After a year of planning, United Way of DuPage/West Cook, in partnership with United Way of Metropolitan Chicago, was preparing to launch LIVE UNITED 2020, a decade long vision to transform communities of greatest need throughout our region. At the same time, the OfficeMax Foundation was gearing up to make one of their largest philanthropic investments into a school sponsorship. United Way had recently identified the Berwyn region as one of its target communities.

Freedom Middle School and Youth Crossroads are partnering to create the Berwyn Community School Initiative, a program that ensures families and students are provided with an array of on-site services that are essential to the building blocks of a quality life- income, education and health.

Understanding the potential of the community school model and the necessity for funding, OfficeMax Incorporated, headquartered in Naperville, stepped up to the plate to adopt a community school. Recognizing United Way's expertise in identifying community needs and delivering results, OfficeMax granted $1 million over three years to support Freedom Middle School and Youth Crossroads.

On August 22, United Way and OfficeMax surprised the Principal of Freedom Middle School, Jim Calabrese, and the Executive Director of Youth Crossroads, Dave Terrazino, with a check addressed to the Berwyn Community School Initiative. This money will allow Freedom Middle School and Youth Crossroads to supply their students and families with the resources and education needed to achieve success

For more information, you can follow United Way's blog posts about the partnership at http://www.uw-mc.org/blog/.

The City of Berwyn awarded four college-bound Berwyn teens $500 each to be used toward their continuing education.

This year's winners of Berywn's annual Dollars for Scholars merit-based scholarship awards include Morton West graduates, Tyna Nguyen, Oscar Tapia, and Maricela Leon, and Nazareth Academy graduate Tricia Leja.  They will enroll in Morton Community College in Cicero, Concordia University in River Forest, and the University of Illinois at Chicago this fall.

Berwyn's School District 100 has been awarded an additional $2.1 million in state funding for the 2011- 2012 school year.  The additional funding will allow District 100 to continue its mission to bring technology into every classroom and to fund a full-day kindergarten program.

The 2009 - 2010 school year saw the launch of a SmartTechnology pilot program in District 100 schools. By year's end, all eight District 100 schools had SmartBoards - interactive, internet-enabled, wireless teaching slates that replace traditional chalkboards and increase student engagement in the learning process.

Berwyn C.A.R.E.S and the Heritage Middle School PTSA  will host a discussion with Jacqueline Edelberg, one of the authors of "How to Walk to School:  Blueprint for a Neighborhood School Renaissance."   The book discussion will be held at Heritage Middle School, 6850 31st Street, on Thursday, May 19th, at 7:00 p.m. It is open to the public and will include a meet-and-greet with the author as well as a discussion on grassroots, community-led reform. On-site childcare will be available.

Berwyn C.A.R.E.S. (Citizens Aligned to Renew Education for Students) is a non-profit organization created to unite residents interested in renewing and sustaining an enthusiasm, interest and passion for the education system in Berwyn.