A United Way Day of Caring matches corporate volunteers who are eager to give back to the community with United Way partner agencies in need of extra hands. Volunteers can make a real difference by tackling agency projects such as painting, landscaping or light maintenance.

A Day of Caring is a great way to promote volunteerism, increase awareness of local human service agencies and give people a chance to see firsthand the impact United Way and its partner agencies are creating in our community. These unique volunteer collaborations provide essential support—and bolster campaign success.

By creating a positive experience for our volunteers, participants come away feeling inspired, appreciated and motivated to continue investing in their communities.

To schedule a Day of Caring, please call Day of Caring & Volunteer Services at (312) 906-2265.

From American Red Cross of Greater Chicago:

Lester McKeever Jr. is paying it forward. Every day, through his work with the United Way and with young men in his community, Lester is giving back the support he received as a young man. His work helps young men become more confident and independent. A gentle man with a knack for juggling business and community service, Lester will be honored with the Citizenship Award at the 2008 Heroes Breakfast on April 1.

Find out more about the Heroes Breakfast and Lester McKeever by visiting the Red Cross website.

Tocqueville Society co-chairs Deborah L. DeHaas, Ray McCaskey and Pam Strobel hosted the 14th annual United Way Tocqueville Society Recognition Dinner on March 6 at the Adler Planetarium.

This year’s event celebrated the 75th birthday of United Way and featured a “Tribute to a Legacy of Caring” video, featuring event honorees Frank M. Clark, W. James Farrell, Lester H. McKeever, Andrew J. McKenna, James J. O’Connor, William A. Osborn, Sheila A. Penrose and Richard L. Thomas, as well as DeHaas, McCaskey and Strobel.

Also honored at the event were United Way Challenge Grant sponsors National City, ComEd and Blue Cross Blue Shield.

“Thanks to those here with us tonight, our most generous donors, our 75th anniversary celebration extends beyond this building and into the community around us—to all the lives they have changed through their support,” said Janet Froetscher, United Way President & CEO. “Our Challenge Grant sponsors and our Tocqueville Society members allow us to make lasting changes to advance the common good.”

The United Way Tocqueville Society is comprised of extraordinary philanthropists who give $10,000 or more annually to United Way, creating a profound and lasting impact on metropolitan Chicago and on the lives of all those who live and work here.

United Way of Metropolitan Chicago Tocqueville Society co-chairs Deborah L. DeHaas, Ray McCaskey and Pam Strobel hosted the 14th annual United Way Tocqueville Society Recognition Dinner on March 6 at the Adler Planetarium. Honored at the event were United Way Challenge Grant sponsors National City, ComEd and Blue Cross Blue Shield.

On behalf of National City, Joseph Gregoire accepted an award for the half-million dollar challenge grant, which matches dollar-for-dollar every new or increased contribution of $1,000 or more to the 2007-2008 campaign.

Ray McCaskey from BlueCross BlueShield of Illinois accepted the award for sponsoring the African American Initiative grant, matching, 2-to-1 all new and increased contributions to the African American Initiative.

Frank Clark accepted an award on behalf of ComEd for their sponsorship of the Latino Initiative Challenge Grant, which matched, 2-to-1 all new and increased contributions to the United Way Latino Initiative.