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October 29, 2009
JOLIET -- United Way of Will County
kicked off the 2009-2010 fund-raising campaign Wednesday and set a
record-breaking goal. Mindful of the times, this year's goal is just $1
more than last year. But United Way hopes to raise $3,985,002 to help 46
community organizations, many of which are in the business of helping
people through trying times.
Difficult times
"During these difficult economic times,
everyone is facing challenges," Jim Roolf, chairman for this year's
United Way of Will County Campaign, said in a written statement. "We
recognize these challenges and thus the importance to maintain what we
are providing to the United Way. "The need continues to grow in Will
County, and it is vital that the United Way's 46 partner agencies be
able to continue providing the crucial services to our community in
order to help those less fortunate."
Kick-off
Nearly 200 people attended the kick-off
event at 7:30 a.m. Wednesday at the Joliet Junior College Renaissance
Center in downtown Joliet. Roolf said later that he believes the
enthusiasm at the event will help the drive to keep up the level of
United Way funding that community organizations need. Roolf headed the
campaign last year as well, when United Way was able to go $1 over the
previous mark and maintain its level of support for nonprofit groups
around the county in a tough economic climate.
Companies join in
Some companies already have begun their
fund-raising efforts for the current campaign, which is expected to be
completed in May. Others will be starting campaigns in the coming weeks,
said Mike Hennessy, president and chief executive officer of United Way
of Will County. "We get things scheduled at all hours of the day and
every day of the week," Hennessy said. While the standard method of
contribution to United Way is through payroll deduction, many companies
have come up with creative efforts to build enthusiasm for the cause,
Hennessy said.
May 22, 2009
JOLIET -- It was a close call, but United Way of Will
County was able to reach its campaign goal and surpass it by raising
$3,990,957 -- almost $6,000 past its goal.
As of Monday, Mike Hennessy, president and CEO of the
nonprofit organization, said they had not reached its goal of $3,985,000
which was just a buck more than they raised the previous year.
"It is going to be a challenge to meet before
Thursday's celebration event. We have been going back to a number of
workplaces that implemented their campaign earlier in the year to
respectfully make another friendly ask to their employees," he said
Monday.
As a result, new contributions graciously came to
United Way, Hennessy said.
"We are so grateful to a very generous and giving
community. A community that understands that the requests for assistance
made to our partner agencies have grown and were willing to do all they
could to help," Hennessy said. "We are so blessed.
"We respectfully asked employees who had not given in
the past to their United Way workplace campaign if they could give just
$1 per pay period. Many responded to this request," he said.
"We had new companies step forward to help -- both
through making a corporate gift and implementing an employee campaign,"
Hennessy said. "Just a great deal of hard work by so many wonderful
persons in our community who believe in our United Way and our 46
partner agencies."
'I'm blown away'
Jim Roolf, United Way campaign chair and president of
Joliet Banking Center for First Midwest Bank, announced the good news at
United Way's Campaign Celebration Thank You Event on Thursday night at
the Renaissance Center in Joliet."It was
amazing to think last year was a record year and to think we topped that
with a new record in an extraordinary economic climate we are in," Roolf
said earlier Thursday. "I'm blown away, excited, pleased, but blown
away."
The United Way staff and volunteers have done an
outstanding job in a year that has been economically challenging for
everybody, Roolf said.
"I think the agencies are seeing continuing increases
in demands for services they provide," Roolf said. "People who never
thought they would be homeless are finding themselves in a homeless
situation or, in need of a food basket or medical care. One of the 46
United Way agencies is in the position to help them."
Roolf was optimistic that they could raise more,
reaching the $4 million mark by June 30 when the campaign closes out.
They would only need an additional $9,043.
If nine companies agreed to do $1,000 more or if nine
new contributors each offered $1,000, they could make it, he said.
"A series of folks could decide to put in a $100 more
and all of a sudden you are at $4 million," Roolf said.
Awards
Throughout the evening, special awards and recognitions
were presented to outstanding United Way volunteers for their dedicated
and caring support of our community.Mary
Jaworski, vice president, of the Joliet Region Chamber of Commerce and
Industry, was recognized for her year of service as chairwoman of the
United Way's board of directors.
Mark Wilson, senior account manager/facilitator for
Dale Carnegie Training, was the recipient of the Roger Osman Award for
Distinguished Volunteer Service. The Citgo Petroleum Co. and Exxon Mobil
Refining and Supply Co. were both presented with the Frank Turk Sr.
