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News Teens Thrive with a Network of Mental Health Support

Academic success in high school and beyond help connect young people to stable careers and a self-sufficient future. But many area teens are dealing with mental and emotional struggles that put their future at risk.   That’s where your support...

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News Workforce180 Enters Its 5th Year & Welcomes 80+ Students

Education has long been linked to personal and communal economic well-being. But many young adults face barriers to the education and training they need for a satisfying career that promotes self-sufficiency and stability.    Workforce180 is...

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News Children’s Literacy Gets a Boost from Power of the Purse

What happens when community-minded women band together in support of children’s literacy?!?   More than 1,300 preschoolers in McLean County get free books!   On May 17, more than 130 women gathered for the annual Power of the Purse, hosted by...

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News A Camper Is Not a Home: Housing Coalition Improves Housing Stability

Maia is a single-mother of three who moved to Bloomington-Normal for new employment opportunities. But housing options were limited because many landlords require proof of steady income from new renters. Despite finding a full-time job with a...

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News Mobile Clinic Reaches Where It’s Needed

The Mobile Medical Unit launched in August 2023 and by the end of that year had already served over 280 patients in four locations in Bloomington-Normal! That’s a substantial need, now being met.   United Way of McLean County saw a way to reach...

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News Addressing Household Poverty as a Community

Post-Pandemic Poverty Report   In 2023, we received the latest household poverty report for McLean County. Post-pandemic, poverty has increased with over 26,000 households struggling financially. Of those households, around 11,000 meet the...

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News Summer H.E.A.T. Connects Students & Businesses

Connecting area residents to helpful opportunities and resources has long been a driving principle of our work at United Way of McLean County. Our Workforce180 program successfully guides young adults through professional and technical education...

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News 2023 Annual Report

Your generous support in 2023 elevated the reach and impact of our shared mission to individuals and families across McLean County. Many area residents have found pathways to prosperity thanks to your partnership! Our 2023 annual report...

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News Healthcare Access Is a Warm Welcome to Our Community

Moving to a new community is never easy, but it’s all the more complicated for families who have immigrated. One family had been in the States just three days and found much-needed support at the McLean Mobile Health Clinic. The mobile unit was...

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News Spring into Action! Be 180United in 2024

Across McLean County, individuals and families alike are under immense pressure. Some are struggling financially or emotionally. Others are facing employment or housing instability.   They find support for 180-degree change at United Way of...

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News ThriveMind Student Spotlight

Study after study reports that teens across the county are in a mental health crisis. We are seeing the reality of it in McLean County too. The 2022 Illinois Youth Survey found that more than one-third of all 8th to 12th grade students have...

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News Congratulations, Robert Bosquez!

In November, Robert Bosquez, of West Bloomington Revitalization Project’s Bed Blitz, was honored with the Phil Covey Memorial Volunteer of the Year Award. The Award included a monetary gift presented to the West Bloomington Revitalization Project...

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News Help That's Personal, Local, and Accessible

One of the best aspects of our shared mission is being directly invested and involved in our community. In 2023, your partnership ensured that even more residents found pathways to prosperity through United Way services and support. This update...

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Quarterly Impact Report Pathways to Prosperity Volume 1 2024

  Read the latest stories of 180-degree life change you make possible by partnering with United Way of McLean County.  

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News Be a Workforce180 Mentor!

Here's how you can help Young people in our community take steps toward a brighter future!  

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News Improving Housing Stability across the County

When the pandemic was at its height in 2020, it exacerbated the housing demand already unfolding for many neighbors across our county. We knew our commitment to collaboration could help. So we launched the Housing Coalition as a short-term...

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News First Steps for 75+ Workforce180 Students

Workforce180 is in its fourth year already — and it’s our biggest cohort of students yet! More than 75 young adults are getting vital support this year. They are overcoming obstacles to continue their training and education, with the support of...

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News Partnerships Make Healthcare More Accessible

Everyone deserves quality healthcare. But many McLean County residents face barriers to the care they need.   Now healthcare is going straight to those who need it via a mobile healthcare clinic. The new unit was commissioned by Carle Health at...

