United Way began as the Community Fund. Community leaders established a federated fund-raising approach to coordinate appeals among social service agencies. Many of the first member agencies.The Red Cross, The Salvation Army, The Victorian Order of Nurses, The YMCA/YWCA, The Boy Scouts and others, remain member agencies to this day. They have been joined by more than 50 other organizations that deliver community services with the help of United Way donations.
The federated fund-raising approach is still at the heart of giving in Windsor-Essex County. In fact, the tradition of caring that began when the first campaign goal of $150,000 was exceeded by $80,000, continues to make Windsor-Essex County one of Canada's most caring United Way communities.
In 1962, the federated approach took a giant step forward as The Community Fund of Windsor and The Health and Welfare Council merged to become United Community Services. Fund-raising and year-round community planning were combined to expand donations and bring planning into contact with the agencies delivering services.
The idea caught on. We've been refining the approach ever since.
In 1975, we became United Way/Centraide of Windsor-Essex County. Then in 1989, support for Volunteer Services was added to our roster to make us a full-service United Way.
Today, United Way/Centraide of Windsor-Essex County is leading the next wave of change in community giving. Our emerging long-term investment strategy applies the power of federated fund-raising and community planning to identifying and acting against the root causes of rising social need.
United Way is a big part of the way people in Windsor-Essex County help others. Donations to United Way help real people get real help... every day.
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