Elfego, Raquel and Anita play on a soccer team with their brothers, Joaquim (not pictured) and Marcos (not pictured), who is also their coach.

In addition to soccer, kids (grades 1-12) can also participate in dance, ceramics, painting, crafts, acting, cooking, tutoring, games, field trips, pre-employment readiness and college prep at Waite House, run by Pillsbury United Communities, a United Way partner agency.

Elfego, 15, is happy he's made so many friends.  "When I started coming here, I really didn’t know anyone," he said.  Now, it seems he knows almost everyone. He even got a job there working with the youth staff.

After school, Raquel, 14, likes using the computer lab to do homework. She wants to be a soccer star when she gets older, but knows college is important, too.

Pillsbury United Communities offers a college savings program that allows teens to earn points for doing community service, resisting drugs and delaying pregnancy. At the end of the year, if teens have earned enough points, they receive $2,000 for college.

Anita, 11, dreams of being an actress. She likes the center's acting classes best and was chosen for the Chicago Avenue Project that links playwrights, actors and directors with inner-city youth. She'll help create and act in an original play. Whether on stage, on the soccer field, working, studying, or just hanging out with friends, these siblings have opportunities at Waite House thanks to your donations.

United Way’s Agenda for Lasting Change focuses on 10 measurable goals in our three focus areas: Meeting Basic Needs, Supporting Health and Independence and Nurturing Children and Families. One goal is reaching 15,000 additional youth through quality out-of-school time programming by 2012.

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