United Way of Lake County To Host Leadership Breakfast

United Way of Lake County’s annual Leadership Breakfast brings together businesses, nonprofit agencies, community partners and individuals to create lasting change and improve lives in Lake County.

The breakfast will be held Friday, Oct. 5 from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m. at Independence Grove, 16400 West Buckley Road, Libertyville. 

"We hope that everyone who attends gets really inspired to prepare children throughout Lake County to succeed," said Valerie Petersen, spokesperson for UWLC. "They will be inspired and invigorated to take action in our own backyards."

The keynote speaker is Ralph R. Smith who will discuss community solutions to support early learning success. Smith is senior vice president of the Annie E. Casey Foundation and managing director of the Campaign for Grade-Level Reading, a nationwide effort to reverse high rates of low-income children in the United States not reading proficiently by the end of 3rd grade.

"Our keynote speaker is fantastic," Petersen said. "He will speak specifically about early learning. He will also give tangible solutions and innovative approaches to help ensure that kids are ready to learn."

The event will also celebrate the final results and Corporate Challenge winners of Page it Forward 2.0: Lake County’s Biggest Book Drive.

Attendees are encouraged to bring new and gently used children's books to the event in order to be entered into a raffle for an autographed Chicago Bears football.

"Even if you are not directly involved in education, you'll still walk away with a lot from the Leadership Breakfast," Petersen said. "When we all can rally around something as important as education, we all reap the benefits. It helps and impacts everyone in some way."

Ticket information: Individuals - $50; Table Sponsorship - $750 (10 seats); and Premium Table Sponsorships - $1,000. Other sponsorship opportunities are also available. Tickets can be purchased online at www.liveunitedlakecounty.org/breakfast.

Current sponsors for United Way’s Leadership Breakfast include: Abbott, Baxter International Inc., BMO Harris Bank, Cancer Treatment Centers of America, Comcast, Midwest Generation, Nicor Gas, North Shore Gas, One Hope United, Trustmark Companies and Vogue Printers.

United Way of Lake County (UWLC) is preparing our children to succeed in a changing world by focusing on education and building safe and stable families. 

For more information, visit www.LIVEUNITEDlakecounty.org.

For more news and updates, "like" us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.