History of United Way
The first United Way organization began in 1887 when a Denver priest, two ministers, and a rabbi got together to address their city’s needs. The first campaign had a goal to help 10 welfare and health agencies. United Way was created to serve as a central organization to collect money for local charities and relief services. That first year raised $21,700 for 22 agencies.
In 1918, 12 executives of fundraising groups got together and formed the American Association for Community Organizations, which was the United Way of America’s predecessor. In the following years, organizations called Community Chests, a name adopted by many United Way organizations, continued to grow until more than 1,000 were operating in 1948.
In 1974, United Way shattered records by raising over a billion dollars. It was the first time in history that a single organization’s annual campaign raised that much money.
Since then, United Way has continued to grow, raising $3.4 billion in 1998. United Way’s influence has continued to expand to include relief efforts, like the 2006 Alternative Spring Break. This campaign called for young people to help rebuild the Gulf Coast after hurricanes.
United Way grew more robust with a partnership with the China Charity Foundation in 2011. The organization celebrated its 125th anniversary in 2012 and continues to expand its horizons.
What Does United Way of Southwest Georgia Do?
United Way’s mission is to improve people’s lives by mobilizing communities’ caring power in Southwest Georgia. There are four areas of primary community impact that the United Way of Southwest Georgia focuses on: education, income, health, and basic needs.
The United Way of Southwest Georgia wants to reduce the number of high school dropouts. They begin with early childhood education, helping create more effective schools and supportive communities. They have volunteers to teach reading, help in classrooms, and have mentors for disadvantaged students.
United Way of Southwest Georgia wants to help lower-income families become financially stable. To help with this goal, the organization has launched the Financial Stability Partnership™ initiative. This program focuses on community-change strategies to help families get their basic needs met and gain the ability to plan for and accomplish financial goals.
United Way of Southwest Georgia believes that everyone should have access to affordable and quality healthcare. There are about 47 million people without health insurance, including 8.7 million children. United Way is working to address this problem.
The United Way of Southwest Georgia helps those who need assistance with basic needs. This includes housing improvements, safety services, and disaster response systems. When a disaster occurs, the United Way is here to step in and help.