Naperville residents, Walter and Cindy Drone, committed to Naperville United Way
November 27, 2007 | Leave a Comment
Our United Way is made up of Naperville residents who volunteer their time, energy and support to answer the needs of our community.
Walter and Cindy Drone have supported the annual Naperville United Way auction since 2002 and have purchased 24 sculptures through the years, many of which are displayed in their home and garden.
How did you become involved with Naperville United Way?
We moved to Naperville in December 2001, so that following Spring, we were excited to explore the Riverwalk. As Memorial Day weekend rolled around, we became very interested in the Carousel Horses and spent many beautiful days riding our bikes to the downtown to check on our favorites. As we came to know each and every horse, we made the decision to attend the Naperville United Way auction with the hope of acquiring a Carousel Horse for our own. To our surprise, and delight, we were suddenly the proud owners of three horses. And as time would tell, we were hooked on Naperville United Way’s annual event. The auction was a lot of fun and we met many people who shared our common interests, all while helping people in our community.
What are the rewards for you in donating to Naperville United Way?
When we attend the auctions, we have the opportunity to hear representatives of Naperville United Way detail all the organizations that benefit from donations to United Way, and additionally we’ve personally met some of the local individuals whose lives have improved from the help and monies they’ve received. By learning of the organizations Naperville United Way supports, we’ve become more aware of and attended fundraisers for some of those individual organizations as well.
What is the most memorable sculpture that you have purchased?
The most memorable is from the 2003 Naperville United Way Bears auction. At the auction, we eagerly listened for the name of one of our favorites. To our surprise, Linda Rose was called. As she was rolled to the stage, the image of a mother bear, lovingly holding her cub in her arm appeared. Neither of us remembered seeing her before. How had we missed her? Bart, the auctioneer, began to tell her story. Linda Rose had been a struggling single parent in our community. Friends of Families Helping Families got her on her feet and supported her as she attended nursing school. She completed all of the courses, but before she could get her nursing license, she died of cancer. The bear was created in her memory. The very emotional story, plus the fact that three key people in our family were recently touched by cancer, made Walter determined that Linda Rose would not be overlooked nor sold short. Now when we see her in our home, we marvel at the courage we as humans can possess, the generosity so many show, and looking into her eyes and those of her precious little cub, we know the importance of passing these values on to our children and grandchildren.
Having the sculptures around is a constant reminder to us and to our neighbors how blessed we are, and how many people are finding help through the efforts of Naperville United Way.
Investing in United Way helps more than one person, one charity or one issue, because we support a broad range of programs that improve lives. United Way is the most effective way to invest in our community to creative positive, lasting change.
Share sculpture ideas with United Way
November 23, 2007 | Leave a Comment
Share sculpture ideas with United WayNovember 23, 2007
By KATE R. HOULIHAN Staff Writer
Do you dream of seeing the downtown and Riverwalk filled with a certain type of outdoor sculpture next summer? If so, the Naperville United Way wants to hear your idea.
Until Dec. 7, the organization will be accepting ideas from members of the community for the 2008 summer outdoor sculpture exhibit and fundraising event, according to Naperville United Way assistant director Deena Manna.
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The United Way chose a “farmyard friends” theme for its fundraising statues in 2004. |
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Dragons were the sculpture of the year in 2006. |
IDEAS WANTED
People with ideas for the next downtown sculptures can e-mail dmanna@uw-mc.org or fax a description to 630-369-5492. No phone calls, please. Ideas already used in past years: mermaids, seahorses, sea turtles, dolphins, dragons, baby giraffes, carousel horses, bears, farm animals, mushroom playhouses, fairy-topped benches, birdbaths, lotus blossoms and giant urns.
Last summer visitors downtown were surrounded by a sea-creature splashed landscape with the group’s “Under the Sea” theme. Past sculpture creations also have included dragons, baby giraffes, carousel horses, bears, farm animals, mushroom playhouses, fairy-topped benches, birdbaths, lotus blossoms and giant urns. Sculptures remain in the downtown area from early summer through the beginning of September, before they are sent to new homes after a live auction. Proceeds benefit the Naperville United Way.
“They can just tell us what (the idea) is, and maybe describe what type of different sculptures would be part of it,” Manna said. “So, if there’s a theme, tell us what kind of objects would be associated with it.”
People with ideas can e-mail Manna at dmanna@uw-mc.org or fax a description to 630-369-5492. Manna asked that people not call with ideas.
Dec. 7 is the cut-off date, as the sculptures will need to be created in the not-too-far future before being sent to Naperville and decorated by local artists.
Loaves & Fishes Community Pantry and the Naperville United Way: An Important Community Partnership
November 1, 2007 | 1 Comment
Investing in United Way helps more than one person, one agency or one issue, because we support a broad range of programs that improve lives.
One such program is the Community Food and Nutrition Program at Loaves & Fishes Community Pantry, which helps people in crisis by ensuring no one goes hungry. Joanne Mitrenga is Executive Director of Loaves & Fishes.
How does the program work?
The program provides a dependable source of nutritious food for families who are struggling to make ends meet. It frees up scarce dollars, which can be used toward the high cost of rent, utilities, transportation and other critical family expenses. There are several specially designed parts of this program that are for the benefit of children including the Infant Care Program, the Breakfast Assistance Program and the Summer Lunch Program. Other children’s programs include school supplies needed to equip students to learn, birthday bags to make a child’s birthday special, and special foods and gifts to celebrate the holidays.
