About Us

What We Do

A Local Viewpoint

The United Way of Wilkes County was incorporated and certified as a non-profit 501 (c) (3) agency in November of 1953. The original board members who worked so hard to make this effort a reality were Richard Johnston, Maurice Walsh, W. D. Halfacre, J. B. Carter and Dr. John T. Wayland.

Originally, the organization was called Wilkes County United Fund, Inc. and worked with a small group of traditional agencies which included the American Red Cross, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts and the YMCA. Today, with a growing concern to meet the needs of our community, our United Way funds 30+ local agencies and programs that address Crisis and Basic Needs, Family and Literacy, Health and Counseling, Persons with Disabilities, Senior Services, Youth Activities and Youth at Risk.

For over 55 years, the generous people in this community have helped OUR United Way to do the right thing. The United Way has connected those of us who want to help people in Wilkes County wh need our help. The United Way of Wilkes County, Inc. continues to bring together donors, volunteers and businesses, and these partnerships make it possible for all of us to lend a hand to more than 31 "Partner Agencies and Programs" that improve people's lives in our community each and everyday. In Our "Great State of Wilkes", help is available from the youngest citizen to the oldest citizen... because you care enough to support our United Way.

Background and Perspective

Americans have a long history of caring for one another. It goes back to the days of our early settlers whose very lives depended on each other’s support. This idea of mutuaL support became formalized back in 1887 when religious leaders in Denver founded the Charity Organization Society. The idea of a coordinated effort grew and in 1913 a "modern" forerunner to the United Way – the Community Chest—was established. It introduced the idea that funds were to be distributed based on a review of local agencies and local needs. By 1929 there were 353 Community Chests in the U.S.

Key developments in the history of the United Way include:

* The Internal Revenue Code was amended in 1939 to permit corporations to deduct charitable contributions of up to five percent of their net income (Recently Congress raised that level to ten percent.)

• Post WWII, United Way organizations introduced and implemented a payroll deduction plan for charitable giving.
• In the late 60’s the effort had evolved into both national and local agencies serving community needs.
• In 1963 Los Angeles became the first community to adopt the name United Way merging over 30 Community Chests and United Fund organizations.
• "Health and Welfare Councils" developed in many communities to address needs that went beyond the resources of the council’s member agencies and to provide a more rational basis for distributing funds to these agencies.
• Societal changes brought on the turbulent 60’s and 70’s led to the introduction of a number of narrowly focused single-interest programs; more neighborhood-based services; and pressures to increase special programs designed to meet the needs of women and minority groups.
• During the 60’s of the government was much expended in funding social programs. Along with this, the United Way began to see their role beyond that of a fund raising organization. They responded urging the traditional agencies to offer new and relevant services and at the same time, sought to bring in and fund a growing number of non-traditional programs.
• The United Way saw great growth in the 70’s and 80’s including the support of the National Football League (NFL), the publishing of Standards of Excellence for United Way Organizations focused on strategic planning, national corporate development and volunteer leadership development.

In 1990 for the first time Americans gave more than $3 billion to local United Way campaigns in a one-year period. Then in 1992, crisis struck and William Aramony resigned as president of United Way of America. Elaine Chao, former Peace Crops Director, was named president and chief executive officer of United Way of America. Under Chao’s leadership, the United Way of America reorganized in a major way. The new structure emphasized stricter accountability and oversight and greater input from local United Ways including broader representation on the volunteer Board of Governors.

In 1994, the United Way of America was selected by Financial World magazine as the charity of choice for its leadership in not-for-profit ethics and accountability. The United Way’s across the country participated in the 1996 Olympic Torch Relay saluting local community heroes by assisting in selecting torchbearers and organizing community celebrations.

In 1995, United Way of America’s Board of Governors adopted the Strategic Direction for United Way: Charting the Path for Building Better Communities. In 2004, the United Way of America introduced the "Standard of Excellence" to enable United Ways to figure out where we are today and where we need to go. One of the requirements of membership now is to complete the Standards of Excellence Self-Assessment every 3 years.

In 2007 the United Way of Wilkes County fully implemented the new logo (brandmark) of the United Way. This new logo also appears on all of our stationary, name badges, envelopes and our website. This has been a 3-year conversion process. The official United Way logo remained unchanged for 30 years since it was introduced in the 1970s. Following research that was conducted by the United Way of America, it was determined that elements once unique to the United Way logo-hand, rainbow, human figure - were being used by many organizations. The final logo integrates the updated helping hand symbol with a customized letterform of the United Way name to create a single brandmark. Our brand is more than a name or a logo, our brand incorporates and reflects the images, ideas, values and behavior that define who we are today and who we believe, and how we behave. It is a combination of who we are today and who we are to become.