About Us
Our Mission
Helping people, changing lives, making every contribution count
Our vision is for a community...
- where people are committed to the well being of children
- where families are nurtured and supported and neighborhoods are safe
- where individuals are prepared to succeed in a complex, changing world; and a strong, diverse economy creates good jobs
- where all people see the possibilities for themselves and others, are healthy and living as independently as possible
- where diversity is embraced
- where people live and work together, encouraging and supporting one another.
Our Story
Your local United Way was formed in 1920 as the Community Chest. Julius Meier led this first campaign that raised $589,000, which was distributed to 31 health and welfare agencies in 1921.
In 1952, the name of the organization was changed to United Fund, and the United Funds of Washington and Clackamas counties merged with that of Multnomah County in 1955. The three counties integrated their campaigns and budgeting procedures in 1959 and adopted the name Tri-County United Good Neighbors.
Clark County in Washington joined the group in 1969; the name became simply United Good Neighbors.
The organization became United Way of the Columbia-Willamette in 1975 because of the benefits to be gained - name familiarity, consistency with other organizations nationwide, and use of national advertising, training materials, films, and seminars for volunteers and staff available through United Way of America.
More than 85 years after the first campaign, your United Way is led by Brent Stewart, a 20-year professional in the nonprofit industry most recently from Snohomish County, Washington. Under his leadership, the organization is focused on keeping overhead expenses low and identifying and prioritizing community needs and funding programs that generate measurable results and reporting those results back to donors.
