The Born Learning Trail enc0mpasses a series of learning activities in which adults can engage with young children to help prepare them to enter school. The activities promote language, pre-literacy skills and motor skills in an interactive, fun setting. They also educate adults on how to approach early learning through engaging activities. The Born Learning Trail connects the community with opportunities for early childhood learning and spreads awareness of the importance of such activities.

“We are excited to bring the Born Learning Trail to children and families in Skokie Valley,” said Marcia McMahon, Chief Professional Officer at Northwest Suburban United Way. “Engaging children ages 0-5 in interactive, knowledge-building activities prior to entering the classroom is a crucial component to a child’s future success. This is a fun, outdoor opportunity for families to learn together.”

One activity, Watch! Stop! Learn! Play! encourages the caregiver to follow the child’s lead, building the child’s curiosity and confidence and reinforcing learning. Similarly, Imagine! Create! Pretend! encourages interactive storytelling, building a child’s ability to imagine and listen.

Studies have indicated that low-income children can begin kindergarten up to two years behind other students. Research from United Way Worldwide indicates that lack of time and knowledge about how to best prepare children for school are common issues.

NWSUW, in partnership with United Way of Metropolitan Chicago, recently launched a 10-year vision, LIVE UNITED 2020, which aims to help 50,000 underperforming middle school kids enter high school ready to succeed. Since 46% of students enter school without the skills they need to learn, the Born Learning Trail is ideal to provide learning opportunities to children and families and prepare all students to succeed in the classroom.

For more information about Northwest Suburban United Way or the Born Learn Trail, please visit LIVEUNITEDchicago.org/northwest or contact Beth Esler at Elizabeth.Esler@uw-mc.org or 312.906.2291.

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United Way advances the common good, creating opportunities for a better life for all by focusing on the three key building blocks of education, income and health. United Way recruits people and organizations that bring the passion, expertise and resources needed to get things done. LIVE UNITED 2020 is a social movement, our ten-year commitment to tackle the root causes of poverty. LIVE UNITED® is a call to action for everyone to become a part of the change. For more information about United Way, please visit: LIVEUNITEDCHICAGO.org.

Read the full article here. Wendy is listed as No. 19.

Wendy DuBoe

Read the full article here.

“Wendy has played a key role in United Way’s forward looking strategic initiatives, which coupled with her track record of strong leadership, makes her an ideal choice to be the new CEO. She was an architect of United Way’s community investment vision in income, education and health. Wendy also possesses an unwavering commitment to our mission and strong connections throughout Chicago. Our board strongly believes she is the right leader to build upon the LIVE UNITED 2020 vision,” said Ellen Costello, chair of the board for United Way of Metropolitan Chicago.

DuBoe joined United Way in 2003 and has been at the forefront of moving United Way’s investments to greater impact in three critical areas: income, education and health. Last September, United Way announced its transformational 10-year commitment, LIVE UNITED 2020. In 17 community areas (45 neighborhoods), United Way will: advance economic stability for 100,000 households, help 50,000 underperforming middle school kids enter high school ready to succeed, and connect over 200,000 people with available, preventative health services. Annually, United Way will continue to answer the immediate crisis needs of one million people by providing shelter, food and freedom from violence.

United Way of Metropolitan Chicago, the largest private funder of human services, raises, invests and leverages more than $53 million in support of families and individuals in need, connecting families to the building blocks of economic stability through interventions in the areas of: income, education and health. United Way of Metropolitan Chicago is part of United Way Worldwide, the largest non-profit in the world, which raises $5 billion annually.

DuBoe was also instrumental in bringing together United Way’s regional merger of 54 local offices into one metropolitan system, unifying staff and volunteers, integrating investments and operations and eliminating cost across the territory. Prior to being appointed CEO, DuBoe served as Chief Operating Officer. In this role, she played a key leadership role in working with staff, volunteers, donors and community partners to maximize the impact of United Way’s investment in communities of greatest need.

