Home - United Way of Metro Chicago

Sign Up for the UWMC Newsletter

#soliloquy-container-32966{opacity:1}#soliloquy-container-32966 li > .soliloquy-caption{display:none}#soliloquy-container-32966 li:first-child > .soliloquy-caption{display:block} United We Fight. United We Win.

United Way Of Metro Chicago fights for the health, education, financial stability and safety of every person in every neighborhood across the region.

Local Therapy Class Helps Both Mothers and Babies Thrive

“She’s doing it! She’s doing it!” exclaimed Nicole Zwiercan with a delighted grin on her face. Next to Nicole lay her 8-month old daughter, Ashlynn, holding her chest and head up to see her proud mother.For every mom, witnessing a milestone in her child’s development is cause for celebration. However, these advances are especially significant for Nicole and other mothers whose children attend the Center for Independence through Conductive Education, a United Way of Metro Chicago community partner working throughout the region.The center serves… Read more »

Improving Lives, Transforming Neighborhoods

At United Way of Metro Chicago, we leverage expertise, connections, and resources to improve lives and strengthen communities.

Learn More »

The Latest

November 15, 2018 11:48am
Speak United Blog

Healthcare Navigators Help Enrollees Steer Clear of Insurance Confusion

Copayments. Deductibles. Premiums. The complex world of health insurance coverage can be confusing for even the most informed patients. But for immigrants, refugees and other underserved populations, our country’s healthcare system is particularly daunting.In a city where 10.5 percent of people lack health insurance coverage, United Way of Metro Chicago community partners… Read more »
November 8, 2018 7:50am
Speak United Blog

Housing Program Provided “Safe Haven” for Recovering Veteran

Seventeen years ago, while living in a recovery home, David McGowan received an offer he couldn’t refuse. A native Chicagoan from the Cabrini-Green neighborhood , David was invited to leave the recovery home he shared with 18 other men and move into his own furnished studio apartment in Wicker Park.Having been homeless… Read more »
November 7, 2018 7:30am
Speak United Blog

Suburban Coalition Relieves Families of High Healthcare Costs

When Dave and Jana Jenkins decided to return to the United States in 2012 following 19 years of missionary work in Africa, the pair expected to face challenges. What the parents of five didn’t foresee was healthcare being a costly barrier to their assimilation back into American life.“Most of our professional lives… Read more »
October 31, 2018 4:05pm
Speak United Blog

At Annual March, Little Village Residents Call for Peace

On a crisp Autumn afternoon, Little Village residents and their allies, clad in purple t-shirts, weaved through their southwest Chicago neighborhood marching for peace and an end to domestic violence.Hosted by the Marshall Square Resource Network (MSRN), participants of the 5th Annual Peace March sought to commemorate the lives of individuals who’ve… Read more »
October 25, 2018 11:03am
Speak United Blog

Spicing Up Healthy Living: Promoting Healthy Lifestyles through Latin Dance

In an old, brick-walled gym flooded with morning sunlight, dozens of women sporting colorful workout clothes were breaking a sweat in Miguel Murillo’s Latin dance class.Following his lead, the women danced the Salsa, Mambo and Cha-Cha, mixed with Zumba and other hip-hop moves, as drum beats pulsed through the speaker system.Hosted by… Read more »
October 18, 2018 12:23pm
Speak United Blog

Get to Know Our CEO: Q&A with Sean Garrett

United Way of Metro Chicago’s Senior Manager of Communications sat down with our new CEO and President, Sean Garrett, to learn more about his passion for our work, vision for our organization and what he loves about Chicago.Kiara Goodwin (KG): Sean – Welcome to Chicago! Or should I say, welcome back.Sean Garrett… Read more »
October 17, 2018 4:29pm
Speak United Blog

It Takes a Village: How One Center’s Network is Helping Entire Families Thrive

When her daughter Pearl was seven-months-old, Shyera Gaston set out on a search for a daycare service in her neighborhood. Shyera had recently decided to continue her education to support her growing family.Hoping to heal others with her hands, Shyera, who was 22 at the time, excitedly enrolled in school to study… Read more »
October 4, 2018 11:11am
Speak United Blog

Building Blocks: Helping Chicago Youth Learn Life Skills with Legos

“Mr. G -- I figured it out!” Courey Harris shouted, as a small car built from Legos and other mechanical parts sped along a large table scattered with colorful block structures.Courey, a 7th grader at Charles P. Caldwell Middle School, is one of about 15 students who meet twice a week after… Read more »
September 20, 2018 5:04pm
Speak United Blog

Students’ Paths to Success Aided by Dedicated Mentors

The academic and career trajectory of young adults growing up in the Chicago region often hinges on the support systems they can rely on. Some are born into strong, supportive networks of family and friends, while others must cultivate their own, creating bonds that enhance their life journey.So was the case for… Read more »
September 18, 2018 3:51pm
Speak United Blog

Housing: The Foundation for Student Success

In the winter months of 2016, Claudia Gonzalez*, a mother of three living in Brighton Park, unexpectedly lost her job. Though she aggressively searched for alternative employment, she couldn’t keep up with rent payments for her apartment.The sole provider for her family, Claudia needed some outside support to keep a roof over… Read more »
September 5, 2018 3:53pm
Speak United Blog

South Chicago Students Splurge at Back-To-School Shopping Spree

For many families in the Chicago region, the annual ritual of back-to-school shopping can put their wallets in a pinch. The cost of school supplies, clothing and backpacks adds up quickly, especially for families with multiple children.To ease the financial burden and prepare students for their first day, United Way of Metro… Read more »
August 30, 2018 11:13pm
Speak United Blog

Gaining Access to Working Wages

A veteran of the Air Force reserves, Christopher Urban has a non-traditional employment history. Despite studying computer information systems and earning an associates degree through City Colleges of Chicago, he knew sitting behind a desk all day was not the right fit for him. After working a number of different jobs, Christopher… Read more »
August 13, 2018 12:36pm
Speak United Blog

Young Moms Head Back to School With Support from Association House

As schools across the Chicago region get ready to re-open their doors, many students are packing up their bookbags and choosing their First Day outfits. At Association House High School in Humboldt Park, some students are not only getting themselves ready to go back to school, but their children, too. The high school,… Read more »
July 25, 2018 1:49pm
Speak United Blog

Y.O.U. Summer Programs Expand Evanston Kids’ Horizons

Huddled over a lush garden bed on a humid July afternoon, Emma Mosco-Flint dusted off a bunch of disfigured carrots before moving on to a bed of tall, ripe chives.While her peers washed squash and chard in a patio sink, the 15-year-old hip-hop dancer and soon-to-be sophomore harvested the urban vegetable garden… Read more »
July 17, 2018 4:08pm
Speak United Blog

Blue Island Library Meal Program Helps Silence the Growl of Summer Hunger

On a hot July day in the south suburb of Blue Island, 16 miles from the Chicago Loop, a dozen local kids and their families trickled into the town’s quiet community library. They weren’t simply there to feed their minds with stories, but to fill their stomachs at the library’s summer lunch… Read more »

Sign Up for the UWMC Newsletter

United Way Of Metro Chicago fights for the health, education, financial stability and safety of every person in every neighborhood across the region.

Improving Lives, Transforming Neighborhoods

Recent United Way of Metro Chicago Photos | See More →