about united way of massachusetts bay and merrimack valley
We improve the qualify of life for our region's children and families by uniting effective partners, wise investments, and committed volunteers to strategically tackle the most critical issues and create measurable differences in our neighborhoods.
United Way of Massachusetts Bay and Merrimack Valley (UWMBMV) is a locally run chapter of the United Way of America (UWA) umbrella brand. A volunteer Board of Directors oversees our strategic direction and steers our financial decisions. UWMBMV is one of the largest United Way organizations, serving 87 cities and towns across Eastern Massachusetts, and employing over 130 people.
We support a network of 259 non-profit agencies, and we review these agencies each year to ensure they do the best possible work in the community. We also advocate for social issues, convene community leaders from across all sectors to solve local human services problems, we study and address long-term solutions to emerging social challenges, and we raise funds through workplace campaigns and individual donors.
As a system, we bring together people from all across the community-people from government, business, faith groups, nonprofits, the labor movement, and ordinary citizens-to tackle the issues that are critical to us all. And we do this by fundraising, going to City Hall, or just getting people to work together.
about the united way system
The United Way system includes approximately 1,350 community-based United Way organizations. Each is independent, separately incorporated and governed by local volunteers.
Our experience tells us that the best way to help the most people is to focus on the root causes of a community's most serious problems. It takes the whole community-working together-to pull it off.
a brief history
In 1887, a Denver priest, two ministers and a rabbi recognized the need for cooperative action to address their city's welfare problems. They created an organization to serve as an agent to collect funds for local charities, coordinate relief services, refer clients to cooperating agencies, and make emergency assistance grants. That year, Denver raised $21,700 and created a movement that would spread throughout the county to become the United Way.
Also in 1887, Denver religious leaders founded the Charity Organizations Society. This was the first "United Way" organization, which planned and coordinated local services and conducted a single fund-raising campaign for 22 agencies.
Then in 1913, the nation's first modern Community Chest was born in Cleveland, where a program for allocating campaign funds was developed. Community chests would become known for pooling resources to maximize support for a wide range of social issues.
And in 1935 United Way of Massachusetts Bay incorporated as a community chest. This uniquely American brand of compassion is one we've continued for over 70 years.
When the original UWMB incorporated in 1935, it was two years into the New Deal. FDR's Fireside Chats emanated over the airways. The Social Security Act was passed. And the Hoover Dam was completed. All were welcomed glimpses into a brighter future. People understood that their obligation was to care for human needs and protect each other from hardships. And to move forward meant to leave no one behind. This was post-depression America. This was our beginning.
Over 118 years after that first United Way was created in Denver, we're still focused on mobilizing the caring power of communities and making a difference in people's lives.