WordCount

I don't want to compete, but I want to support! How do I make a donation?  
Thank you! It's easy.

• Go to the Donate to IH page
• Find a participant you'd like to contribute to (scroll down or use the search bar)
• Click "Select" on that participant
• Click a donation level or enter a custom amount (you may have to scroll down)
• You can send a message to your selected participant, if you like, by clicking the toggle next to "Message to WordCount/Fundraiser"
• Click "Continue"
• Enter your payment information and click "Confirm Donation"

Everyone who gives at least $25 gets a 2021 Illinois Humanities WordCount button and a WordCount Sticker. (These are going to be incredible collectors' items. We just know it!)

I want more info about the people who are participating in this thing.

• Go to the Top Fundraisers page
• Browse the participants or use the search bar
• Click "View" to check out their individual fundraising page
• Here's an example from our Executive Director, Gabe Lyon

How can I check who's winning?
You can look at the leading readers on the Results page, and the leading fundraisers on the Top Fundraisers page and the Home page.

What will the money be used for?  
Funds raised by WordCount will be used to support our education programs, specifically the Illinois Humanities Odyssey Project. The Odyssey Project is a free, college-credit earning humanities program that explores writing, literature, philosophy, art, and U.S. history. Odyssey is offered at sites across Chicago (on the South, West, North Sides, as well as the Southwest Side, where courses are taught in Spanish). We admit over 100 students per year. Upon successful completion of the program, students earn college credit in the Humanities through the University of Illinois at Chicago. In an effort to further support individuals’ continuing education, we offer a second-year course in English and Spanish and alumni programs that reach 500+ participants each year. Our Odyssey and Sojourner programs offer a tangible pathway to college and university for many students, which positively impacts the trajectory of students’ lives and careers.

More questions?  
Please reach out to Nina Wheeler, nina@hooplagroupla.com, with any other questions.