Special Collections Nomination Form
“Churches need to create a climate in which charitable giving is the hallmark of a life well lived. Being a generous person or family is one of life’s great privileges. Creating this attitude is primary – the church’s operating budget is secondary.” – Michael Durall, The Almost Church
UUC sponsors nine special collections during the church year from September through May. All recipients of special collections must have non-profit status. Pre-designated recipients include the UUFD WE Pantry, UUCD Ministerial Discretionary Fund, Unitarian Universalist Advocacy Network of Illinois (UUANI), Unitarian Universalist Service Committee’s (UUSC’s) annual fundraiser, and Northern Public Radio through WNIU/WNIJ. We invite nominations from our members for the four remaining special collections. Two of these are reserved for local organizations and the other two are open category, that is, local or non-local. One of these four may be substituted by an emergency relief collection if needed.
This year nominatons are due by noon Monday, June30, 2025.
Nominations need to identify:
-
Your name and contact information
-
The organization you are nominating
-
The website URL or other contact information for the organization nominated
-
A description of its mission and primary activities
-
A brief statement that explains how you think the organization exemplifies UU principles or values.
To submit a nomination by email, send the required information to the office manager at office@uudekalb.org. To submit your nomination on-line, fill out the form below and click "Submit" at the bottom of the page.
We encourage nominations that don’t repeat the previous season’s recipients. Here are the special collection recipients for 2024-2025: Adventure Works, Building Leaders Advocating for Change (BLAC), JAMS, and Volunteer Action Committee (VAC).
Special Collections in the recent past, who would be eligible for nomination again, include DeKalb Mutual Aid, Barb Food Mart, Youth Outlook in 2023-2024, Barn on the Baseline Animal Shelter, The Nature Conservatory, DeKalb County Community Gardens, and Safe Passage in 2022-2023; Oaken Acres, VAC, Adventure Works DeKalb, and DeKalb Women’s Center in 2021-2022; Family Services Agency, Barb Food Mart, DeKalb County Community Gardens (Now Rooted for Good), and DeKalb Area Alano Club in 2020-2021.
We also encourage nominations of non-profits that would be new additions to our special collections.
If you have any questions, please contact Dorothy Coleman at dcoleman405@gmail.com.
UU Values
Love is the power that holds us together and is at the center of our shared values. The values we share include all the following, which we hold as inseparable and deeply interconnected:
- Interdependence: We honor the interdependent web of all existence and acknowledge our place in it.
- Pluralism: We are all sacred beings, diverse in culture, experience, and theology.
- Justice: We work to be diverse multicultural Beloved Communities where all feel welcome and can thrive.
- Transformation: We adapt to the changing world.
- Generosity: We cultivate a spirit of gratitude and hope.
- Equity: We declare that every person is inherently worthy and has the right to flourish with dignity, love, and compassion
