on coming together as a community and creating a good life for everyone! Education, income and health are the essential part of creating a better life and a better community for everyone, especially our youth. United way is here to identify any problems that may interfere with meeting any basic needs for any individual or family.
History
The first “United Way” started out as one of the Charity Organization Societies. It was founded by church leaders (a woman named Frances Wisebart Jacobs, a priest named Rev. Myron W. Reed, two ministers named Msgr. William J.O’Ryan and Dean H. Martyn Hart and a rabbi named Rabbi William S. Friedman) in 1887 at Denver, Colorado. The organization coordinated relief services, counseled and referred clients to cooperating agencies, made emergency assistance grants in cases which could not be referred, and raised funds for 22 agencies. In its first year, the Charity Organization Society raised $21,700. Years after, the organization spread throughout the country and it is now known as the United Way. To this day, the organization is still focused on the utilization of the man power a community can create and using it to make a difference in people’s lives. Today it is the nation’s largest charity and the world’s largest privately funded non-profit organization. There are more than 1,800 United Ways in the world.
The local United Way, known as the United Way of McLean County, started out in 1935. During the time when Community Chest, former name of United Way, merged with United Welfare Foundation, an organization that started over a decade earlier. It was led by H. Monroe Dodge. During its first campaign it raised $57,000.
During World War II, Community Chest joined with the War Chest and provided services to service personnel and citizens of McLean County. After the war ended, throughout the Great Depression, Community Chest, Western Avenue Community Center, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Y.W.C.A., Y.M.C.A., The Baby Fold, The Salvation Army and the Day Nursery operated to address the pervasive poverty during that era.
During the 1950’s the organization saw a healthy growth in funding and changed its name into United Fund. The tax deductions for charitable contributions during the decade had a huge impact on fundraising. Before, fundraising largely depended upon door-to-door solicitation.
In 1960 United Fund changed its name to United Community Services. In 1973 it did its final title change to United Way of Mclean County. From $57,000 their funding increased overtime. $1 million in 1977, $2 million in 1989, $3 million in 1998 and in 2004, the United Way of McLean County raised over $4 million.
To this day the United Way of McLean County continues to help the community of McLean County. The organization is still committed to make a meaningful difference in the community.
Today, United Way is working on the advancement of common good in McLean County by creating opportunities for a better life for everyone. The organization tries to positively change the community of McLean County in the areas of education, income and health. The United Way of McLean County ensures that children achieve their academic potential, families are financially stable and people are healthy.
Vision and Mission
Vision
The United Way of McLean County’s goal is to have a community where its citizens’ human potential is achievable through academic success, financial stability and living healthy lives.
Mission
The United Way of McLean County improves lives by exhausting the power of the community’s citizens to improve the community of Mclean County as a whole. All for one and one for all.
By the help of the community of McLean County the United Way of McLean County will:
- Unite and involve everyone in the community of McLean County
- Efficiently use the community of McLean County’s resources
- Hold every citizen in the community of McLean County accountable
The United Way of McLean County are committed to:
- Accountability and transparency
- Quantifiable results
- Inclusiveness and community engagement
- Continuous improvement
- Excellence
To do this the United Way of McLean County will:
- Inspire the community of McLean County to make a difference
- Create human care goals in the community of McLean County
- Create coalitions to reach these goals
- Expanding the United Way of McLean County development efforts
- Learn from the impact of the United Way of McLean County’s effort and improve to have a better impact than before.
- Reflect the diversity of the community the organization serves
United Way of McLean County's Work
Education
Education is important especially within our youth. The youth within any community are the building blocks to our futures in society. By providing a helping hand to make sure everyone is getting a proper education united way can make sure that people are getting the necessary skills for jobs in the future.
Success Story:
A fantastic kid.
A great personality.
These are just a few of the ways you may hear people describe Richard (standing in the red shirt above). Despite being a fantastic kid with a great personality, Richard was struggling academically.
During the first quarter of his 8th grade year, he was failing everything but P.E. His mother, who is a single parent head of household, and his school knew that he was very capable, but not motivated.
Thanks to United Way and The Boys & Girls Club, Richard was paired with a different tutor every week. At first, it was a challenge to get him to meet with the tutor – he claimed he did not need help. But once Richard got to know the volunteer tutors, and realized they were going to keep coming back week after week, his attitude changed.
He began working with his tutors each week, and more importantly, he was now motivated. At the end of the school year, Richard came home with two D’s, two C’s and two B’s – he even passed the Constitution Test.
Thanks to support from United Way, and most of all, Richard’s determination, he is entering high school this fall!—
Income
Having a sense of financial stability is important to some degree in every household. An income is necessary to provide the basic needs for each and every family and united way is here to assist and reassure that everyone is able to meet those necessities.
Health
Access to quality health care keeps everyone on the same track. Maintaining a healthy environment will not only be better for the environment but will also make sure that children and adults are able to productively go to school and work if one or the other fails it causes the rest to result in the same state
Basic Needs
Basic needs of every family within the community are also something that united way focuses on. Making sure that every family is able to meet their basic needs in their day-to-day lives is something that united way wants to make sure of. In order to meet basic needs united way makes sure that people are able to provide food, shelter and housing services for themselves and their loved ones. United way partners and funds food banks and shelters within the community to assure they are able to provide that security that some families need that don’t have those resources available.
However, although united way supports people within the community who do need to use the resources provided to them. It is also a mission to make sure families are able to continue to live successfully once they are no longer provided the help and resources that are provided through funded programs within united way. United way reviews the outcomes in every situation to make sure they are providing the best services to everyone.
