The Evanston Chapter of the United Way of the North Shore is distributing grants totalling $584,720 to 23 groups providing health and human service programs serving the city.
The Evanston chapter of the UWNS is the largest non-governmental funder of programs that invest in the Evanston community. Distributions to 23 partner agencies began July 1.
“Our goal, with the help of Evanston residents and businesses, is to promote independence for recipients, assisting them in times of emergency or overwhelming physical or mental difficulties they might encounter. Affordable child care, affordable housing, youth safety, all are part of the picture,” Marion Flynn, president of the local chapter, said. “In these difficult economic times, the needs are greater, and we all owe a thank you to the many residents and organizations that made contributions.”
“We maintain a constant communication with our partners,” Flynn explains. “We look for solutions to on-going challenges to the agencies and make site visits a major focus of our efforts, in addition to the fund-raising campaign. This is a community effort made by Board members who live or work in Evanston.”
In addition to Evanston residents, several Evanston businesses and institutions also participated in the Annual Fund drive including Best Buy, City of Evanston, Districts 65 and 202, Marshall’s, St.Francis-Resurrection Hospital and Target.
The following agencies received grants from the Evanston chapter of UWNS, the Childcare Center of Evanston, Childcare Network of Evanston, Connections for the Homeless, Evanston Community Defender, Evanston Day Nursery, Family Focus of Evanston, Girl Scouts: Illinois Crossroads Council, The Harbour, Housing Options for the Mentally Ill, Infant Welfare Society/Baby Toddler, Legal Assistance Foundation, McGaw YMCA, Mental Health Association, Metropolitan Family Services, North Shore Senior Center, Orchard Village, Peer Services, Reba Early Learning Services, Seniors Action Service, Shore Community Service, the Youth Job Center, Youth Organizations Umbrella (YOU) and the YWCA of Evanston/North Shore.
United Way of the North Shore as a whole is investing more than $1.5 million in local service agencies. Chapters of United Way of the North Shore include: Evanston, Glencoe, Highland Park-Highwood, Lake Forest-Lake Bluff, Wilmette and Winnetka-Northfield. Region-wide, the United Way of Metropolitan Chicago is investing $55.6 million in 238 communities in five counties.