News & Updates

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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

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

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...

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...

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...

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

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...

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...

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...

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...

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

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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....

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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,...

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...

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...

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...

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...