MISSION
United Way improves lives by mobilizing the caring power of communities around the world to advance the common good.
 
VISION
United Way advances the common good by creating opportunities for all. Our vision is focused on education, income and health - the building blocks for a good quality of life and strong community. ​

80th Anniversary

2018 marked the 80th anniversary of the United Way of Frederick County. As many are familiar with this organization's name and mission, few know its institutional history here in the Frederick Community. The anniversary presented a perfect opportunity to research and present the UWFC's rich 80-year story to volunteers, supporters and the greater local community.
 
The project is divided into four parts and gives a chronological history of events, underscoring the local, national, and worldwide importance of the United Way. More than that, the focus on the local chapter shows how it made an impact on not only the local community, but, in some instances,  the state and national level.
 
At the core level, we plan to document and illustrate the United Way of Frederick County’s  current mission and vision statements with a strict focus on the organization’s past history:

Part 1 "A Community Chest"
​(1938-1958)

A review of Frederick's earliest benefactors and benevolent activities leads into the beginning of "united giving" in Frederick County, Maryland in 1938 with the formation of a local chapter of an organization calling itself the Community Chest. Who were the local organizers? Why did they form? And what did they accomplish in the groups early years against the backdrop of the Great Depression and World War II? The segment ends with a look at post-war activity and evolution of the organization in a growing community.
PART 3 "LIFE BEGINS AT 40"
​(1978-1998)

​United Way of Frederick County celebrated its 40th milestone in 1978. It was a decided time where the past growth and daily life of the organization over four decades could now be reflected upon, and measured for true meaning. The time and efforts of hundreds, if not thousands, of board members, volunteers and donors had provided a manual and road map—one to be used to help chart out direction for the next 40 years.

PART 2 "Growing Pains"
​(1958-1978)

By the end of the 1950s, war-ravaged Europe had been re-constructed and began experiencing a tremendous economic boom. Here at home, sluggish economic growth during the 1950s, would soon give way to another major boom in the 1960’s.

World War II had brought about a huge leveling of social classes in which the remnants of the old feudal gentry disappeared, even here in Frederick. New residents from around the country, and world, had come to the area. This was primarily due to the growing importance of Camp Detrick, renamed Fort Detrick in 1956, and designated as a permanent installation for the US Army. 
PART 4 "RE-INVENTION FOR THE GLOBAL SOCIETY"
​(1998-2018)

The growth of the Internet in the 1990s and beyond has contributed to globalization thus allowing faster communication among people around the world. Personal computers and social media have aided the United Way in further attracting donations and disseminating information out to potential donors.

As the UWFC entered into the new millennium, it was a time of reinvention and change for the United Way on both the national and local levels.