Special Dates:

1887:

In Denver, religious leaders founded the Charity Organization Society, the first United Way, which planned and coordinated local services and conducted a single fundraising campaign for 22 agencies.

1911:

The National Association of Societies for Organizing Charity was formed to help social agencies cooperate and share information.

1913:

The nation’s first modern Community Chest was born in Cleveland, where a program for allocating campaign funds was developed.

1946:

The Department of Labor Participation was established at United Way of America.  The aim was to join United Way, labor, and health and welfare agencies in a cooperative, community effort to bring services and people together.  To accomplish this, what are currently known as AFL-CIO Community Services liaisons are employed by United Way organizations throughout the country.

1948:

More than 1,000 communities had established United Way organizations.

1967:

United Way campaigns raised more than $700 million, despite work shortages and civil unrest.  United Ways helped 27.5 million families; 31,300 agencies were members; 8.5 million people were volunteering and 32.8 million made donations.

1970:

The United Way name was formally adopted.

1972:

The United Way logo, representing the helping hand cradling mankind and surrounded by a rainbow symbolizing hope, was created.

1974:

United Ways raised $1,038,995,000 in America and Canada- The first time in history that an annual campaign of a single organization raised more than $1 billion.

1992:

Adams County United Way was established