History
In 1887, four religious leaders in Denver recognized the need for cooperative action to address their city's welfare problems and put their heads together to plan the first united campaign for 10 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 country to become United Way.Community Chest, a name adopted by many local United Way agencies, was launched in 1925 through the Columbia Chamber of Commerce, and the community-wide, week-long campaign raised its goal of $60,000 that year. The United Way organization and local community support have continued to develop since then. In 1976 and 1977, United Way services in Richland, Lexington, Fairfield and Newberry counties merged to create United Way of the Midlands.
Since then United Way of the Midlands has grown in membership to more than 80 certified partner agencies and grown its campaign to $10.1 million in 2009 with more than 45,000 residents donating. With a mission to unite people and resources to improve the quality of life in the Midlands, United Way of the Midlands continues to work to understand the needs of our community and then put programs in place that address those needs.
