Lake Co. Treasure Uses Stipend to Buy Book Bags for Kids

Lake County: Treasurer Holly Kim worked with United Way of Lake County to help hundreds of Lake County school children be prepared with school supplies as they head back to school through a drive called Stuff the Bus. Treasurer Kim used the stipend she received from the State of Illinois to invest in our school children by purchasing 226 book bags.

The State of Illinois by statute is required to give each County Treasurer a stipend annually to compensate them for fulfilling duties required by the State. This stipend is in addition to the salary the County pays to the Treasurer. “I did not run for this office to increase my salary. When I received this stipend, I decided the best thing to do was to partner with United Way to help underserved children all over Lake County” Kim said. Bobbi Selvik of United Way Lake County stated “This is our first year doing Stuff the Bus. We were hoping for 500 backpacks and to date have collected over 850! Jazlyn and Treasurer Kim collected more back packs than any company, organization or individual”. Joining Kim and the United Way in this effort was 10 year old American Royal Spirit Hometown Ambassador Jazlyn Torres. Jazlyn also collected supplies from four sites and collected an additional $100.

United Way Lake County’s mission is to prepare children to succeed in a changing world by focusing on education and building safe and stable families. The office of the Treasurer collects property taxes from almost 300,000 parcels in Lake County and distributes them to local taxing bodies. Newly elected Treasurer Holly Kim publicly believes in community reinvestment and was happy to partner with United Way Lake County.