"Living United"

The speaker at our Thursday, September 18, 2008 lunch was Marcia McMahon, the Chief Professional Officer for the Northwest Suburban United Way.  The goal of the NSUW is to address the greatest human needs in each community and assist each person in achieving independence.  Locally, the NSUW serves 18 communities in the northwest suburbs of Chicago.  The NSUW is the leading non-governmental supporter of health and human services in Chicagoland.  Demands for that support have increased dramatically lately as governmental funding for health and human services programs has been reduced, and the United Way has been asked to make up an ever-increasingly large gap in funding for those programs.

Ms. McMahon asked all of us to “Live United”; that is, to Give, Advocate, and Volunteer.  To Give, she encouraged us to focus our support on a quality education that leads to a stable job, enough income to support a family through retirement, and good health.  To Advocate, she suggested that we learn about the education, income and health issues in our local communities.  To Volunteer, she asked us to recognize the one or more special talents that we all have, and to make that talent available to influence the condition of those in need.

In order to “Live United” in the northwest suburbs, Ms. McMahon challenged us to participate in “Live United Week”, the centerpiece of which is the first ever regional food drive by the NSUW.  For more information about the food drive and how to participate in it, please contact Deb Whisler.  Locally, the NSUW is also engaged in the “Ready For School” initiative, which is a partnership with many local organizations to provide backpacks, school supplies, immunizations and dental exams for every child that has the need.  Eye exams will likely be added to the program in the future, and the NSUW is looking for more partners to add even more services to the initiative.   Marcia McMahon can be reached at (847)768-1074 or mmcmahon@uw-mc.org.