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United Way of Frederick County
Working together matters
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| Working together matters in Frederick County |
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The History of United Way of Frederick County |
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Impacting the Frederick Community for more than 65 years
United Way of Frederick County was founded in 1938 by the Frederick County Chamber of Commerce when 18 Frederick civic leaders met to organize the first combined fund drive for five local nonprofit organizations. The organization was initially named the Community Chest.
On March 23, 1938, a formal organizational meeting was held, by-laws were adopted and officers were elected. The first UWFC President was Dr. Henry I. Stahr of Hood College and the Campaign Chair was Dr. Ignatius Bjorlee, Superintendent of the Maryland School for the Deaf.
The Community Chest's first campaign was held in May 1938. The campaign took 10 days, during which time seven teams worked diligently to reach 102 percent of the $15,250 goal.
The organization's first office was opened at the former Frederick County Free Library location at 22 South Market Street, currently the Federated Charities Building, which houses the organization today.
It was at the annual meeting in 1957 that the organization's president, Charles S.V. Sanner, reported that a new United Fund Drive, combining the Community Chest, the Red Cross and other separate campaigns on a county-wide basis was "a probability and almost a certainty for Frederick County in future years." A motion was made to reorganize on a countywide basis and take whatever action would be necessary to form a United Fund campaign in the county.
United Way of Frederick County officially adopted its current moniker in April 1975, to help keep Frederick in line with national designations and to lessen confusion for people moving in from other areas and make better use of national radio and TV spots and campaign literature.
As needs changed and grew in the Frederick community over the years, UWFC continued to strive to meet those needs. No person in Frederick County is completely untouched by the work of United Way and its partner agencies and it is through the support of a community like Frederick County that these agencies and the people who benefit from their programs can look to the future with optimism. The result will be a healthier and stronger community for us all.
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