In 1887, a Denver priest, two ministers and a rabbi
recognized the need for cooperative action to address their city’s
welfare problems. The Rev. Myron W. Reed, Msgr. William J. O’Ryan, Dean
H. Martyn Hart and Rabbi William S. Friedman put their heads together to
plan the first united campaign for ten health and welfare agencies.
They
created an organization to serve as an agent to collect funds for local
charities, as well as to coordinate relief services, counsel and refer
clients to cooperating agencies, and make emergency assistance grants in
cases which could not be referred. That year, Denver raised $21,700
and created a movement that would spread throughout the country to
become the United Way.
Over 125 years later, United Way is still
focused on mobilizing the caring power of communities and making a
difference in people’s lives.