Brian Gallagher is the President and Chief Executive Officer of United Way Worldwide.

Gallagher was born in Chicago

Chicago

Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...

, Illinois

Illinois

Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...

, but was raised in Hobart, Indiana

Hobart, Indiana

Hobart is home to many thriving businesses in its downtown shopping district, including the historic Art Theatre.Hobart is also home to the Westfield Southlake Shopping Mall and many surrounding retailers and restaurants, although most businesses are required to list their addresses as Merrillville...

. In 1981 he graduated from Ball State University with a degree in social work

Social work

Social Work is a professional and academic discipline that seeks to improve the quality of life and wellbeing of an individual, group, or community by intervening through research, policy, community organizing, direct practice, and teaching on behalf of those afflicted with poverty or any real or...

 and started with the United Way as a management trainee. In 1992 he receievd his MBA from Emory University, and in 2003 Ball State University awarded Gallagher an honorary Doctor of Humanities.

In 2002 Gallagher was appointed to be the President and CEO of the United Way of America, a position he held until 2009 when he was awarded the top job with United Way Worldwide. He receives an annual base salary of $983,000 to $1,037,000.