Outstanding Campaign Achievement Award for their outstanding workplace
campaigns and other volunteer commitments for United Way. Roolf was
recognized for his outstanding leadership as campaign chair.
Top supporters
Each year, the United Way of Will County's Campaign
brings together volunteer resources from the community to raise needed
funds in support of health and human services programs provided to the
residents of Will County by United Way partner agencies.
United Way of Will County's top 10 supporting companies
and employee groups this year were: ComEd and Exelon Company raising a
total of $410,145; Exxon Mobil Refining and Supply Company, $288,858;
Caterpillar Inc., $243,047; United Parcel Service, $220,088; Citgo
Petroleum Corp., $182,171; Illinois Tool Works, $211,458; Chicago Bridge
& Iron, $118,818; Provena Health, $86,185; AT&T, $80,750; and Will
County, $80,750.
To donate or for more information about the United Way
of Will County, call the office at
    815-723-2500
or visit www.uwwill.org.
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December 3, 2008
It just takes a buck to break the record, and
that's what the United Way is going for.
The United Way of Will County announced its goal
for the 2008-2009 campaign, and it is coming in one dollar over the
$3,985,001 all-time high set last year.
Jim Roolf, the president of First Midwest Joliet
Banking Center, is chairing this year's campaign. With the United
Way's goal being just $1 more than what the organization raised last
year, Roolf spoke of the value of one and the importance to maintain
our communitywide level of giving to United Way.
"During these difficult economic times, everyone
is facing challenges," Roolf said. "We recognize these challenges,
and thus the importance to maintain what we're providing to the
United Way.
"The need continues to grow in Will County and it
is vital that the 46 partner agencies be able to continue providing
the crucial services to our community by way of our support to
United Way," he said.
Mike Hennessy, the president and chief executive
officer of United Way of Will County, was pleased that Roolf agreed
to serve as the chairman for the 2008-2009 campaign.
"First Midwest Bank and its employees have been
one of our top contributors to our local United Way for many years,"
Hennessy said. "Jim Roolf is such a caring and giving person, he
truly leads by example. I am confident Jim will lead our United Way
of Will County Campaign Team to reach new heights, which will
benefit the residents of Will County."
United Way of Will County is a local,
not-for-profit, community-based organization. Each year United Way
of Will County raises need funds to support the programs and
services provided by not-for-profit agencies throughout Will County.
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December 2, 2008
It just takes a buck to break the record, and that's
what the United Way is going for.
The United Way of Will County announced its goal for
the 2008-2009 campaign, and it is coming in one dollar over the
$3,985,0001 all-time high set last year.
Jim Roolf, the president of First Midwest Joliet
Banking Center, is chairing this year's campaign. With the United Way's
goal being just $1 more than what the organization raised last year,
Roolf spoke of the value of one and the importance to maintain our
communitywide level of giving to United Way.
"During these difficult economic times, everyone is
facing challenges," Roolf said. "We recognize these challenges, and thus
the importance to maintain what we're providing to the United Way.
"The need continues to grow in Will County and it is
vital that the 46 partner agencies be able to continue providing the
crucial services to our community by way of our support to United Way,"
he said.
Mike Hennessy, the president and chief executive
officer of United Way of Will County, was pleased that Roolf agreed to
serve as the chairman for the 2008-2009 Campaign.
"First Midwest Bank and its employees have been one of
our top contributors to our local United Way for many years," Hennessy
said. "Jim Roolf is such a caring and giving person, he truly leads by
example. I am confident Jim will lead our United Way of Will County
Campaign Team to reach new heights, which will benefit the residents of
Will County."
United Way of Will County is a local, not-for-profit,
community-based organization. Each year United Way of Will County raises
need funds to support the programs and services provided by
not-for-profit agencies throughout Will County.
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BOLINGBROOK -- Borders Bookstore
definitely can be called a
Superstore after announcing its
decision last week to collaborate
with the United Way of Will County
to give back books to some of the
neediest youth in Will County.
The
Bolingbrook Borders Superstore is
currently hosting a spring book
drive, ending May 3, with the goal
of donating more than 400 books to
three of Will County United Way's
partner agencies: The H.E.A.R.T.
