90th Anniversary
United Way Celebrating 90th Anniversary in 2012
The year was 1922. Woodrow Wilson was president, "Tea for Two" was a musical hit and a four-piece suit cost $25. In Fort Worth, a group of community leaders gathered to consolidate the many fund-raising drives being conducted by local charities. The result was the Fort Worth Community Chest, the first Community Chest in the Southwest and forerunner of United Way of Tarrant County, which this year celebrates its 90th anniversary.
Planning is underway to commemorate the milestone in 2012. Plans include a special Facebook landing page and new signs and letterhead bearing a 90th anniversary logo.
For 90 years United Way has provided a way for citizens to help people in their community, in good times and in times of war and economic depression. Its role has expanded from fundraiser to community builder. It has evolved into an organization where people and groups with common concerns come together to create lasting change in the community, and prevent problems from happening in the first place. Fundraising has changed too. The 1923 campaign goal was $188,000, a far cry from the $22 million goal of the current campaign.
“Our mission has changed throughout our history,” said United Way President and CEO Tim McKinney, “and it will continue to change in the future in order to meet the needs of the community that we serve.” What remains the same is United Way’s commitment to advancing the common good here in Tarrant County.
Did you know United Way of Tarrant County helped establish these organizations?
• AIDS Outreach Center
• Child Care Associates
• Child Study Center
• Communities In Schools of Greater Tarrant County
• Dental Health for Arlington
• HEB Transit
• JPS Health Center-Northeast
• Michael Wehrle Volunteer Dental Clinic
• St. Vincent’s Vision Clinic
• Tarrant County Housing Coalition
• Tarrant Literacy Coalition
• UTA Continuing Education and Workforce Development Center
• The Women’s Center of Tarrant County
Our Vision
Tarrant County will be a place where children, individuals and families thrive, where neighbors care for each other and where people willingly share the responsibility of ensuring a safe and healthy community for all.
Our Mission
To improve lives across our diverse communities by:
- Prioritizing needs in education, income and health
- Forming innovative and effective partnerships with other organizations
- Strategically raising and investing resources to make lasting change
Our Diversity Statement
United Way of Tarrant County values and seeks diversity by respecting the knowledge, abilities and experience of all individuals. Our commitment is to support an inclusive environment reflecting our United Way communities and accomplishing our mission.