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Quarterly Impact Report Pathways to Prosperity Fall 2023

Read the latest stories of 180-degree life change you make possible by partnering with United Way of McLean County.  

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News Happy 1st Birthday, ThriveMind!

ThriveMind is only a year old but it’s grown leaps and bounds. We launched it knowing that teens were experiencing mental health challenges and that more support services were needed, especially in our rural school districts throughout the...

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News Raising Funds for Childhood Literacy

We had a fantastic time at this year’s Power of the Purse! It was so fun to gather with so many friends to put some power behind childhood literacy.   This year’s Women United event focused on giving kids greater access to books through our...

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News Congratulations, Workforce180 Students!

Seven students finished their Workforce180 journey this spring— and we couldn’t be more proud! In honor of all they’ve accomplished, Sam, Jayda, Kelli, Vera, Sal, Jenny, and Mandy were recognized at the Workforce180 Spring Summit held earlier...

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News A Solution for Everyone

Here in McLean County, every resident is our neighbor. That’s why we must work together to ensure that everyone experiences a more prosperous future. Our community thrives when everyone can access pathways to prosperity.   Your partnership with...

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Quarterly Impact Report Pathways 2 Prosperity Summer 2023

  Read the latest stories of 180-degree life change you make possible by partnering with United Way of McLean County.  

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News Meet Sal & Jenny

Lifelong friends and Workforce180 participants Jenny and Sal have always supported each other. Sal shares, “We’ve been friends since kindergarten!” Over the years, they’ve encouraged each other whenever school, work, or life got difficult. “When...

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News Meet Kelli

How many young adults can say their career path matches their favorite childhood Halloween costume?! That’s true for Kelli. She’s wanted to be a nurse as long as she can remember. “About half my family is in nursing! Really, I never wanted to be...

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News Now Accepting Applications From Qualified Organizations

United Way of McLean County today announced McLean County has been awarded $69,127 in funding from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS)/Federal Emergency Management Agency under the Emergency Food and Shelter National Board Program. The...

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Press Releases Housing Assistance Coalition Identified

BLOOMINGTON, IL (Friday, May 19, 2020) – The United Way of McLean County (UWMC) has identified a coalition of local non-profit service providers, government bodies, and other stakeholders to respond to housing assistance needs of local residents...

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Press Releases Corporate Giving Propels United Way's Covid Response Forward

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: David Taylor, President & CEO United Way of McLean County dtaylor@uwaymc.org   CORPORATE GIVING PROPELS UNITED WAY’S COVID RESPONSE FORWARD   BLOOMINGTON, IL (Monday, April 20, 2020) – Countless volunteers are...

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News Our Neighbors In Desperate Need

QUICK RECAP — OUR NEIGHBORS IN DESPERATE NEED   In response to the current COVID crisis in the community, United Way of McLean County (UWMC), with the input of local government agencies and other stakeholders has identified food...

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Press Releases United Way Receives $100,000 Grant From State

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: David Taylor, President & CEO United Way of McLean County dtaylor@uwaymc.org   UNITED WAY RECEIVES $100,000 GRANT FROM STATE COVID-19 RELIEF FUND COLLABORATIVE COVID-19 ADVISORY TASK FORCE NAMED 5,000 MEALS...

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News Feeding B/N And Beyond

QUICK RECAP — OUR NEIGHBORS IN DESPERATE NEED   In response to the current COVID crisis in the community, United Way of McLean County (UWMC), with the input of local government agencies and other stakeholders has identified food...

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Press Releases Covid-19 Community Care Fund

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: David Taylor, President & CEO United Way of McLean County 309-828-7383 dtaylor@uwaymc.org   NEW MCLEAN COUNTY COVID-19 COMMUNITY CARE FUND A PROACTIVE APPROACH TO THE PANDEMIC’S IMPACT ON LOCAL...

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News New "Alice" Study Sheds Light On Economic Hardship of Working Families

UNITED WAY REVEALS GROWING NUMBER OF OVERWORKED, UNDERPAID IN ILLINOIS   BLOOMINGTON, IL (March 4, 2020) — At 9:00 am, Wednesday, in the Blue Room of the State Capital in Springfield, United Way of Illinois released a groundbreaking study...

