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.
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.
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.
Andy McKenna is a life-long Chicagoan who understands that the Chicago region is shaped by the people who step forward and invest their time and energy in advancing the civic and philanthropic needs of the region. Andy is one of these leaders whose commitment and boundless energy set the bar high for Chicago’s civic and philanthropic community. He often works behind the scenes to mentor nonprofit leaders and fellow board members.
It is not often a nonprofit organization wakes up to a call informing them they will be receiving a $25 million unrestricted grant. Thanks to the generosity of MacKenzie Scott, United Way received that call and the single largest donation in the organization’s 80+ year history.
Lisa and Lamar Johnson, co-founders of Lamar Johnson Collaborative (LJC), a mission-driven architecture firm, are leaving their mark across the city. From skyscrapers in the Loop to community centers in disinvested neighborhoods, the Johnsons are shaping a workforce culture that puts human service at the forefront of their business.
Joshua Simmons, 23, is a recent college graduate from Westchester, IL and has spent time living in the South Side of Chicago.
On Sunday, marking the 50th anniversary of this event, Chicagoans far and wide celebrated Pride at the city’s annual parade. As advocates for stronger communities, United Pride — a United Way affinity group — and a few of our community and corporate partners came together to rally around our LGBTQ neighbors.
In honor of National Volunteer Month, our Corporate Liaison Ashley Nicoson sat down with our Digital Content Specialist, Carley Mossbrook, to discuss why United Way of Metro Chicago is the perfect one-stop shop for volunteers who want to get involved.