DuBoe currently serves as an active member of Governor Quinn’s Human Services Commission. She served as member of Rahm Emanuel’s 2011 Transition Team and chairs the board of FEMA’s Emergency Food and Shelter Program for Chicago and Cook County. DuBoe has collaborated on health and human service publications and authored telecommunications and economic development policy statements. She is a member of the International MENSA Society.

DuBoe graduated cum laude from the University of Michigan with a B.A. in Economics and Psychology. She earned her M.A. in International Economics and International Relations from the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS). She also received a General Course Degree in Economics from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE).

For more information, please contact Sarah Frick at 312.906.2231 or sarah.frick@uw-mc.org.

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United Way advances the common good, creating opportunities for a better life by focusing on the three key building blocks for strong families and healthy communities: Education, Income and Health. LIVE UNITED 2020 is a social movement, our ten-year commitment to tackle the root causes of poverty. Over the next decade, in communities of greatest need, United Way will: ensure 100,000 families advance their economic stability, 50,000 underperforming middle school students enter high school ready to succeed, and 200,000 individuals have access to available, preventative healthcare. Annually, LIVE UNITED 2020 will provide one million individuals with access to crisis services including emergency food, shelter and protection from violence. LIVE UNITED® is a call to action for everyone to become a part of the change. For more information about United Way, please visit: LIVEUNITEDChicago.org.

DuBoe was made interim CEO in January, replacing Laura Thrall, who departed as of Dec. 31.

DuBoe previously had been chief operating officer, and had been instrumental in implementing United Way’s regional merger of 54 local offices into one metropolitan system, the organization said. The merger involved integrating investments and operations, and cutting costs.

The organization also credited her with helping to form its strategic initiatives, which include advancing the economic stability for 100,000 families, helping 50,000 underperforming middle school students and connecting people with preventive health care.

Read the full article here.

DuBoe was made interim CEO in January, replacing Laura Thrall, who departed as of Dec. 31.

DuBoe previously had been chief operating officer, and had been instrumental in implementing United Way’s regional merger of 54 local offices into one metropolitan system, the organization said. The merger involved integrating investments and operations, and cutting costs.

The organization also credited her with helping to form its strategic initiatives, which include advancing the economic stability for 100,000 families, helping 50,000 underperforming middle school students and connecting people with preventive health care.

Read the full article here.

Ms. DuBoe replaces Laura Thrall, who stepped down from the nonprofit in January after taking a medical leave. She will be responsible for executing United Way’s 10-year vision, Live United 2020, an effort to mobilize income, education and health resources in 17 community areas.

United Way of Chicago’s board Chairman Ellen Costello credited Ms. DuBoe’s leadership in helping get the latest fundraising effort off the ground as a reason for her appointment.

“Her understanding and contribution to creating our strategy has been key. Those two things as well as her reputation and engagement in the social-services community, put her in an ideal position to take this role on,” said Ms. Costello, who also is CEO of BMO Financial Corp.

A Chicago-area native, Ms. DuBoe has been with United Way since 2003. Along with working as COO, she is credited with helping bring together 54 local United Way offices into one metropolitan system.

Before working with the agency, she worked at Ameritech International for eight years, where she was director of business development.

United Way of Metropolitan Chicago, the second-largest provider of financial assistance to human-service agencies after the state of Illinois, distributes funds to more than 200 agencies in the area.

The organization’s 2010 campaign raised $53 million, up from $52 million the prior year. Ms. Duboe says she wants to focus on new donors and partnerships with businesses to help boost revenue.

As an example, she and Ms. Costello pointed to a recent project in which Naperville-based OfficeMax provided a million-dollar gift over three years to United Way to champion a Berwyn elementary school.

Read the full article here.

DuBoe was named interim CEO in January after serving as chief operating officer. She replaced Laura Thrall, who stepped down to pursue other opportunities.

“Wendy has played a key role in United Way’s forward looking strategic initiatives, which coupled with her track record of strong leadership makes her an ideal choice to be the new CEO,” Ellen Costello, chair of the board for the organization, said in a statement.

