Council of Religious Leaders of Metropolitan Chicago

United Way

The Editor
Pioneer Press, Inc.
3701 West Lake Avenue
Glenview, Illinois 60025

Dear Editor:

The over 1200 congregations and synagogues affiliated with the Council of Religious Leaders of Metropolitan Chicago are participating in an Interfaith Weekend to encourage support of the United Way/Crusade of Mercy and United Way of Suburban Chicago. As executives of these faith groups, we have encouraged and supported this efficient and compassionate way to meet human need. In doing so, we seek to carry on the tradition started in 1887 when a Roman Catholic priest, a Jewish rabbi and two Protestant ministers founded the United Way effort.

We are aware daily of the dramatic human needs in our community. So many people are so vulnerable these days that we bring our concerns, our prayers and our resources to those groups best able to meet their needs. 450 agencies in the metropolitan area receive support from United Way. These agencies are able to effectively meet human needs because of United Way support.

As Protestants, Roman Catholics, Eastern Orthodox and Jewish religious leaders, we look to the biblical faith we share as the basis for encouraging generosity in giving that we may be united as a community in helping deserving people to have the resources to live fully. As we encourage our congregations and synagogues to emphasize the privilege of giving to the United Way, we encourage all people to respond with generosity.

The Council of Religious Leaders
The Rev. Sherman Hicks, President
The Rev. Thomas A. Baima, Vice-President
The Rev. Dwight Bailey, Treasurer