How to Help
Give
The United Way of McLean County is working hard to put every child in McLean County through quality education, to make sure every family in the community is financially stable and every citizen in the community of Mclean County is healthy. To continue the organization’s good work, it needs funding. It takes everyone’s initiative to create an almost perfect community. To make that happen the United Way of McLean County needs donations. Every donation helps people in need. Everyone can help by donating.
A $50 gift will give a student a ride to an after school program, Five hours of employment training and support for a person with a developmental disability, five hours of child care for parents experiencing financial difficulties and food for 12 homeless people for a whole day.
A $500 donation will provide five meetings with a caseworker to improve a student’s attendance and academic success, resume writing and interview training for 10 homeless people, three months of psychiatric services for a low-income person experiencing mental illness and disaster relief for one McLean County family in need. Donations can make a huge difference in the community of Mclean County.
Advocate
- Get informed
- Spread the word
- Reach out to the members of the congress.
- Be visible.
- Do it in public.
- Be loud.
- Let everyone know.
Volunteer
-Why volunteer?
Volunteering strengthens the community by increasing the man power to identify and respond to human needs. The more people helping the easier the task gets. Volunteering also raises awareness.
Benefits of volunteering
- Building connections
- Learn and develop skills
- Meet new people
- Feel needed and valued
- Confidence or self-esteem boost
- Knowing you made a difference
-Volunteering tips
- Choose Carefully
- Pick something you are interested in
- Consider the skills you have to offer
- Consider the things you might learn
Guide to Donating
To make sure your hard earned dollars go to the right cause, follow this guide.
1. View your donation as an investment. Like a real investment an investor would want to know where his investment would go.
2. To do this, do your homework. It is important to know all the facts about the organization you are planning to donate.
3. Avoid donating to organizations that asks for cash donations, sends mails that are disguised as bills or invoices, offers very little in information on the day to day operations, and pressures you to give. This activities shows signs that the organization is fraudulent.
4. Know the tax benefits of giving. Most charitable donations are tax deductible.
5. Decide how and how much you will give. Financial donations are the most common gift, but there are other ways to donate. Many organizations accept goods. It can be in the form of time as well. Volunteers are always accepted. Some employers match donations. This double your investment.
6. Track your donations. To make sure your investment is at work, attend meeting and key events of the organization.
Events (Updated 2014)
United way hosts events within the local community from tax preparation to kicking off a campaign at a local corn belter’s baseball game! Volunteering within the community and participating in local events are what united way is here for!
Updates on events can be found on http://www.uwaymc.org/news-events/ which is the web address that provides general information and also links that will direct you to specific information of the desired event.
Recent Events:
United Way Campaign Kickoff with the CornBelters - July 22, 2014
United Way Three-Year Education Funding - May 19, 2014
2015 United Way Funding Announcement – April 29, 2014
David Taylor Named United Way President and CEO - March 20, 2014
Media Alert – ECIP Designed to Unwind Workshop - March 14, 2014
VITA Free Tax Sites Now Open - January 30, 2014
United Way of McLean County Announces 2013 Campaign Results – January 22, 2014
Funded Programs
“Nearly two-thirds of the $3 billion collected each year by United Ways across the nation comes from workers contributing through Payroll Deduction.”
Establishing places that fit the required needs for education, income, and health are what united way is doing to fulfill United Way of McLean County's mission. These three factors are essential to the community and united way has opened several doors to allow everyone access to the resources they need to become successful.
Education
Listed are a few places within the community that united way funds for local residents. These places offer quality care and education for children. It is the United Way of McLean County's mission to provide education to our youth.
- After School Club – Western Avenue Community Center
- Community Schools – Baby Fold
- County Outreach for Success in school – Baby Fold
- Community & School-based mentoring – Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Illinois
Income
Listed are a few places within the community that provide housing opportunities based on income and also support with finances.
- Stability Program – Prairie State Legal Services
- Job Development Program – Salvation Army
- MGH for Homeless Youth – Project Oz
- Supported Employment – Marcfirst
- Transitional Living – Project Oz
Health
Listed are a few areas that provide aid for children and families. Everyone should be provided with quality care and united way has set forth a mission to provide places to allow everyone the opportunity to have access to at necessary locations.
- Blood Services – American Red Cross of the Heartland
- Counseling and Family Services – Chestnut Health Systems
- Countering Domestic Violence – Mid Central Community Action
- Crisis Nursery – Children’s Home + Aid
- Family Counseling – Center for Youth and Family Solutions
Focus Areas
Give – investing within your community. Advocate-champion the cause. Volunteer-give your time.
United way is all about focusing on the community and creating a better outlook for the future within our communities. Finding ways to get involved are the first step to a greater outlook for the entire community for everyone. Every person within the origination is trying to create a success story to achieve functioning success. The three building blocks: education, income and wealth are united ways target areas and there are multiple ways they have set forth to result in great accomplishments targeting those specific areas.
Location: 201 E Grove St #100, Bloomington, IL 61701
Phone:(309) 828-7383
Hours:
| Monday | 8:30 am – 12:00 pm, 1:00 – 4:30 pm |
| Tuesday | 8:30 am – 12:00 pm, 1:00 – 4:30 pm |
| Wednesday | 8:30 am – 12:00 pm, 1:00 – 4:30 pm |
| Thursday | 8:30 am – 12:00 pm, 1:00 – 4:30 pm |
| Friday | 8:30 am – 12:00 pm, 1:00 – 4:30 pm |
| Saturday | Closed |
| Sunday | Closed |
More information can be found on the website http://www.uwaymc.org/
