A century of Community impact

In 1887, a Denver woman, a priest, two ministers and a rabbi got together… It sounds like the beginning of a joke, but they didn’t walk into a bar; what they did do was recognize the need to work together in new ways to make Denver a better place.

Frances Wisebart Jacobs, the Rev. Myron W. Reed, Msgr. William J.O’Ryan, Dean H. Martyn Hart and Rabbi William S. Friedman put together an idea that became the nation’s first united campaign, benefiting 10 area health and welfare agencies. They created an organization to collect the funds for local charities, to coordinate relief services, to counsel and refer clients to cooperating agencies, and to make emergency assistance grants for cases that could not be referred. That year, Denver raised $21,700 for this greater good, and created a movement that would become United Way.

Today’s United Way is bringing people, organizations and communities together around a common cause, a common vision, and a common path forward. In many communities, we’re the only nonprofit building up the cornerstones of healthy community, youth opportunity, financial security, and community resilience — and the only nonprofit bringing people together from all walks of life to be a part of local solutions. United Way of the River Cities impacts more than 60,000 lives across the region. We can do this because we have spent more than a century developing deep roots and trust in the communities we serve. That strong foundation provides us with the resources, reputation and relationships needed to bring people and organizations together around innovative solutions.

United Way of the River Cities is a nonpartisan organization focused on communities. Bridging divides and bringing our communities together to solve our most pressing needs is at the core of what we do at United Way.

A Timeline of Service

1922

In Cabell County, the civic department of the Huntington Women’s Club organized the Council of Social Agencies in 1920 to improve communication and cooperation among area human-need agencies. Their goals included:

• Combining overlapping programs

• Developing new programs to address unmet needs

Through this organization, the Community Chest was founded in July 1922 as the fundraising arm for these efforts.

1954

The name United Fund replaced Community Chest. Its basic function remained the same: fundraising for the community. Planning and fund distribution were managed by the Community Welfare Council (formerly the Council of Social Agencies).

1959

United Fund and Community Welfare Council merged to become United Community Services.

1977

As services expanded throughout two counties, the organization was renamed United Way of Cabell-Wayne.

1986

United Way of Cabell-Wayne and Lawrence County United Way merged to form River Cities United Way, Inc.

1987

Our organization was officially renamed United Way of the River Cities, Inc., as it is known today.

United Way Today

United Way of the River Cities envisions a community where everyone has the tools and opportunity to thrive. It is our mission to connect our community with resources to reduce poverty and improve lives.

We do this through the 6 counties we serve – Cabell, Lincoln, Mason and Wayne counties in West Virginia, and Gallia and Lawrence counties in Ohio:

• by providing funds through a competitive grant process to more than two dozen programs that work in the areas of healthy community, your opportunity, financial security, and community resilience;
• by managing internal programs and coalitions that work throughout local schools, community centers and businesses to connect people and bridge resources;
• by convening local leaders to address needs and connect resources to improve services to those in the River Cities;
• by connecting local nonprofits with needed volunteers;
• by connecting people like you, who want to make a difference.

As you can see, we’ve changed over the years to address the challenges of a changing world. But the one that thing hasn’t changed is our focus on improving lives and strengthening communities.