North Shore United Way today launched its annual campaign for contributions to fund some 57 health, education, and human services agencies in Evanston and 16 other North Shore communities.
North Shore United Way today launched its annual campaign for contributions to fund some 57 health, education, and human services agencies in Evanston and 16 other North Shore communities.
The kickoff came at a news conference at the Evanston Public Library, featuring remarks by Evanston’s Mayor Tisdahl, Evanston/Skokie District 65 School Superintendent Hardy Murphy, and representatives from the North Shore University Healthcare System, Evanston Township High School, and Northwestern University, all of whom pledged to make a big effort to raise funds from among their employees.
The goal for the campaign this year is $1.8 million, about the same as last year, according to Marla Glabe, president of North Shore United Way.
“Our goal is real meaningful change,” Glabe said. She added that the fundraising group carefully assesses the needs of the area every three years and allocates its funds on the basis of demonstrated need, “helping people who are faced with challenges move from crisis to stability and independence.”
While funds raised on the North Shore stay on the North Shore, Glabe said, she acknowledged that Evanston agencies typically receive allocations in excess of what is raised here because the needs in Evanston are greater than in most other North Shore communities.
Teachers in the two Evanston school districts have challenged each other to see who raises the most funds for the campaign this year—District 65 or 202, about which Superintendent Murphy said, “Nothing but good can come out of this.”
Too bad the Boy Scouts still discriminate.
The United Way supports many fabulous organizations. I wish it did not support the Boy Scouts of America, because the BSA has opted to continue to discriminate against people because of their religious beliefs and, separately, because of their sexual orientation. When the local United Way opted not to support the BSA, I happily supported the United Way. I’m sorry it changed its policies. I know a lot of upstanding, moral people who identify as either agnostic (are not sure that God exists) or atheist (do not believe in God). I also know a lot of upstanding and moral people who identify as gay or lesbian. I wish the BSA would not discriminate against these groups of people, and I wish the United Way North Shore did not support a group such as the BSA that discriminates in this way.
from Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boy_Scouts_of_America_membership_controversies):
The Boy Scouts of America’s position is that atheists and agnostics cannot participate as Scouts (youth members) or Scouters (adult leaders) in its traditional Scouting programs.
In 2001, the Boston Minuteman Council adopted a nondiscrimination policy which included sexual orientation; however, when an openly homosexual man attempted to register as a merit badge counselor he was rejected on the basis of his sexual orientation.
The same year, nine BSA local councils proposed a resolution that would have allowed local councils to comply with nondiscrimination policies regarding homosexual persons but the resolution was rejected by the BSA National Council.
Also in 2001, the BSA revoked the charters of several Cub Scout packs in Oak Park, Illinois, because the sponsors, a parent-teacher group, adhered to a policy which banned discrimination based on sexual orientation.
In part due to a lawsuit (Cradle of Liberty Council v. City of Philadelphia), the Cradle of Liberty Council in Philadelphia adopted a nondiscrimination policy with respect to sexual orientation in 2003 but was ordered to revoke it by the National Council.