Nonprofits Launch New Campaign to Boost Illinois Census Results

CHICAGO, -- Aiming to overcome hurdles that could depress Illinois census tallies 
and cost our state deserved federal
funds, an unprecedented alliance of 60 nonprofits and 10 of Illinois' leading
foundations are working together to improve participation in the 2010 census
among hard-to-count populations.  Targeting hard-to-reach communities, this
endeavor, known as the Count Me In campaign, is the largest effort in the
country to promote census participation in a single state by a group of
philanthropic funders and nonprofit organizations.

The $1.2 million campaign will attempt to increase census participation in 37
targeted communities in Chicago and throughout Illinois.  The effort will
combine innovative public education campaigns, community outreach, and other
grassroots activities designed to increase the mail-back rate of census forms
from select Illinois communities.

The 2010 census is particularly critical because it will help determine the
distribution of roughly $400 billion a year in federal funds to state and
local governments, including more than $14 billion each year to Illinois.
Researchers predict Illinois will lose $12,000 in federal funds during the
next ten years for each uncounted person.

Low-income, African American, Asian, Latino, immigrant, children, and
non-English speaking communities have historically been undercounted in the
census.  Focusing on these populations, the nonprofits will tap existing
networks to boost participation in the 2010 census. 

"Trusted voices in the community are critical when it comes to convincing hard
to count populations that the 2010 Census is important, easy and safe to
participate in," said Dr. Robert M. Groves, U.S. Census Bureau director.  "The
Census Bureau looks forward to working alongside the Count Me In grantees to
help ensure an accurate and complete count of all Illinois residents next
year."

For a full press release, information about the grantees, Count Me In and a
map of the targeted communities, visit www.joycefdn.org/2010census.


Count Me In is funded by The Boeing Company, The Chicago Bar Foundation, The
Chicago Community Trust, the Lloyd A. Fry Foundation, Grand Victoria
Foundation, the Joyce Foundation, John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur
Foundation, Polk Bros. Foundation, Steans Family Foundation and Woods Fund of
Chicago. In addition, LISC/Chicago is supporting five New Community Program
lead agencies in this effort. 



SOURCE  Count Me In

Charles Boesel of Count Me In, +1-312-795-3816, cboesel@joycefdn.org