United Way of Lake County awards $84,000 in final COVID-19 fund grants

United Way of Lake County announced today that $84,345 has been awarded in the ninth and final round of Lake County COVID-19 Response and Recovery Fund grants to eight local nonprofits.

This grant cycle focused on summer programs for children up to age thirteen that address learning loss through academics or enrichment programming and include activities or services that address children’s social-emotional needs due to the impact of the pandemic.

The grant recipients for the ninth funding distribution are:

• Beacon Place, to revive Tweens summer program for 25 rising 6th and 7th graders in Waukegan and North Chicago focused on building self-esteem, emotional intelligence and empowerment.
• Boys & Girls Club of Lake County, to fund field trips for Be Inspired Summer 2022 program serving 300 youth from Waukegan, North Chicago and Zion. The full-day programming and activities are focused on academic success, healthy lifestyles, leadership and community development.
• Fill a Heart 4 Kids, to support Brighter Futures Summer Program that provides tutoring, life skills classes, STEM classes, critical resources and onsite field trips to provide a safe and positive experience for 500 children in Waukegan Public Schools receiving services from DHS as well as teens living in a North Chicago Girls Home.
• First Baptist Church of Waukegan, to support the Cool Learning Experience summer program which nurtures the well-being of the whole child with nature and literacy as its foundation to build reading, writing and speaking skills for 70 children and youth in Waukegan, North Chicago and Zion.
• Heart of the City, to support their Summer Soccer Academy that teaches soccer, life skills and team building for 60 at-risk youth in North Chicago, Round Lake, Waukegan and Zion.
• Mothers Trust Foundation, to provide scholarships for 20 children of low-income families in Waukegan, North Chicago, Round Lake and Zion to attend full-day summer camp. Scholarships are based on recommendations from social workers, school staff and community-based programs who are aware of families with specific needs and lack funding. The Summer Camp Enrichment Program allows parents uninterrupted employment and children to thrive through socialization, exploration and learning.
• Roberti Community House, to support Summer Youth Programming for 300 children with activities incorporating math, reading, science, art, cooking, music and English. Many children are English language learners new to the area, or youth who have been out of school. Programming will help increase language proficiency and add a social-emotional element to deal with stresses.
• Shelia Daniels Christian Academy, to support co-ed summer educational programming for up to 70 children in Waukegan, North Chicago, Beach Park and Zion. Camp Champion is open to everyone and addresses the educational, social and emotional learning, and personal growth of children ages 3 to 12 years old.

The Lake County COVID-19 Response and Recovery Fund has united funds raised by philanthropies, corporations and individuals to provide immediate support to local nonprofits serving our most vulnerable neighbors.

Since the fund was launched on March 20, 2020, a total of $1,201,662 has been raised and granted back into the community to 51 nonprofits so they could continue their work serving individuals and families most impacted by the pandemic. This ninth and final distribution leaves the fund at a zero balance, ending the funding process.

United Way of Lake County remains committed to uniting leadership and resources to build a stronger, more equitable community where everyone can thrive.

For more information about the Lake County COVID-19 Response & Recovery Fund grant recipients and funding partners, visit LIVEUNITEDlakecounty.org/covid19.