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/.