Our Work
August 22nd, 2007Welcome to West Suburban United Way!
We are part of the larger United Way of Metropolitan Chicago as well as an official charter member of United Way of America. We cover the near southwest suburban area in Cook County, roughly bounded by the Chicago border on the east, Roosevelt Road on the north, the Stevenson Expressway (I-55) on the south, and the Tri-state Tollway (I-294) and the western border of Cook County on the west.
We are comprised of the communities of Cicero, Berwyn, Stickney, Forest View, Lyons, McCook, Brookfield, Riverside, North Riverside, Westchester, LaGrange Park, LaGrange, the LaGrange Highlands, Countryside, Hodgkins, Indian Head Park, Western Springs and Willow Springs.
The total population of this area is around 270,000, and with each suburb having unique demographic characteristics. The towns on the eastern edge have recently become heavily concentrated with Latino immigrants. Parts of the southern area have become heavily concentrated with new eastern European immigrants. The majority of the remaining area is largely mixed concentrations of middle- and upper-middle working and professional class families, generally long-time residents of European descent and a slightly below-average representation of African, Asian/Pacific and Native Americans.
We’re a great place to live. But we also live in challenging times, and human crises and struggles will inevitably visit most homes in varying degrees. Fortunately, we are caring communities, and are blessed with a wide array of superior social and human services providers. Our United Way supports over 36 agencies, including 8 that provide child and senior services, 6 that provide youth development opportunities, 6 that provide programs and housing for developmentally disabled individuals, 5 that provide family and individual counseling and mental health services, and 11 that provide crisis intervention and emergency assistance.
Our wellness does not exist in a vacuum. We thrive through the continued generosity of each other. We know that we must continue to provide a safety net for the less fortunate among us, for that is the only way we can be sure that it will be there for ourselves and our loved ones, and the only way to ensure that our communities remain vital and strong. Although you may not realize it, but you, your family, and neighbors probably benefit from at least one of the agencies we fund.
West Suburban United Way is shepherded by a dedicated group of dedicated Board members and volunteers. They stay in touch with the needs of our communities and monitor the services that are provided. We are grateful for the ongoing charitable contributions that our residents and businesses give to us to pass on to those agencies and programs where financial help is most needed and effectively used.
We ask you to be part of this benevolence and assistance that we witness with each year’s fund raising campaign and subsequent allocations to local health and human services. We look forward to your continued support, and always welcome any donation that you can make of your time, talent or treasure.
Best wishes,
Sharon L. Flaim, President
West Suburban United Way
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