Women's group grants $100,000 for early literacy programs

The Women's Leadership Council of United Way of Lake County granted $100,000 to support seven critical childhood literacy programs that aim to ensure a strong foundation for children living in Lake County's most vulnerable communities.

As of 2014, $225,000 has been invested in the Lake County community through the Little Kids, Big Futures Philanthropy Fund, an initiative directed by WLC members.

The following programs will receive grants to support funding in the 2017-18 fiscal year:

• $36,000: Success By 6, Kindergarten Countdown Camp in Waukegan and Zion. Funding will help 70-75 children to attend Success By 6 Program's Kindergarten Countdown Camp in Waukegan and Zion communities. This program is designed for children with little to no preschool experience to learn the basic skills needed to start school prepared in the fall.

• $20,000: B.E.S.T. Pre-K Program in Round Lake. Funding will provide scholarships for 17 children ages 3-5 to attend a half-day preschool for the school year in Round Lake.

• $14,000: Better Together, Green Bay Early Learning Center in North Chicago. Funding will support a set of six early learning summer sessions and 10 sessions during the school year where each session helps 12-18 families.

• $12,000: Success By 6: Home Visiting in Zion and Beach Park. Funding will support four families with infant and preschool-age children struggling with poverty and limited access to health and community services in Zion and Beach Park communities.

• $12,000: Success By 6, Kindergarten Countdown Camp in Beach Park. Funding will support the expansion of the Success By 6 Kindergarten Countdown Camp in the Beach Park community. Funding will help launch this program to two classrooms of 15 students.

• $5,000: Early Reading Success Tutor Program in Waukegan. Funding will support the expansion of Reading Success Tutoring Program for kindergartners in Waukegan through funding for additional materials and equipment needed to implement the program in classrooms.

• $1,000: HUGS Initiative, Green Bay Early Childhood Center In North Chicago. Funding will provide volunteer support and resources to outfit Green Bay Early Childhood Center's resource room to attract young families for intervention and programming.

"2016-2017 has been an incredible year for WLC's Little Kids Big Futures Philanthropy Fund," said Tejal R. Vakharia, chair of the Little Kids, Big Futures Philanthropy Fund Committee. "As a result of successful fundraising events, a strong membership and a growing fund, we have proudly been able to fund more programs than ever this year."

Thinking ahead to 2018 and beyond, the Women's Leadership Council members plan to continue using their time, talent and resources to focus on their signature issue: early childhood literacy in the most vulnerable communities, including Waukegan, North Chicago, Round Lake and Zion.

To learn more about this group of philanthropic leaders and how to get involved, visit www.LIVEUNITEDlakecounty.org/womensleadershipcouncil.

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