United Way of Delaware County History

In 1887, a Denver priest, two ministers and a rabbi recognized the need for cooperative action to address their city's welfare problems. The Rev. Myron W. Reed, Msgr. William J. O'Ryan, Dean H. Martyn Hart and Rabbi William S. Friedman put their heads together to plan the first united campaign for ten 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 the United Way. Over 118 years later, United Way is still focused on mobilizing the caring power of communities and making a difference in people's lives.

The movement that started in Denver came to Muncie when concerned citizens established the Muncie Community Fund on February 12, 1925.

1925 Campaign raises $86,000 to support 13 agencies.

1931 Campaign generates over $100,000

1940s Labor representation on the Board

1945 Agencies reach 20

1952 MCF becomes Community Chest of Muncie and Delaware County, Indiana, Inc.

1952 Red Feather Service Center established at 615 E. Washington

1956 United Fund of Delaware County, Indiana is established

1957 Community Chest legally consolidated with the United Fund

1974 UFDC becomes United Way of Delaware County, Indiana, Inc.

1976 Campaign tops the 1 million mark for the first time.

1978 Community Services Council consolidated into UWDC

1986 First Community Wide Needs Assessment conducted

1989 Community Resources Committee formed

1990 Moved to current location on Walnut Street

1991 Resource Center established

1994 Indiana Nonprofit Resource Network created

1995 UWDC begins collaborative efforts with Funders Forum, Technology Initiative, Youth Initiative, and Community Resources Committee (formerly Partners to Enhance Community Collaboration)

1998 Youth Initiative Taskforce is formed from the Youth Initiative

1999 Community Tech Link is formed from the Technology Initiative

2004 Partners for Community Impact Initiative is launched

2005 UWDC leads mobilization of local Katrina Relief efforts

2006 Information and referral service 211 is launched

2006 UWDC Board approves moving to Community Solutions Business Model on May 15th

2007 Community Focus Areas Consolidated from Five to Three: Education, Income and Health

2007 Community Solutions Task Force develops Guiding Principles for Transformation to Community Solutions Model

2007 Allocation Panels evolve to become Community Solution Teams

2008 Community Solution Teams revise Community Investment Policies and Procedures, and determine Community-Level Goals, Objectives and Measurements.