News & Updates

Meet Power Partner Westminster Village    Prosperity for McLean County won’t happen by chance. We need a community-wide movement of passionate individuals, community leaders, and businesses. Our Power Partners step up and take the lead to open...

Soon after José Manuel and Julia Pérez became first-time parents, the COVID-19 pandemic turned the entire world upside down. Welcoming Evie to their world was a joy, but they felt isolated as first-time parents and shut off from resources. Not...

Meet Power Partners Little Jewels & Rob Dob’s   Prosperity for McLean County won’t happen by chance. We need a community-wide movement of passionate individuals, community leaders, and businesses. Our Power Partners step up and take the lead to...

Meet Power Partner RE/MAX Rising, Bloomington IL   Prosperity for McLean County won’t happen by chance. We need a community-wide movement of passionate individuals, community leaders, and businesses. Our Power Partners step up and take the lead...

Many teens have chronic stress that affects their grades and well-being. Such struggles can derail future stability and career goals. The fallout is especially severe for students without access to mental health support.   Your UWMC...

Young people often struggle post-high school because they don’t feel prepared to make career decisions. But that changes when career exploration and guidance opportunities are offered during high school.   Thanks to your partnership, students...

  When Ari first heard about Workforce180, she wondered if there was a catch. A program that provided tuition support, mentoring, and resources sounded too good to be true.   Ari realized it really was true when Workforce180 provided her with...

When passionate women step up, big things happen. Like distributing over 40,000 books to more than 4,000 children!    All of this happened thanks to the efforts of our local Women United chapter. These women are part of a powerful network of...

For the past 90 years, your partnership with UWMC has been a driving force for change.    Some of that change has happened inside of UWMC: In 2018, changes externally required us to pivot internally. That launched a new approach we call...

We’re celebrating a major milestone in 2025: it’s UWMC’s 90th anniversary! While nine decades is impressive in itself, the milestone raises a more important question…   What does 90 years of impact look like?   It looks like developing...

Our community grows stronger with every step we take on the pathway to prosperity. And you helped many fellow community members take steps toward stability and self-sufficiency in 2024!   Check out the 2024 annual report to see the impact you...

A powerful marker for a child’s future academic success is having access to books at home. Children love bright illustrations, delightful stories, and concentrated attention from a caregiver reading aloud. Books and reading at home exposes them...

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...

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...

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...

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

This year’s event took place October 12 at Lakeside Country Club. Doors opened at 5:00 p.m. and the program began at 6:00 p.m. The evening included music by Chris Clemens, game stations hosted by Red Raccoon Games, and a silent auction. Attendees...

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.  

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...

  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...

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...

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...

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...

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...