Jan Edgar, president of United Way of Lake County, likes to quote the 19th-Century French historian, Alexis de Tocqueville, who said the whole concept of volunteerism was uniquely American.
United Way, in fact, was founded on the frontier in 1887 when three clergymen responded to a disastrous Denver fire by pooling funds and combining efforts. It has existed in Lake County since 1924, known first as the Community Chest of Waukegan and North Chicago.
The idea is still the same: to increase the organized capacity of people to care for one another. The scope has far eclipsed the pioneer concept. United Way of Lake County last year collected more than $6 million, mainly from employee contributions in the workplace, and doled out 90 percent of it
(10 percent goes to administration and fundraising) to 41 agencies.
Agencies that apply for United Way of Lake County funds for a program have to meet certain criteria. They have to be not-for-profit, have a volunteer board of directors, be audited and serve Lake County people. Also, the programs are looked at from the standpoint of meeting newly emerging or unmet needs or, for existing programs, the need for expansion.
”It is a very thorough citizens` review process,” Edgar said, noting that 4,000 volunteers make United Way work. (There are 16 paid employees.)
Many of the 4,000 are fundraisers within their companies, including executives who are loaned by companies to the campaign from September through November as speakers, trainers and planners.
In addition to financing other agencies` programs, United Way often develops new programs, Edgar said. Several years ago they brought together a task force of community leaders to develop a resource handbook to be used in fighting drug and alcohol abuse. The program has been adopted by the Northern Illinois Council for Alcoholism and Substance Abuse.
United Way also maintains a center to recruit and refer volunteers to agencies and provides youth leadership training.
”Sure, charity and volunteerism is big business today,” Edgar said.
”It`s a national thrust. There`s a national conscience about giving back.”
