Jeannie Weber, executive director of Warren County United Way and
Lily Blouin, regional coordinator of Forefront and a Warren County United Way board
member, elected to National United Way Cultural Task Force. It was announced by United
Way Worldwide April 30, 2021 that Weber and Blouin were elected to the Taskforce by peer
United Way leaders throughout the nation. As a result, Weber and Blouin will be representing
the state of Illinois and this region, along with rural United Ways in the states of Vermont and
Pennsylvania. Large and more moderately-sized United Ways are representing the states of
Florida, Maryland, Iowa, Pennsylvania, California, and Virginia.
United Way Worldwide created the Culture Task Force as one of two new task forces chartered
by its National Board of Trustees. The Culture Task Force will examine United Way’s shared
culture; regionally and nationally, with a focus on strengthening the network, which in the United
States consists of over 1,500 independent United Way organizations. The nominations for the
Task Force were open to everyone in that large network. Both Weber and Blouin won the
election in Illinois, which was unique to all other representatives nominated from other states.
Weber said, “It made sense that we were both elected to the Task Force, because quite often
we are collaborating on our work and our voices in support of this region’s progress. While we
are both serving our United Way locally from different places, we are focused on the same thing.
Our passion is understanding nonprofits, supporting nonprofits, and bringing communities
together in order to serve more residents. We have been very engaged on the state level and
voiced the need for smaller, rural nonprofits to be heard.”
Weber and Blouin were elected last fall to the State of Illinois United Way board of directors. In
that role, they have remained a constant voice for small, rural community success, diversity
equity and inclusion, and nonprofits throughout the region.
“We were both so happy to receive the announcement from United Way Worldwide, but then we
had to make a decision.” Weber stated that while both of them would be invited to continue to
represent their state, United Way Worldwide had to fill the seat with one person, so another
state could be represented. Because the situation was unique to Illinois, United Way Worldwide
suggested that one formally sit on the Task Force, while the other serve as a partner with that
seat.
“For me, it was easy to decide what to do,” Weber said. “It is so important that as many of us be
represented as possible. Lily (Blouin) has a thoughtful point of view from a broader scope and
has a talent for gathering information from that broadness, making sense of it, and then applying
it to the vision we both have for inclusiveness, support, and collaboration across the region.”
After messaging United Way Worldwide about the decision Weber and Blouin made, an email
came back almost immediately from the Director of United States Network Engagement and
Performance, “Congratulations Jeannie and Lily for winning! I am happy that we were able to
arrive at a way both of your perspectives can inform the work, while also allowing representation
from another state on the Task Force. Both of your perspectives are very valuable to this work!”
Warren County United Way remains one of greater Warren County’s largest funding
organizations. Each year, they are trusted by the community to assess needs and raise funds to
meet those needs. One-hundred percent of every dollar raised by Warren County United Way
goes directly to agencies serving the region. Over the last five years, they have provided
additional granting opportunities for nonprofits and continue to expand programming and
collaborations that support greater Warren County. In 2020, Warren County United Way
distributed $343,762 into the community, while securing separate grants and/or private funding
for free services, including: Imagination Library, the 211 crisis intervention line, free prescription
and vaccine programs, and most recently the electronic translator project, which has distributed
over 150 electronic translators to first responders, front line workers, area schools, and local
businesses serving our non-English speaking residents. https://wcunitedway.org/
Forefront is a nationally renowned Illinois’ statewide association that represents both
grantmakers and nonprofits, as well as their advisors and allies. Their mission is to build a
vibrant social impact sector for all the residents of Illinois. They provide education, advocacy,
thought leadership, and facilitate collective action around issues that are important to its
members and to the sector. Locally, Forefront’s office serving Western Illinois shares space with
Warren County United Way, which is located at 87 Public Square in Monmouth.
https://myforefront.org/
***Courtesy of the Warren County United Way***
