History

The United Way fund raising concept began in 1887 when four clergymen in Denver, Colorado organized a campaign benefiting more than 20 community service organizations. Consequently, other city and town leaders across the country duplicated this method of fund raising and in 1913 the allocation of funds based on agency ability to create effective local impact was introduced in Cleveland, Ohio. There, the nation's first modern Community Chest was born – a predecessor to what we now call United Way.