Despite the distance, our corporate partners continued to volunteer, virtually! Employees from UPS united to craft hundreds of masks for our community partners and the people they serve.
United Way corporate partners also volunteered at our Uniting for the Holidays events across the suburban region. These employees from AmericanAg helped distribute food in Palatine in November.
Though we didn’t get to connect with you at United Way events or see you in your offices this year, the support of our donors and corporate partners never wavered – in fact, some employee giving campaigns reached new heights!
As we celebrate the holiday season, we’re extra thankful for the big wins we achieved with your support.
In the 2019/2020 campaign year, United Way of Metro Chicago and its initiatives raised $81 million to help our neighbors meet their basic needs and build stronger neighborhoods. $35 million was invested through the Chicago Community COVID-19 Response Fund, launched by United Way and The Chicago Community Trust, in partnership with the City of Chicago. This support provided shelter, food, financial assistance and so much more to our neighbors in need, while supporting neighborhood coalitions and community organizations on the front lines of the pandemic.
New corporate partners joined our fight to build stronger, more equitable neighborhoods. Our new partners include: Kalderos, Piper Sanders, Quarles & Brady, SCOR, Verve Credit Union, and Wilson Sporting Goods. Welcome, friends! Other partners also reconnected with us! We’re excited to work alongside the City of Elgin, First Midwest Bank, Littelfuse, S&C Electric, UL and USG Corporation again.
While we were growing our network, some of our corporate partners grew their investments! Employees of Cook County, Fifth Third Bank, PNC, and U.S. Bank gave more money than last year. We also received the largest gift in United Way of Metro Chicago history — $25 million from philanthropist MacKenzie Scott. This new funding will bring critical resources to our neighbors and neighborhoods for years to come.
When COVID-19 persisted through the winter season, United Way had to rethink our annual holiday events. With your support, we hosted Uniting for the Holidays, a drive-through food distribution in 6 locations. 3,000 families received meals, toys, backpacks, PPE and more. Uniting For The Holidays is generously supported by Regional Presenting Sponsor Aetna Better Health of Illinois and Presenting Sponsor Seigle Family Foundation. Advocate Aurora Healthcare, Behr Paint Corporation, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois, Comcast NBC Universal, Johns Byrne, Kellogg’s, KPMG and Thermoflex also supported the event.