Exclusively for United Way Leadership givers, the White Sox have designated multiple nights as United Way Supporters Appreciation Nights. On these special nights the White Sox would like to offer specially priced tickets to all United Way Leadership givers for them to purchase for themselves, their families and their friends.

Tickets priced at $40, $36, $32, $21 and $17 are available at $20, $18, $16, $10.50 and $8.50.

• Wednesday, June 18 – White Sox vs. Pittsburgh Pirates 7:11 p.m.
• Wednesday, July 2 – White Sox vs. Cleveland Indians 7:11 p.m.
• Tuesday, August 5 – White Sox vs. Detroit Tigers 7:11 p.m.
• Thursday, September 11 – White Sox vs. Toronto Blue Jays 7:11 p.m.

Here’s how to order:

1. WEB: visit whitesox.com, then click on Schedule and then click the T in the appropriate date box. On the corresponding page, type “UNW” in the special promotions box. Service fees will apply.
2. PHONE: Call (866) 769-4263 for Ticketmaster and give the “UNW” code. Service fees will apply.
3. MAIL or FAX in this order form. A $5 per order handling fee will apply with all faxed and mail orders of less than 20 tickets.

Please note that orders will not be redeemed at the U.S. Cellular Field ticket windows or the White Sox administrative offices. Sorry!

Note: Story updated on April 29. Just west of the Loop is Chicago’s North Lawndale community, one of the city’s oldest neighborhoods. Once a refuge for survivors of the great Chicago fire, it was later a hub for Chicago’s industrial age and eventually one of the places that Martin Luther King Jr. called home. North Lawndale has re-invented itself many times and faced its share of challenges throughout the years, but it remains a vibrant community.

Over the last five years, North Lawndale has been battling a surge in violence, mostly among young African American males. Since 2006, United Way has been working through the African American Initiative (AAI) to develop new, sustainable approaches that will improve the future of at-risk African American young men in five Chicago neighborhoods, including North Lawndale. The strategy behind the AAI is to not only invest money and launch new programs, but to harness communities’ strengths in an effort to fortify their most valuable assets—their youth.

In North Lawndale, United Way is working with the Young Men’s Educational Network (YMEN) and the Lawndale Christian Center to convene social service and government agencies, schools, law enforcement, residents and, more importantly, its young people to work cohesively in devising workable solutions.

In Lawndale, youth in the AAI identified safety as a major hurdle on their path to success. To address this, United Way sponsored a public breakfast dialogue on April 8 with more than 50 health and human service experts, community residents, business leaders, educators and other stakeholders to share their expertise and ideas on how to decrease the violence in North Lawndale.

At the breakfast, a panel discussion, was moderated by Norman Baldwin, former program director at YMEN, addressed the importance of collaborations, best practices, systemic change and resources and invited audience members express their views on these and other issues. Participants included Phil Jackson from the Lawndale Christian Church, John Henry from North Lawndale College Prep., Mariame Kaba of the Steans Foundation and Francis Wooley at the North Lawndale Juvenile Justice Collaborative.

“The input of young people is crucial,” said Jackson. “There is a void in those kinds of opportunities, so our young people begin to lose confidence in us. But by us listening to them, they know their voice exists and that it matters.”

Participants also agreed that collaborations among the various social service providers create the best approach to ensuring that young people receive the most holistic care.

“One of our biggest challenges is the constant re-invention of the wheel,” said Kaba. “If we don’t connect the dots with each other, we will never realize the strength there is in numbers. We must find a way to continue to work together.”

Panelists also cited what they felt were critical elements in the formula to keeping youth safe. These included viable employment opportunities, assistance from the federal government, alternatives to college and the presence of fathers and positive male mentors in the lives of young people. The panel also suggested having community centers and schools open until at least 9 p.m.

“Our goal is that everyone involved be truly vested in ensuring that young African American males grow up safe and able to lead successful and productive lives,” said Wendy DuBoe, United Way Chief Community Investment Officer. “Thanks to programs like YMEN, initiatives like the African American Initiative and community discussions like this one, we can also begin to develop a plan for hope.”

The United Way African American Initiative is also currently active in Bronzeville, Englewood, Roseland and Rogers Park.

The Chicago Rush is pleased to invite the United Way Leadership Givers and their families to the games on May 19, 2008, May 31, 2008 and June 22, 2008. Come early to enjoy the free FamilyFest and stay after the game for free autographs! Get your Rush gear ready for the party you can’t miss.

Secure your seats by completing this form and mailing payment to the address included. Order via phone by calling Ari Shapiro at (773) 243-3460 or by faxing to (773) 243-3435. We look forward to seeing you at a game!

As most of the college students in the country jumped on planes for Miami, Fort Lauderdale or Cancun, Loyola University Chicago freshman Bola Olukanni headed down to St. Charles Louisiana for a very different Spring Break experience. Bola chose to spend her week off volunteering to help people whose homes were damaged by Hurricane Rita.

After reading about the opportunity on MTV’s website, Bola applied to be an Alternative Spring Break Volunteer with United Way. She could choose between United Way projects in three locations: Lake Charles, Louisiana; Biloxi, Mississippi and Detroit, MI.

Bola chose Lake Charles and began packing her bags not with a bathing suit, but with work clothes. It’s a choice that Bola says she would happily make again.

“It was really amazing,” Bola says. “It was just so great because everyone there was to help.”

From March 1 to 9, Bola and her fellow volunteers spent their days rebuilding and reconstructing houses, repairing local schools, and working to rebuild camp shelters and a nature trail damaged by Hurricane Rita.

“The staff who worked for UWA was amazing,” Bola recounts. “Everything was organized and fun.”

Bola spent the beginning of her week at a house that was nearing the end of construction. Her job was to work on the bathroom and one of the bedrooms. Toward the end of the week, she helped stock a ship that brings help to disaster-stricken areas.

The experience was one that Bola will not soon forget.

“I would definitely do it again,” Bola says. “It was fantastic.”

Alternative Spring Break is a United Way program that engages young people between the ages of 18 and 24 years old in meaningful volunteer service. For the last two years, think MTV and United Way partnered to create a week-long alternative spring break in the Gulf Coast. This spring, 500 students lent their spring breaks to make communities stronger by volunteering with United Way. For more information about Alternative Spring Break, visit http://unitedway.org/asb