Somerset County United Way was officially created in 1990 as the result of a unified effort to bring together a diverse group of agency-focused fundraisers and create a dynamic and efficient community-building organization working to solve local problems.
Somerset County United Way’s local ties stretch back to the end of the Second World War, from the creation of the Somerset Hills Community Chest in 1946 to the founding of the United Fund of Somerset Valley in 1958. In 1975 the United Fund of Somerset Valley changed its name to United Way of Somerset Valley.
When United Way of Somerset Valley and Watchung Community Chest entered into a formal fund-raising agreement on October 24, 1986, it became apparent that our vision to bring together all the elements of Somerset County to alleviate the problems of the weakest members of our community was coming to fruition.
Four years later, on July 1, 1990, Somerset County United Way was officially created with the merger of four United Ways: the United Way of Somerset Valley, the Somerset Hills Community Chest, the Watchung Borough Fund, and the Warren Township Fund. The latter two organizations were entirely volunteer run.
United Way Timeline
In 1887, a Denver priest, two ministers and a rabbi recognized the need for cooperative action to address their city’s welfare problems. The Rev. Myron W. Reed, Msgr. William J. O’Ryan, Dean H. Martyn Hart and Rabbi William S. Friedman put their heads together to plan the first united campaign for ten health and welfare agencies. They created an organization to serve as an agent to collect funds for local charities, as well as to coordinate relief services, counsel and refer clients to cooperating agencies, and make emergency assistance grants in cases which could not be referred.
That year, Denver raised $21,700 and created a movement that would spread throughout the county to become the United Way. Over 118 years later, United Way is still focused on mobilizing the caring power of communities and making a difference in people’s lives.
1887: In Denver, religious leaders founded the Charity Organizations Society, the first "United Way" organization, which planned and coordinated local services and conducted a single fund-raising campaign for 22 agencies.
1888: First United Way campaign in Denver raised $21,700.
1913: The nation's first modern Community Chest was born in Cleveland, where a program for allocating campaign funds was developed.
1918: Executives of 12 fund-raising federations met in Chicago and formed the American Association for Community Organizations (AACO), the predecessor to United Way of America.
1919: Rochester, New York, used the name Community Chest, a name widely adopted by United Way organizations and used until the early 1950s. This year began a 10-year growth period in the number of Community Chests: 39 in 1919; 353 in 1929.
1948: More than 1,000 communities had established United Way organizations.
1971: United Way of America moved from N.Y., City, New York to Alexandria, Virginia.
1973: The NFL and the United Way establish their partnership to increase public awareness of social service issues facing the country. In addition to public service announcements in which volunteer NFL players, coaches and owners appear, NFL players support their local United ways through personal appearances, special programs, and sitting on United Way governing boards.
United Way International was formed to help nations around the world form United Way-type organizations.
1981: United Ways raised $1.68 billion, a 10.1 percent increase over the previous year. This figure represented the largest single-year percentage increase.
1987: United Way recognized its centennial by saluting the American volunteer through many programs, including dedication of a United Way postage stamp by the U.S. Postal Service.
1994: United Way of America was selected by Financial World magazine as the charity of choice in 1994 for its leadership in not-for-profit ethics and accountability.
This was also the first year of United Way of America's Quality Awards, modeled after the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Awards. These awards recognize United Way organizations that demonstrated measurable progress in customer satisfaction, accountability and productivity. United Way of Allegheny County, Pittsburgh, PA, United Way of the Piedmont, Spartanburg, SC, and United Way of Southeastern New England, Providence, RI, were the first recipients of this prestigious award.
1995: The Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games (ACOG) announced its selection of United Way of America and the United Way system as the primary provider of community support and volunteer services for the 1996 Olympic Torch Relay. In its role, United Way was responsible for assisting ACOG with the selection of torchbearers, organizing community celebrations to greet the arrival of the Olympic Flame, and coordinating volunteers for those functions.
1998: In 1997-98 campaigns, United Ways collectively raised $3.4 billion, boosting revenues by more than $150 million for a 4.7 percent increase over 1996-97 levels.
United Ways and the NFL celebrate the 25th Anniversary of their unique partnership and the longest-running sports/charity public service announcement campaign of its kind. The partnership has enabled the United Way to share their special message with 110 million viewers during football season. Over 950 spots have aired since 1973.
1999: Bank of America Foundation donates $50 million over 5 years to local United Ways in 22 states where they conduct business to support United Way's Birth to Work Agenda, previously called Success by 6®.
Bill and Melinda Gates donate $10.5 million to support vital United Way programs and services to strengthen the United Way system.
2000: United Way and its partners, the Alliance of Information and Referral Systems, successfully petition the Federal Communications Commission to designate "211" for health and human services information and referral. Originally created by United Way of Atlanta, 211 is an easy-to-remember and universally recognizable telephone number that makes a critical connection between individuals and families in need and the appropriate community-based organizations and government agencies.
2001: In response to terrorist attacks at the World Trade Center in New York City, the Pentagon in Washington D.C. and Somerset County, PA, the United Way of New York City and the New York Community Trust established the September 11th Fund. The purpose of the Fund was to mobilize financial resources to respond to the pressing needs of the victims, their families, and communities affected by the tragedy.
2002: In January, Brian Gallagher assumes the position of United Way of America president and CEO. A 20-year veteran of United Way, Gallagher was president of the United Way of Central Ohio in Columbus, the 16th largest United Way in the country. Gallagher becomes UWA's fourth president.
2004: In response to the devastating hurricanes that ravaged the state of Florida, United Ways throughout Florida lead response and recovery efforts by identifying the most serious needs in devastated communities. The Florida 2-1-1 Network responded to thousands of telephone calls directing victims to services such as shelters, food, medical assistance, disaster preparedness and response activities, post-disaster assistance, and recovery information. Local 2-1-1 operators also matched volunteers with opportunities to give help in affected communities.
The tragic tsunami that struck South Asia focused attention on that area of the world. The United Way Coordinated Crisis Response Team worked collaboratively with staff from United Way International, United Way of America, and United Way affiliates in India, Indonesia, Kenya, Malaysia, and Thailand to collectively respond to the Indian Ocean communities impacted by the disasters.
2005: First adopted in 1973 and last updated in 1988, United Way of America updates its Standards of Excellence. The new Standards -- which provide a comprehensive description of benchmark standards and best practices -- reflect the organization's strategic shift from its traditional role as strictly a fundraiser to a new mission focused on identifying and addressing the long-term needs of communities.
In conjunction with Civitas and the Ad Council, United Way of America introduces Born Learning, an innovative public engagement campaign designed to provide parents and caregivers with the resources they need to create quality early learning opportunities for young children.