ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!  TELL SPRINGFIELD TO PASS A BUDGET NOW! 

For nearly two years, Illinois has not had a budget.  This has had severe negative consequences for organizations that serve our most vulnerable citizens, lift up families and strengthen neighborhoods-early childhood education, afterschool programming, job training, mental health services, and elder care.

But Governor Rauner and the Illinois General Assembly are getting ready to pack up and go home for recess without a solution.  We can't let them leave Springfield without passing a comprehensive budget.

Tell Governor Rauner and your state legislator to do right by Illinois.  Don't come home without a budget. 

While stop-gap budget funding provided limited and temporary relief to some agencies, it did not repair the long-term damage imposed by the lack of a full budget.  This approach has shuttered programs across the state, with the most significant closures affecting criminal justice, employment training and youth development programs. That means individuals who can't get job training remain unemployed and youth who can't access support and afterschool programming fall behind in school or join gangs.

COMMUNITY WORK DAY A HUGE SUCCESS! 

On Saturday, April 22nd, in partnership with the Canton Area Chamber of Commerce and Rotary Club, over 65 volunteers donated their time and talents and completed projects at Camp Big Sky, Youth Acres, YWCA, YMCA, the Salvation Army, Canton High School, Jones Park, and with the American Red Cross.  

Projects included the installation of 18 smoke detectors with the American Red Cross, painting projects and "sprucing up" at the YWCA and the YMCA, landscaping at Jones Park and Canton High School, ceiling tile replacement and paint preparation at the Salvation Army, and many outdoor projects at Camp Big Sky and Youth Acres. 

According to the Independent Sector, the value of one hour of volunteer time is worth $24.14 across the nation.  In Illinois, that number jumps to $25.95!  What a great investment in our community!

Thank you to all the volunteers who made this year's Community Work Day a huge success!  We hope to see you next year!  

Check out more pictures of the Community Work Day in our "Photos" tab! 

WE WOULD LIKE TO THANK EVERYONE WHO CAME TO OUR LOVE THAT BAG EVENT!  IT WAS A HUGE SUCCESS! $17,000 WAS RAISED!!

THANK YOU ALSO TO ALL OF OUR GENEROUS SPONSORS AND SILENT AUCTION DONORS!

CHECK OUT THE "LOVE THAT BAG" ALBUM FOR PICTURES OF THIS YEAR'S EVENT. 

WE HOPE TO SEE YOU NEXT YEAR! 

The United Way has brought together people and resources to build a safety net to help meet the needs of our friends, neighbors, co-workers and families.

A constant reminder that when we as individuals think outside ourselves, we have the power to facilitate change. When we think of others’ lives as linked to our own, our compassion grows. When we reach out a hand to one, we influence the condition of all. We build the strength of our neighborhoods. We bolster the health of our communities. And we change the lives of those who walk by us every day.

GIVE.ADVOCATE.VOLUNTEER.

LIVE UNITED.