Who does the program help?
Loaves & Fishes assists 1,675 Naperville area families (5,765 individuals) including 2,080 children from infants through age 18 to find help and a betterment of their living situation. Most of our families are characterized as the “working poor,” who struggle year round as they try to balance high rents and low wages. Many seek help at Loaves & Fishes because they are overwhelmed by an unexpected crisis, such as job loss, costly auto repairs, loss of a spouse through death or divorce, or extraordinary medical expenses. Still others are feeling the tight financial squeeze of dwindling pensions and rising medical costs. What the majority have in common is that they never thought they’d find themselves in the situation of turning to others for food.
How does Naperville United Way Help?
One way is through their financial investment in our mission. This is particularly important to sustaining our programs at a time when both the poverty rate and food prices are rising, and government support in the form of commodities, which are tied to farm subsidies, is dropping. Naperville United Way also helps us further our mission by increasing our organizational effectiveness. Their application and reporting processes are rigorous with a strong emphasis on evaluation and measuring outcomes. We have gained so much from the partnership that has served to strengthen our operation.
Naperville United Way researches the issues facing people here in our community, researches the programs that best address those issues, and invests resources where they are needed most.
North Central College and Naperville United Way: Making a Difference in the Community
November 1, 2007 | Leave a Comment
At North Central College, Franchon Lindsay, Assistant Vice President for Human Resources, and Sandy Nusko, Administrative Secretary for the Office of Human Resources, have been coordinating the Naperville United Way Campus Campaign. For the past seven years, Franchon and Sandy have encouraged North Central College employees to give back to the community in which they work.
How did you learn about and then become involved with Naperville United Way?
Franchon: I have known about and contributed to United Way for more than 30 years. However, I became actively involved with Naperville United Way in 2000 when I took a position in Human Resources at North Central College, and realized our office coordinated the Campus Campaign. We had an outstanding first year and each year we strived to better our efforts. Also, from June 2002 to March 2005, I was a member of the Naperville United Way Board of Directors.
Sandy: I learned about Naperville United Way in 1999 when I began working at North Central College. In 2000, I became more involved when I took over as the College’s United Way Campaign Coordinator. In 2001, as part of Naperville United Way’s 50th Anniversary, I was a volunteer committee member for “The Baby Giraffe Walk,” the initial year for the outdoor sculptures displayed in downtown Naperville.
What are the rewards for you both as a volunteer and as a contributor to Naperville United Way?
Franchon: I have experienced firsthand how United Way works and the good it does. I have a granddaughter with spina bifida and she is paralyzed from the waist down. When I visited her at Children’s Memorial Hospital, I would see United Way information and I spoke with various individuals who received assistance from United Way contributions. So when I had the opportunity to be actively involved, I looked upon this as an honor to be able to not only give donations, but also through my volunteer efforts, help others appreciate the value of giving and supporting United Way.
Sandy: Being both a volunteer and a contributor is rewarding for me simply because I know that I’m part of the North Central College Campus Campaign, which will ultimately help my fellow community members in need, through educational development, leadership and resources.
Why is Naperville United Way so important to the community?
Franchon: People who willingly give to Naperville United Way do so because they see the benefits and value of doing so. It is imperative that we continue to “shine the light” on all the good Naperville United Way has done and continues to do. Some think that if they are not giving hundreds of dollars, it is of little or no benefit. We must get the message out that pennies do make a difference and volunteering your time is equally as important as making a monetary donation.
Sandy: At North Central College we take great pride in being part of this community, which embraces us as part of the “central family.” Each and every one of us at the College has at one time or another been touched by a disadvantaged student, a fellow co-worker in need or a cause dear to our hearts and our mission. We share with Naperville United Way, the rewarding means by which we are able to influence lifelong health and security, a crucial component to becoming an independent, self-sufficient adult.
Investing in United Way helps more than one person, one charity or one issue, because we support a broad range of programs that improve lives. United Way is the most effective way to invest in our community to creative positive, lasting change.
Local Business Owner, Bill Mitchell, Committed to the Naperville United Way
November 1, 2007 | Leave a Comment
Naperville United Way is made up of local residents and businesses who volunteer their time, energy and support to answer the needs of our community.
One such Naperville resident is local business owner, Bill Mitchell. Bill has spent six years on the Naperville United Way Board of Directors and is an avid supporter of NUW.
Why do you give to Naperville United Way?
The biggest single reason we donate to United Way is the comprehensive local focus.
Local volunteers determine community human service needs, local agencies meeting those needs are selected and monitored by local United Way volunteers. Naperville United Way funding ensures that these services are available to Naperville area residents.
How long have you given to the Naperville United Way?
I had given to United Way off and on until the mid-’90s when we moved to Naperville.
Once we realized the local focus and quality of the programs supported, we moved our support to the leadership level were it has remained ever since. The public art project has been very important to us and I am happy to commit to supporting it in 2007.
What changes have you seen to the Naperville United Way?
The most significant change is the move to the community impact model. The community impact model means that United Way agency partners are being tested to ensure they make a positive difference in the lives of the people they serve. The United Way approach means that our contribution helps many people with various needs.
Investing in Naperville United Way helps more than one person, one charity or one issue, because we support a broad range of programs that improve lives. Naperville United Way is the most effective way to invest in our community to create positive, lasting change.
If you would like to become a volunteer for the Naperville United Way – Please contact Deena Manna at 630-369-2584.
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