093_HR0347
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1 HOUSE RESOLUTION
2 WHEREAS, United Way of Illinois was incorporated in the
3 State of Illinois on the 22nd day of February, 1978, naming
4 Charles A. Bane, a volunteer leader, its first chairman; and
5 WHEREAS, United Way of Illinois is celebrating its 25th
6 Anniversary on July 23, 2003; and
7 WHEREAS, United Way of Illinois is a statewide
8 organization of 52 member United Ways, representing
9 communities across Illinois, which influences public policy
10 issues impacting the nonprofit sector; and
11 WHEREAS, The organization maximizes collaborative
12 resources among local United Ways, nonprofits, foundations,
13 donors and government; and
14 WHEREAS, In the mid 1970s, United Ways became concerned
15 that government was becoming increasingly involved in
16 programs and issues impacting human services with little or
17 no input from the nonprofit human services sector; and
18 WHEREAS, Determined to address this issue, the statewide
19 Board at its annual meeting in 1975 adopted a resolution
20 formally establishing a United Way of Illinois, changing it
21 from an organization made up exclusively of United Way
22 executives to one with broad-based involvement of both
23 volunteer leaders and staff executives; and
24 WHEREAS, Its defined purpose and objectives were "To be
25 an effective voice for volunteerism in Illinois, addressing
26 public policy issues affecting the United Way movement, and
27 assisting local United Ways in achieving the national
28 Standards of Excellence"; and
29 WHEREAS, In 1977, United Way of Illinois held its first
30 Governor's Breakfast where Governor Jim Thompson announced
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1 the creation of the title XX "Donated Funds Initiative"
2 program in Illinois, allowing nonprofits a 3-for-1 match in
3 government funds supporting human service programs, opening a
4 new era of cooperation between government and the private
5 sector; and
6 WHEREAS, Since its incorporation in 1978, a strong public
7 policy agenda has been developed, leading to important human
8 service achievements, including: Establishing nonprofit
9 insurance risk-pooling; Developing volunteer immunity
10 legislation; Establishing the nationally emulated FEMA
11 set-aside program in Illinois; Creating a "Volunteers in
12 Public Administration" program bringing together business
13 leaders who assisted State Government in various
14 administrative areas; Establishing the Illinois Donor
15 Advisory Committee in 1990, made up of nonprofit, government,
16 business, and civic leaders, to monitor unethical charitable
17 practices; Serving on the Governor's Task Force on Human
18 Services Reform, working side-by-side with government and
19 human service providers to bring about fair and equitable
20 changes in the State and national welfare system, and helping
21 many disadvantaged individuals to become self-sufficient;
22 Leading efforts to establish "211" in Illinois, a non-
23 emergency information and referral system linking individuals
24 with human services in their local communities; and Serving
25 on the Advisory Committee of the State Employee Campaign, on
26 the Governor's Social Services Advisory Committee, and the
27 Attorney General's Charitable Oversight Committee; and
28 WHEREAS, United Way of Illinois has contributed a great
29 deal to improve the state of human services in Illinois and
30 in the nation; and
31 WHEREAS, It has grown in ability, understanding, and
32 effectiveness as it carries out its mission; therefore, be it
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1 RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
2 NINETY-THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
3 we commemorate the United Way of Illinois on the occasion of
4 its 25th Anniversary, and hereby extend our congratulations
5 to the United Way movement in Illinois; and be it further
6 RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this Resolution be
7 presented to the United Way of Illinois.