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Community Spotlight

05.04.23

April Food Day 2023 Collects 90,000+ Pounds of Food for the Southland

The Southland community came together at the Tinley Park Convention Center on April 27 for April Food Day 2023. Thanks to generous donors and 150+ volunteers, more than 90,000 pounds of food was collected and distributed to 10 local food pantries, replenishing shelves in advance of the summer months when donations tend to wane – but the need remains.

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Blog

04.18.23

Monika Payne Gives Back Through April Food Day

For Monika Payne, April Food Day is a family affair. Each year, sporting a t-shirt with bold “LIVE UNITED” lettering on the front, Monika joins her brother and extended family at the Tinley Park Convention Center.

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Blog

03.24.23

Women’s History Month: Sarah Hughes Builds Connection Through Women United

Sarah Hughes was looking for a way to support her community. It was summer of 2020, during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, when she saw a flyer from Women United calling for diaper and formula donations. She immediately took action.

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05.22.23

A Faith Story: Aspire Center Breaks Ground

Ten years after Emmet Elementary School closed, community leaders and their partners broke ground on the Aspire Center for Workforce Innovation in the school’s parking lot. More than 100 guests gathered in Austin to celebrate the next step in the development of this catalytic investment in their neighborhood.

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05.04.23

April Food Day 2023 Collects 90,000+ Pounds of Food for the Southland

The Southland community came together at the Tinley Park Convention Center on April 27 for April Food Day 2023. Thanks to generous donors and 150+ volunteers, more than 90,000 pounds of food was collected and distributed to 10 local food pantries, replenishing shelves in advance of the summer months when donations tend to wane – but the need remains.

Read More

04.18.23

Monika Payne Gives Back Through April Food Day

For Monika Payne, April Food Day is a family affair. Each year, sporting a t-shirt with bold “LIVE UNITED” lettering on the front, Monika joins her brother and extended family at the Tinley Park Convention Center.

Read More

03.24.23

Women’s History Month: Sarah Hughes Builds Connection Through Women United

Sarah Hughes was looking for a way to support her community. It was summer of 2020, during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, when she saw a flyer from Women United calling for diaper and formula donations. She immediately took action.

Read More

02.13.23

A Local Champion: Remembering Andrew J. McKenna

This past weekend, we joined Chicago’s civic, business, and philanthropic community, alongside family and loved ones, to celebrate the life and legacy of Andrew J. McKenna, a friend and supporter of United Way of Metro Chicago for decades.

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01.17.23

UIC Neighborhood Center Brings Hope and Services to Auburn Gresham

The long-awaited opening of Auburn Gresham’s Healthy Lifestyle Hub, a four-story epicenter of resources serving the Far Southwest Side community, brings more than tangible services – it brings hope – to a historically-disinvested neighborhood.

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12.19.22

Nurturing Our Neighbors This Holiday Season

Maria and her family participated in Uniting for the Holidays, a series of drive-through events providing meals and gifts for thousands of residents in eight Chicago suburbs, including Palatine, where Maria has lived for more than 20 years.

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11.15.22

A Season of Giving and Gratitude

Our chief development officer, Chris Preston, reflects on what it means to him and our team to mobilize the caring power of communities to make a difference.

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10.19.22

Stability for Survivors: Freedom Through Financial Empowerment

Our Stability for Survivors program, supported by United Way of Metro Chicago, The Allstate Foundation, and Crown Family Philanthropies, addresses the often-overlooked issue of financial abuse. This vital program is expanding this year to reach more community partners—and empower more survivors to regain their power and independence.

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10.17.22

#BuyLatinx: Supporting Latinx-Owned Businesses in Our Neighborhood Networks

This Latinx Heritage Month, United Way of Metro Chicago partnered with our Neighborhood Networks in Brighton Park, Cicero, and Little Village to spotlight Latinx-owned restaurants, cafes, shops, and other small businesses that call these vibrant communities home.

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