The United Way Movement

The first organization that evolved into United Way began in Denver in 1887. Leaders from the religious community along with volunteer citizens came together to respond to growing and more complex human needs. No longer could family members or neighbors alone informally deal with the growing health, housing, juvenile delinquency, mental health, and other needs that faced them. The response would have to be organized and collective.

An economic revolution had created unprecedented human need and required a revolutionary response which created United Way’s greatest value - Our ability to bring together individuals and institutions to respond to human need and potential – and it has lasted for 120 years!. It is what makes United Way relevant and unique.

Community Chests (and other forerunners of United Way) brought public officials, business leaders, religious leaders, organized labor, human service agencies and others together to identify and respond to the most pressing issues of the day. In the early to mid-1920’s human service agencies began raising money together through Community Chests to address issues. They raised more money at lower costs than previous less organized fund-raisers. In the 1950’s payroll deduction for workplace giving was created and the amount of money raised sky rocketed.

In 1970 local Community Chests, United Planning Councils, United Funds, Torch Drives, Crusades of Mercy, and others came together under one name and became, United Way. Today United Way is comprised of 1,400 locally independent organizations in the United States and 3,000 affiliated organizations in 44 countries around the world. There are 16 million donors in the U.S. investing almost $4 billion annually.

United Way of Merced County

July 23, 1954 Merced United Givers, Inc. was incorporated and thus was the birth of United Way in Merced County. In 1961 the name was changed to Merced County United Fund, Inc. In 1974 it was changed to Merced Area United Way and in 1997 it became United Way of Merced County.

In the early days the organization represented the various charities for which it was raising funds. Through the years, the emphasis changed agency desires to donor desires. Additionally the funding shifted from supporting agencies to supporting selected programs of agencies.

An all volunteer committee of community representation review the applications of non-profit human care service agencies who are requesting funding for one of their programs. Then the agencies make a verbal presentation followed by questions from the committee. The committee then makes a funding recommendation to the Board of Directors for approval.

Early records were inadvertently destroyed and we have little information about the volunteers and staff of the organization. A complete list of Board Presidents from 1983 to present is as follows:

1983-1984 Julie Nord
1984-1985 Gene Miller
1985-1986 George Parker
1986-1987 Michael Hider
1987-1988 Fred Buckingham
1988-1989 Dale Geldert
1989-1990 Richard Rohrback
1990-1991 Robert Roza
1991-1992 Carolene Drury
1992-1993 Tom Frazier
1993-1994 Brian Griffin
1994-1995 Marcus Bernardi
1995-1996 Leon Martinez
1996-1996 Dale Griffin
1996-1997 Carolene Drury
1997-1999 Bob Harmon
1999-2001 Hub Walsh
2001-2003 Rudy Albritton
2003-2005 Scott Camper
2005-2007 Scott Pettygrove
2007-2008 Barbara Richey
2008- Sylvia Fuller