The United Way

The United Way is a non-profit organization which works with nearly 1,300 local area offices to pool fund raising and support efforts for a variety of charitable causes, focused on the advancement of education, income and health.Official Site: About Us

1. 1887: Founded in Denver as the Charity Organizations Society
2. 1918: American Association for Community Organizations (AACO) is formed in Chicago
3. 1948: Network of organizations grows to over 1,000Official Site: Our History
4. 1971: Headquarters move to Virginia from New York City
5. 1973: Partners with the National Football League
6. 1981: Raise $1.68 billionOfficial Site: Our History
7. 1994: Selected charity of choice by Financial World MagazineOfficial Site: Our History
8. 1996: First United Way websites launched
9. 2001: Establish September 11th Fund with the New York Community Trust

• 1887: Several Denver religious leaders of varying denominations found Charity Organizations Society

• 1888: First United Way campaign in Denver raises $21,700

• 1894: Charitable institutions exempt from the first federal act that imposed a tax on corporations

• 1913: First modern Community Chest born in Cleveland

• 1918: 12 fund-raising federations form the American Association for Community Organizations

• 1919: Rochester, NY, uses the name Community Chest, a name widely adopted until the early 1950s

• 1948: More than 1,000 communities have established United Way organizations

• 1971: United Way of America relocates from New York City, NY to Alexandria, VA

• 1973: The NFL and the United Way establish their partnership

• 1974: United Way raises $1,038,995,000 in America and Canada

• 1974: United Way International helps nations form United Way organizations

• 1981: United Way raises $1.68 billion, a 10.1 percent increase over the previous year

• 1982: United Way of America's National Service and Training Center opens in August

• 1987: United Way centennial celebration includes dedication of a United Way postage stamp

• 1991: A fully staffed Operations Center assists during the Persian Gulf War

• 1994: United Way of America selected by Financial World magazine as the charity of choice

• 1995: Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games (ACOG) announces United Way as provider of community support and volunteer services for 1996 Torch Relay

• 1996: United Way develops United Way Online for local United Ways and website for general public

• 1998: United Way collectively raises $3.4 billion

• 2000: United Way and partners petition the FCC to designate "211" for health and human services

• 2001: United Way of New York City and New York Community Trust establish September 11th Fund

• 2004: Florida United Ways and 2-1-1 lead hurricane response and recovery efforts

• 2005: In conjunction with Civitas and the Ad Council, United Way of America introduces Born Learning