Low-income families. The disabled. Abused children. Children without parents. Those transitioning from welfare to work. The elderly who are frail and alone. All are beneficiaries of the time and dollars donated through the United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania by the people who make up the region’s business community.
The nonprofit organization, whose theme this year has been to “make a world of difference in your hometown,” has been helping local families in one form or another since 1927, when the former Welfare Fund of Pittsburgh was chartered. Twenty years ago, United Way of Allegheny County held its first joint campaign with United Way of Washington County. Today, United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania encompasses Allegheny, Washington, Greene and Beaver counties, as well as the United Way of the Mon Valley.
United Way of Allegheny County now serves 70 member agencies and is one of 1,900 local, independent United Ways across the nation.
All have the same mission: to “serve as the catalyst for measurably improving the quality of life in our community by mobilizing all citizens to contribute the human and financial resources needed to:
- nurture children and youth;
- strengthen families;
- support older people;
- promote health and wellness;
- and increase self-sufficiency.”
Our goal at SBN in teaming up with United Way is simply this: to encourage more business leaders to play an active role not only in giving, but also in hands-on participation with the vast array of local programs funded by United Way. After all, making our communities better for all people is, in the end, good business.
To get started, consider the following United Way-funded organizations:
Nurturing children and youth
Bloomfield Garfield Corp.
Boy Scouts of America, Greater Pittsburgh Council
Boys & Girls Clubs of Western Pennsylvania
Camp Fire Boys and Girls, Greater Pittsburgh Council
Girl Scouts of Western Pennsylvania
Hill House Association
Louise Child Care
Manchester Youth Development Center
Methodist Union of Social Agencies
Rankin Christian Center
Urban Youth Action
YMCA of Pittsburgh
YWCA of Greater Pittsburgh
Strengthening families
Addison Terrace Learning Center
Arsenal Family & Children’s Services
Catholic Charities, Diocese of Pittsburgh
Community Human Services Corp.
Family Resources
Family Services of Western Pennsylvania
Focus on Renewal Sto-Rox
Holy Family Institute
Homewood Brushton Community Collaborative
Legal Aid Society
Neighborhood Centers Association
Parental Stress Center
Pittsburgh Action Against Rape
Three Rivers Adoption Council
Three Rivers Youth
United Jewish Federation
Women’s Center & Shelter of Greater Pittsburgh
Supporting older people
Jewish Association on Aging
Jewish Community Center
Jewish Family & Children’s Services
Lemington Center
Lutheran Service Society
National Steelworkers Oldtimers Association
Stephen Foster Community Center
Vintage
Promoting health and wellness
American Red Cross
Arthritis Foundation
Health Education Center
Hill District Community Collaborative
McKeesport Collaborative
Multiple Sclerosis Service Society
Myasthenia Gravis Association
Pittsburgh AIDS Task Force
Pittsburgh Vision Services
Pittsburgh Hearing Speech & Deaf Services
Renaissance Center
Sickle Cell Society
Sojourner House, Inc.
Spina Bifida Association
United Cerebral Palsy Association
United Mental Health
VNA HealthCare Services
Increasing self-sufficiency
ACTION-Housing, Inc.
Brashear Association
Breachmenders
Northern Area Multi-Service Center
Operation Better Block
Program to Aid Citizen Enterprise
PROGRAM for Female Offenders
Salvation Army
Travelers Aid Society
Urban League
Vietnam Veterans Leadership Program
Vocational Rehabilitation Center
Westinghouse Valley Human Services
YMCA of McKeesport
YWCA of McKeesport