Organization of Bolingbrook, and The
George Werden Buck Boys & Girls Club
and the Spanish Community Center,
both in Joliet.
Brand-new books are being purchased
at the Borders Bolingbrook location
by customers, which then will be
donated by the store to the agencies
in order to promote "a renewed
interest in reading for pleasure"
which in turn strengthens youth
literacy skills.
"Giving the right book to the right
person is the ultimate giving
opportunity," said Jessica Martinek,
of the United Way of Will County.
"Books can be so powerful in
transforming and building our future
when they are placed in the hands of
those who will benefit from them
most."
All
donated books will be sorted by the
United Way of Will County and
donated among the three partner
agencies, according to book content
and age appropriateness.
"Thank you for caring enough to give
the gift of reading back to our
youth here in Bolingbrook," said
Joann Robinson of the H.E.A.R.T.
Organization. Located in
Bolingbrook, The H.E.A.R.T.
(Helping, Enriching, Advising,
Reaching & Teaching) Organization
assists juveniles ages 11 to 18 in
achieving judicial compliance. The
group also helps the youths using an
educational program to teach them
juvenile law and consequences,
social skills training and anger
management, with program goals aimed
at deterring the child from
re-offending. For more information,
contact H.E.A.R.T. at (630)
226-8742.
Michelle Cottrell, of the Joliet
Boys and Girls Club, said, "This
donation will greatly diversify our
facility's new after-school program
library room." The George Werden
Buck Boys and Girls Club is located
in Joliet and serves boys and girls
ages 6 to 18 through after-school
and summer programs that provide for
the social, educational, health and
character development of its
members. For more information, call
(815) 723-3434.
"Our Pre-K day care programs will
directly benefit from the new
books," said Andy Mihelich, the
Spanish Community Center's interim
executive director. The Spanish
Community Center provides bilingual
social services, food pantry,
immigration assistance, licensed day
care and job opportunities. For
information, call (815) 727-3683.
"Borders Bookseller & Event
Coordinator Bill Ezrin has been
doing a fabulous job raising
awareness to all our customers about
this important book drive," stated
Lynn Nulicek, general manager for
the Bolingbrook Borders location.
"In the first week alone, we've
collected over 200 books."
To
help with the book drive, go to the
Borders Bookstore in Bolingbrook,
161 N. Weber Road (next to Meijer at
the intersection of Boughton and
Weber). Browse their selection of
books or simply ask any employee to
suggest a book that is currently
available for donation to kids
living in Will County. The drive
ends May 3. |
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Local people
help United Way collect more than $3.8 million
2007 CAMPAIGN
March 30, 2007
By
BRIAN STANLEY Staff
Writer
JOLIET -- The "angels"
made it with a little to spare.
The United Way of Will
County announced it raised $30,250 over its $3.8 million goal at the
celebration banquet to conclude the 2006-07 fundraising campaign
Thursday.
"To many ... you are
angels who provide help to people when they need it most," Master of
Ceremonies Jim Murphy told the crowd of around 350 people who gathered
at 176 West. "Your unselfish commitment makes this community a better
place for everyone to live."
"It was a lot of hard
work for a lot of people to reach this goal," said Campaign Chairman
Mike Hanrahan.
"As the county grows, so
does the (United Way) agencies' needs. Surpassing this goal is a credit
to the companies, organizations and people of Will County who
contributed to this very worthy cause," Hanrahan said.
The United Way of Will
County provides funding to 45 local not-for-profit organizations.
"Statistics show one in
four people will reach out to one of our agencies this year," said
Michael Hennessy, President of United Way of Will County.
People were the
recurring theme of Thursday's program. In addition to recognizing many
volunteers and former chairpeople, the organization paid special
recognition to two area leaders.
Joliet Grade School
Superintendent Phyliis Wilson was honored for her year as United Way of
Will County Board of Directors Chairwoman, and First Midwest Bank of
Joliet President James M. Roolf received the Roger Osman Award for
Distinguished Volunteer Service.
"I am honored to help
the United Way and I'm humbled to receive this award," Roolf said.
"United Way is about
people," Hennessy said. "The people we serve and the people who
volunteer their time, money and resources to have a positive impact on
their communities."
Anyone interested in
becoming involved with the United Way of Will County can call (815)
723-2500 or visit their Web site at www.unitedwaywillcounty.org.
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United Way of Will County, Inc.