DuBoe joined United Way in 2003 and has redirected the organization’s investments to have greater impact in its focus areas of income, education and health, Costello said.

DuBoe was an architect of United Way’s new community investment focus. Last September, the organization announced a 10-year strategic commitment targeting 17 community areas that include 45 neighborhoods where it will focus on advancing economic stability for 100,000 households and helping 50,000 underperforming middle school children. It also is working to connect more than 200,000 people with available preventive health services.

United Way raises, invests and leverages more than $53 million to help families and individuals in need in the Chicago metropolitan area.

Read the full article here.

“United Way is pleased to welcome these committed, impassioned individuals to the board,” said Reverend Larry L. Jackson, Board President at South-Southwest Suburban United Way. “By leveraging their networks and experience, we stand to make the biggest impact for those in need through our income, education and health investments.”

Debbie Meyers-Martin is a seasoned professional with more than 15 years of community and public relations experience; including nine years of community service as an elected official to the Village of Olympia Fields and currently serves as Village President. As the current Program Coordinator at the Illinois State Treasurer’s Office for the Link Deposit Program-Employee Illinois, she is responsible for outreach to municipalities, chambers of commerce and private sector development interests.

Meyers-Martin has a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice/Pre-Law from University of Illinois-Chicago. Meyers-Martin has served on numerous boards including the Government Partnership for Economic Development Task Force, Advisory Board of the Economic Counsel for the Southwest Suburbs and the Board for Community and Economic Development Association (CEDA) Bloom-Rich Economic Development Committee.

Mauricio Lopez currently serves as Direct Endorsement Underwriter for PNC Bank. He’s responsible for underwriting FHA loans, appraisals to determine whether subject properties meet HUD minimum property standards and underwriting USDA/Rural Development loan submissions. Lopez previously worked for JP Morgan Chase where he rendered decisions on AUS approved home equity loan applicants and verified rate/pricing calculations. He has previously been involved in supporting church outreach programs and comes to SSUW for more hands-on involvement with helping those in crisis improve their quality of life and financial/living situations.

“Meyers-Martin and Lopez are just the beginning of what we hope is a swell of recruiting new and diverse board members to assist South-Southwest Suburban United Way with furthering our investments throughout the Southland region,” said Yvonne Orr, Chief Professional Officer at South-Southwest Suburban United Way. “Moving forward, we hope to identify nearly ten more individuals to join our committed volunteers.”

SSUW has set an ambitious goal of recruiting an additional seven to ten new board members to assist in leveraging resources across disciplines in the Southland region; specifically from the following industries: Education, Hospitality, Technology, Real Estate, Fortune 100-500, Marketing, Physicians, etc.

SSUW, in partnership with United Way of Metropolitan Chicago, is helping transform communities of greatest need through the organization’s 10-year vision, LIVE UNITED 2020. Over the next decade United Way will: ensure 100,000 families advance their economic stability, 50,000 underperforming middle school students enter high school ready to succeed, and 200,000 individuals have access to available, preventative healthcare. As part of LIVE UNITED 2020, SSUW unveiled its Education Initiative in Fall 2011, which provided more than $100K to serve early learners (children ages 0-5 years) and middle school students in Chicago Heights.
For more information about United Way and how to get involved please visit LIVEUNITEDchicago.org/southland.

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United Way advances the common good, creating opportunities for a better life by focusing on the three key building blocks for strong families and healthy communities: Education, Income and Health. LIVE UNITED 2020 is a social movement, our ten-year commitment to tackle the root causes of poverty. Over the next decade, in communities of greatest need, United Way will: ensure 100,000 families advance their economic stability, 50,000 underperforming middle school students enter high school ready to succeed, and 200,000 individuals have access to available, preventative healthcare. Annually, LIVE UNITED 2020 will provide one million individuals with access to crisis services including emergency food, shelter and protection from violence. LIVE UNITED® is a call to action for everyone to become a part of the change.

On Feb. 19, United Way volunteers, board members and staff members sorted the donated goods at Glencoe’s Takiff Center.

See the photo gallery here.