The History of United Way

United Way Celebrating 65 Years In Our Community

The United Way of Guernsey, Monroe and Noble Counties celebrated a milestone year in 2016 as it celebrated 70 years in the community. The United Way of Guernsey, Monroe and Noble Counties was founded on August 31, 1946 and was incorporated in the same year under the name of Community Chest. In 1955, the name changed to United Fund of Guernsey County, Inc., with a name change to the United Way of Guernsey County in 1985; and in 1994, the name expanded to United Way of Guernsey & Noble Counties, Inc. In 2012 our name changed again, to better reflect the counties we were, to United Way of Guernsey, Monroe and Noble Counties under which it still operates.

The United Way is a system of voluntary fundraising, allocating, and planning services for individuals in Guernsey, Monroe and Noble counties. The purpose of the United Way is to use funds pledged to the annual campaign and distribute them to affiliated agencies to make our non-profit system as efficient, effective and relevant as possible in resolving basic social and health problems. In fulfilling this purpose, United Way has an obligation to be sensitive and responsive to changing conditions, attitudes, needs, and demands relating to the primary objective of the organizations…to bring a better quality of life to people in Guernsey and Noble Counties.

Each United Way is independent and locally operated, and is governed by a Board of Directors that is comprised of local business and community leaders. It is a charitable 501(c) 3 organization, which means that any donations are tax deductible.

Volunteers make United Way work. Without them, this would never happen. From the Board members, to the committee members, to the people who donate money and items, we are all focused on one goal, and that is making Guernsey, Monroe and Noble Counties better places to live and raise a family.

United Way was organized to assist in annual fund raising for local agencies to provide services to our community. The fields of service are children and youth; older people; diversity; self-sufficiency; and health and healing. United Way provides funds to 12 agencies in the three-county area, 3 internal programs and to the United Service Organization in Washington,D.C. as a support for our local men and women serving in the military.

Everyone in our counties benefits from contributions to the United Way. 83% of the money collected through our annual campaign is used to meet local needs through local organizations. Close to half the population of Guernsey, Monroe and Noble counties have received some type of assistance through the United Way Affiliated agencies.

The United Way of Guernsey, Monroe and Noble Counties funds vital social services program within the following agencies: Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Guernsey County Cancer Society, Haven of Hope, Hospice of Guernsey, Inc., Red Cross, Salvation Army, Guernsey County Senior Citizens Center, Lutheran Social Services, USO, YMCA, Noble County Health Department, and Big Brothers/Big Sisters. It also runs internal programs focusing on education, health and financial stability. Those programs in Crunch for Health, an exercise and nutrition program in our local elementary schools, The Dolly Parton Imagination Library, early childhood literacy program, Young Professionals, high school mentoring program focusing on life skills, community involvement and 21st century job skills.

United Way agencies apply every year for funds. Each year agencies complete an application for funding which allows the applying agency to tell what the money awarded will be used for. All agencies are welcome to apply for funding, including those which have never been funded. All applying agencies must meet the requirements of the United Way, which includes being a 501c3 tax exempt agency, having a local board of directors, and must also meet one of the fields of service.

Over the last 10 years, United Way of Guernsey, Monroe and Noble Counties has allocated approximately $1.5 million in total to our local agencies for them to assist the people of Guernsey, Monroe and Noble Counties. That money came from right here in the community and it stayed in the community to help those in need.