United Way's 90th Anniversary
A Look at Our Heritage (First in a Series)
1938 Community Chest Brochure
The Fort Worth Community Chest—forerunner of United Way of Tarrant County—was established in 1922 to consolidate multiple charitable fund drives and eliminate the waste and frustration generated by their competing demands for volunteer time and effort.
The community leaders who founded the Fort Worth Community Chest came from 14 community organizations: the Advertising Club of Fort Worth, Business and Professional Women’s Club of Fort Worth, City of Fort Worth, Civitan Club, Federation of Women’s Clubs, Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce, Greater Fort Worth Association, Kiwanis Club of Fort Worth, Lions Club, Retail Merchants Association, Rotary Club of Fort Worth, Salesmanship Club, Tarrant County, and the Trades Assembly (forerunner of Tarrant County Central Labor Council AFL-CIO).
Thirteen nonprofit organizations benefited from the Community Chest's first year. The 1923 campaign goal was $188,000. Of those agencies, 10 are still in existence and have been associated with United Way since the beginning:
• American Red Cross, Chisholm Trail Chapter
• Longhorn Boy Scout Council
• Camp Fire USA First Texas Council
• Catholic Charities, Diocese of Fort Worth
• Jewish Federation of Fort Worth and Tarrant County
• Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Fort Worth
• The Salvation Army
• United Community Centers
• YMCA of Metropolitan Fort Worth
• YWCA of Fort Worth & Tarrant County.
By 1930, the goal of the Community Chest fund drive was up to $248,931, and 18 agencies were the beneficiaries. The area’s diverse ethnic mixture was reflected in the addition of the Mexican Presbyterian Mission and Council of Negro Charities, among other groups, in 1931.
When the 1932 campaign raised over $283,000, legendary Star-Telegram Publisher Amon G. Carter declared, “There have been more than 21,000 contributors to the Community Chest this year, and all of Fort Worth should be proud of this number and of their contributions. There are mighty few business firms that haven’t done their fair share.”
Then, as now, emphasis was placed on efficient use of contributors' money and constant responsiveness to changing community needs. For example, United Way's 1933 budget of $285,800 included emergency grants for unemployment relief and lunches for disadvantaged schoolchildren during the Great Depression. Funds also were allocated for distribution of government flour. As World War II raged in Europe, United Way assumed responsibility for raising War Chest funds here at home and disbursed more than $131,000 to 10 different national appeals in 1943.
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.
