The Roots of United Way
The concept of United Way dates back to 1887 in Denver, Colorado. With the tremendous growth of the city and increased needs of its poorer citizens, four clergyman and a laywoman decided to combine their efforts in responding the needs of their community by establishing the Charity Organization Society. Its role was two-fold; one that created a strong social service system and the other that organized their fundraising efforts. Through this first activity, the Organization, coordinated relief services, counseled and referred clients to participating agencies, and made joint grant assistance to individuals who could not be served by a particular agency. In this second activity, the Organization also served as a collecting agent for a wide-range of charities and itself.

It was this community planning and collaborative fundraising roles that formed the foundation of the modern United Way. As it was stated in the late 1880’s, the Charity Organization Society must not only be a means to collect and disburse a common fund, it must act in an advisory and supervisory direction in securing greater efficiency and creating greater effectiveness in providing services to the community.

As we moved later into the 1800’s and early 1900’s, United Way’s predecessor organizations were working to create joint planning activities that would respond to the critical issues of the day. These challenges included unregulated child labor, poor sanitation, tuberculosis, delinquency, and overcrowded housing among other difficult conditions that developed as America became more industrialized. This coupled with a joint fundraising effort, which became more focused and distinct over time, is the basis of today’s work at the United Way of Central Virginia.

United Way in Central Virginia
For our community, United Way roots date back to 1921 when a group of community leaders established the Lynchburg Community Chest. D.B. Ryland of the Lynchburg Chamber of Commerce helped coordinate this effort with Floyd Knight, Richard Hancock, R.A. Owen, R.T. Watts, Jr., Giles Miller, and M.O. Carruthers. The first community campaign took place in 1922 and raised $85,825.

While the initial years of the Community Chest focused upon fundraising, community planning was soon an important part of our work. In 1949, the Junior League organized and financed a group to study community needs on a year-round basis. Called the Lynchburg Community Council, it represented 76 health and social service organizations. The Council received funding from the Community Chest and then the two organizations merged in 1954 to become the Lynchburg Community Chest and Council.

The organization continued its work in identifying and responding to the needs of the community, but decided to change its name to the United Fund of Lynchburg in 1957. This was last name to include Lynchburg in its wording. In 1973, the organization changed its name to the United Way of Central Virginia to reflect its work in serving the entire region.

United Way Today
Our community’s United Way is an independent, locally-governed and directed organization that has a proud history of serving the community in a manner that takes into account the needs of our area’s citizens first. Its history is a strong foundation upon which much has been achieved and much will be achieved as volunteers, community leaders, businesses, government, education, service agencies, and others work together to create results that change lives.