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Press Releases Pardon Our Progress

I’m a member of the Normal Rotary Club.  We meet on Wednesday’s at the Bone Student Center on the beautiful campus of Illinois State University.  For those who haven’t visited ISU in awhile, they’ve got some great revitalization going on to...

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Press Releases 2 + 2 Equal 5 (Or $1.5 Million!)

Kind of an odd title, I know.  I’m referring to the 48 in 48 event we held this past weekend at Rivian Automotive.  Check out some of the positive coverage of the event in these...

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Press Releases Take The High Road...But Speak Up

This weekend will mark 4 years for me on the job here at United Way of McLean County.  I think when most people hit an anniversary or milestone, be it in their marriage, their work, their birthday, what have you, it’s a time for reflection....

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Press Releases Weather The Storm

I managed a few moments of quiet reflection and solitude this morning before the chaos of the morning routine with my now 10 year old daughter reached full swing.  I know the weather hasn’t cooperated much to this point, and winter has seemed to...

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Press Releases 48 in 48 Bloomington

We’re just 6 short weeks from this event, and we still have space for a few more non-profits that need a website makeover.  Each of these packages is valued between $25,000 and $30,000 in professional website services!   Technology is...

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Press Releases Flywheels

That first day back to the office after some time away can be a challenge to get caught up on everything.  Throw in a sick kiddo as you’re trying to get back in the groove, and it can further delay getting up and running.   I’m reminded of an...

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Press Releases Groundhog's Day

Tomorrow marks an important day for the groundhog…see his shadow, and it’s six more weeks of winter.  If not, spring comes early.   Many people remember the movie “Groundhog Day” with Bill Murray.  For those familiar with it, the Sonny & Cher...

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Press Releases Incremental Progress

Happy 2018 to each and every one of you!  How are your New Year’s Resolutions coming?   A recent Business Insider article indicated that about 80% of people fail to stick to their New Year’s resolutions for longer than six weeks.  There are a...

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Press Releases 48 IN 48 Introduction

Seasons greetings!  I hope your holiday shopping is done.  As I was wrapping presents recently, I realized how absolutely awful I am at that aspect of the season.  What would get wrapped with 3 pieces of tape and crisp, smooth holiday wrapping by...

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Press Releases Holiday 180’SDecember 7th, 2017

We’re only weeks away from Christmas, and if your house is anything like mine, it’s a flurry of activity.  Nicholas the Elf on the Shelf (so named by my daughter, Addison) creates nightly havoc.  Addison decorated the tree the other day, and I...

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Press Releases Giving Thanks

Thanksgiving is just two weeks away, and this has always been my favorite holiday.  You have great food, time with family, no presents to buy, and as a life-long Dallas Cowboys fan, I know that they’ll be playing that day!   Many of us can...

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Press Releases Connected Community

Recent headlines are littered with tragic events, and many of them hit close to home.  Whether you have friends or loved ones in Florida, Texas, or Puerto Rico, or find yourself considering the time you stayed at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas,...

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Press Releases What Does United Way Do?

One of the consistent challenges that we have as an organization is when posed the question, “what does United Way do?”   It’s a simple question that at times has no easy answers.  For some, we are a fundraiser, a convener, a collaborator.  To...

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Press Releases Farmer Mark

I caught up with my friend, “Farmer Mark” the other day.  When I asked him what he’d been doing, he explained “There’s always something to do.  I’ve been mowing for days.”   Green and red combines toiling long hours in the coming weeks will...

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Press Releases Great American Solar Eclipse

What a rare treat this past Monday was!!  The Great American Solar Eclipse created quite a buzz here in the Twin-Cities, and while we weren’t totally dark, it was certainly a once in a generation kind of event.   Our nonprofit community is also...

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Press Releases Embrace 180

Hello, and welcome to something I’m hoping to do with each newsletter.  I think it’s important for me to engage with our supporters, advocates, donors, and volunteers.  Creating a dialogue is valuable to our work, and it’s even at the base, the...

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