United Way is evolving. To increase the depth and breadth of the impact we make in communities, United Wayis taking the initiative on empowering and assisting specific populations in a holistic way. This will included convening, partnering, collaborating and advocating-as well as funding. By leveraging all available resources – financial, staff, volunteers and agencies – in a variety of strategies, we believe we will be more likely to create sustainable positive community change. This model will be more proactive, issue driven and prevention focused; a powerful approach to thinking creatively and harnessing every asset to improve more lives. Additionally, these refinements allow us to align our United Way system across local geographies so that we have more consistency while still being sure each Member United Way is able to best address their local needs.

How did we choose this direction? We facilitated 12 community visioning sessions across our region and reviewed community assessments, agency surveys and secondary data. Thanks to all of you who have participated to date. We analyzed these sources to ensure that going forward we: Ø are addressing unmet needs;
Ø have the core competencies to execute on the issues;
Ø and that we could achieve measurable impact in a reasonable time frame. Additionally, where it makes sense, we will try to align regionally and nationally with other United Ways and United Way of America, to maximize consistency and leverage resources.

UWMC is accountable. Volunteers throughout the region will continue to be highly engaged and involved. Funding will be focused around specific strategies and outcomes. This will allow agencies to share best practices and report on common outcomes and successes in our communities. The reporting process will give us information about the ways we are achieving community impact. These results will be shared with our communities. As we continue to strive to improve the lives of people in our communities, your continual support as a community partner is vital. Thank you again for generously sharing your time, treasury and talents.

If you gave $1,000 or more to United Way this year, you’re eligible to receive one of the following terrific prizes!

Visit www.uw-mc.org for your chance to win!

	Chicago Bulls United Center Suite for 12 with parking, food and beverages, courtesy of Northern Trust
United Center Suite for 12 at a Chicago Bulls or Chicago Blackhawks game with parking, food and beverages, courtesy of Illinois Tool Works Inc.
	Chicago Cubs Wrigley Field Skybox package for 12 with parking, food and beverages, courtesy of Aon
MOTO Q Smartphone or MOTOKRZR with Bluetooth headset, courtesy of Motorola
	Two sets of Brookfield Zoo party packages for 10 with VIP admission, dolphin show and visit, private Tram or Snowball Express tour and parking, courtesy of Nicor
Four season tickets and a parking pass for the 2008 Chicago Rush Arena Football season, courtesy of the Rush
	Six riders on the NBC Float for the winner’s choice of festival/parade, courtesy of NBC-5 Chicago
A set of Cobra golf clubs, courtesy of Fortune Brands
	Four White Sox Scout Seats (directly behind home plate), including in-seat food and beverage service and two premier parking passes, courtesy of U.S. Cellular

Plus other terrific prizes including:

• Four main floor tickets each to a Chicago Bulls and Chicago BlackHawks Game, courtesy of AT&T
• Two sets of two main floor second row tickets to a Chicago Bulls Game, courtesy of GE Healthcare Financial Services
• Four box seats and a parking pass top a Major League baseball game, courtesy of KPMG
• Four Cubs Club (row 5) tickets, courtesy of GE Rail Services
• Four Bulls tickets, courtesy of Tribune Company
• Four tickets to a Chicago Cubs game, courtesy of Ernst & Young
• Four tickets to a Chicago Bulls game, courtesy of Accenture

There is no purchase necessary to enter or claim prize. Anyone is eligible to participate. Individuals who are not Leadership Givers may enter by mailing their name, address, and email address to Leadership Giving Contest, United Way, 75 Remittance Drive, Suite 7858, Chicago, IL 60675-5828. Entry must be received by March 1, 2008. Limit one entry per person. Full details can be founds by downloading the official rules.

The Evanston United Way co-hosted a Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours event with Evanston First Bank and Trust on Wednesday, October 17th. The event was well-attended by members of the Chamber of Commerce and the Evanston United Way board of directors.

Jay Lytle, President of First Bank and Trust, and Marion Flynn, President of Evanston United Way spoke about the United Way campaign and the importance of community giving.

Nearly 100 chamber members attended this event, including 11 of our own Evanston United Way Board members.

Thank you to Joan Kelly of First Bank and Trust, who organized and co hosted this Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours event with the United Way Evanston.

To view more photos, visit the photos section of our website.

A Chance to Double Your Impact!

The National City Half-Million Dollar Challenge Grant doubles your Leadership or Tocqueville gift. National City Bank will match your new or increased (to the next giving level) gift of $1,000 or more to the 2007 campaign DOLLAR FOR DOLLAR!

At the request of National City, match dollars are invested back into the community through United Way of Metropolitan Chicago and are note designated to a specific organization.

For more information see the 2007 Leadership Flyer or contact Lorelei Beaucaire 847.999.2990.

United Way of the North Shore is investing more than $1.6 million in local service agencies. The following chapters of United Way of the North Shore that are funding local programs include:

Evanston $622,500 for 24 agencies
Glencoe $120,000 for 18 agencies
Highland Park-Highwood $220,000 for 19 agencies
Lake Forest-Lake Bluff $419,209 for 21 agencies
Wilmette $115,000 for 17 agencies
Winnetka-Northfield $180,000 for 17 agencies

Region-wide, the United Way of Metropolitan Chicago is investing $56.5 million in
238 communities in five counties.