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August 10, 2011
Voices launches membership initiativeOn July 22nd in Springfield, Voices launched an exciting new membership initiative – Partners4Kids - that will connect people and organizations who care passionately about children. Partners4Kids will be a powerful network for improving the lives of children by giving members enhanced access to and an increased level of partnership with Voices for Illinois Children and our work of creating a shared vision for kids and families. Individual membership is free and organizational membership is $100. For information about benefits and to join, please visit Voices website or contact Dawn Melchiorre.
Partners4Kids member spotlightAt the launch of Voices' Partners4Kids, Prevent Children Abuse Illinois became the first organizational member. “I want to commend Voices for Illinois Children for this new and exciting partnership. At a time when the economy and other priorities threaten their well being, this will make a huge difference in our collective strength advocating for Illinois children. "It is a special privilege to be the first to sign on and I would encourage every person and organization who cares about what happens to our children to join this partnership as well," said Roy Harley, executive director of Prevent Child Abuse Illinois. For information about benefits and to join, please visit Voices website or contact Dawn Melchiorre.
Economists: Medicaid good for families’ physical, fiscal healthMedicaid significantly improves families’ health and financial stability, according to a landmark study about the national health-insurance program for low-income households. According to a new paper published by the National Bureau of Economic Research, people receiving Medicaid are 30 percent more likely than their non-Medicaid counterparts to have a hospital stay and 35 percent more likely to have an outpatient visit to a doctor. They’re also 40 percent less likely to need to borrow money – or to ignore other bills – in order to cover medical expenses. The research counters questions and criticisms that some have posed about the value and effectiveness of Medicaid. Learn about latest after-school developments at ACT Now meetingDon’t miss the ACT Now Coalition’s meeting Aug. 15. There you’ll hear the latest after-school budget and contract negotiation news from Illinois Collaboration on Youth CEO Susan Cowen, take a brief tour of the Digital Youth Network’s after-school site, and get involved with this year’s Lights On After-School events. It's an opportunity to network with providers and advocates and learn new strategies for success. For the agenda and to register, click here. A night of FUNdraising at the 3rd Annual Kids at Heart event
Come celebrate the “kid in you” and enjoy a night of
fun with the Voices for Illinois Children Associates Board on Aug. 27. Join us at
the Mars Gallery in Chicago for an entertaining evening of activities and valuable
raffle and auction prizes. We’ll even help you embrace your inner child
with some of your favorite childhood comfort foods and adult beverages. Register here. For more information contact Dawn Melchiorre.
Get to know your Voices' team!Yasmine Baharloo (Yassi to us) joined Voices nearly a year ago as an intern for our development team. In that role she assisted in fundraising efforts and spent the majority of her time here, in the beginning, preparing for the Voices’ Associates Board Kids at Heart Fundraiser and becoming familiar with all the ways Voices sponsors the well-being of children and families across the state. She has since moved on to work on the public awareness campaign, Foster Kids Are Our Kids, and is often the voice behind the campaign’s social marketing communications. Most recently she helped in organizing and implementing the Wrigley Start Early Run, which brought nearly 2,300 people together in Chicago’s Grant Park in recognition of National Child Abuse Prevention Month. Originally from Houston, Texas, Yassi came to Chicago to attend Columbia College Chicago, where she earned her degree in Public Relations. Now she claims Chicago as her true home and says the city’s beautiful architecture and commitment to making countless cultural events available to the public are what make it unique. When not at Voices, she can often be found at one of the city’s many free events, her favorite of which is the Downtown Sound music series at the Jay Pritzker Pavillion. |
