United Way International
Encyclopedia
United Way Worldwide is the leadership and support organization for the network of nearly 1,800 community-based United Ways in 45 countries and territories. It advances the common good, creating opportunities for a better life for all, by focusing on education, income and health. The United Way movement mobilizes millions to action — to give, advocate and volunteer — to improve the conditions in which they live.
, USA
in 1887. In the mid 1900s local United Ways founded a national organization, later called United Way of America, to support them with training, coordination, advocacy, the sharing of best practices, and more.
In 1928, a Community Chest organization was established in Cape Town, South Africa
— the first United Way outside the United States. By 1974, there were enough United Way organizations internationally to demand the kind of support provided by the national organization, United Way of America, and United Way International was born. Its staff spoke eight languages, with a Board of Directors from more than seven countries, working with member organizations in 45 countries and territories outside the US.
In May 2009, United Way of America and United Way International were integrated as one global entity, United Way Worldwide.
United Ways worldwide are uniquely driven by local volunteers and professional leadership. In communities around the world, United Ways convene local leaders to identify needs and create strategies that allow individuals and families to experience economic and human success through educational achievement, income stability and healthy lives. They provide, assist or promote:
as a non-profit organization, and a part of the largest private charitable organization in the world, United Way Worldwide. UWT's ambition is to gather together the economic, political and social leaders to initiate collective community efforts to solve social problems.
. In 1998, the geographic scope of the organization was expanded, and the name was changed to reflect the new national focus.
, along with other United Way organizations throughout Latin America
have mobilized to respond to the earthquake that hit Chile
on February 27, 2010. They provided support in areas with the most pressing long-term recovery needs.
In the wake of a natural disaster
, United Way's role is to support long-term recovery efforts to rebuild lives and communities affected by a disaster and to address educational, financial and health-related challenges.
United Way Worldwide established the United Way Worldwide Disaster Fund, introduced a text-to-give program, and is coordinating the integration of efforts from United Ways around the world. United Way Worldwide has worked with the United States
government – the White House
, Congress
, State Department
, Department of Homeland Security
, and to underscore the vital role of U.S. and international NGOs in Haiti's long-term recovery.
Immediately following the earthquake and tsunami disaster in Japan
, United Way
began raising crucial funds needed for the Central Community Chest of Japan
, part of the United Way worldwide network. Almost 90 volunteer centers have been set up throughout the country at the prefectural, municipal, district, and community levels. As of March 22, eight consultants and 23 volunteer coordinators have been dispatched to Fukushima
, Miyagi
, Iwate
, and Aomori
Prefecture, with another 68 coordinators preparing for dispatch. The Central Community Chest of Japan
has helped provide supplies to volunteer centers including: bicycles, mattresses, cell phones, and laptops. Additional supplies requested by the volunteer centers include motorbikes, prefab houses and tents, copy and fax machines, PCs and printers.
The Central Community Chest of Japan is collaborating with 43 affiliated non-profit organizations through the Council for Disaster Relief Project for Volunteers. This number is expected to grow rapidly as transportation conditions continue to improve.
History
The United Way concept was founded in ColoradoColorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
, USA
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in 1887. In the mid 1900s local United Ways founded a national organization, later called United Way of America, to support them with training, coordination, advocacy, the sharing of best practices, and more.
In 1928, a Community Chest organization was established in Cape Town, South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
— the first United Way outside the United States. By 1974, there were enough United Way organizations internationally to demand the kind of support provided by the national organization, United Way of America, and United Way International was born. Its staff spoke eight languages, with a Board of Directors from more than seven countries, working with member organizations in 45 countries and territories outside the US.
In May 2009, United Way of America and United Way International were integrated as one global entity, United Way Worldwide.
Global expansion
In its first 100 years, the United Way network reached 20 countries. Since 1990, United Ways have been created in 25 additional countries.United Ways worldwide are uniquely driven by local volunteers and professional leadership. In communities around the world, United Ways convene local leaders to identify needs and create strategies that allow individuals and families to experience economic and human success through educational achievement, income stability and healthy lives. They provide, assist or promote:
- Community needs assessments
- Information and referral to human service agencies
- Fostering information exchange and collaboration among service agencies
- Community fundraising campaigns inviting all people to give, and not just the wealthy
- Organizational activities and money managed according to a strategy, a budget, and strict financial controls
- Community planning committees, bringing agencies, donors, city leaders and other groups to a single table to address problems together
- Allocation of funds to carefully investigated agencies, based on the community councils’ strategies
- Volunteering
United Way in France
United Way Tocqueville (UWT) was created in FranceFrance
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
as a non-profit organization, and a part of the largest private charitable organization in the world, United Way Worldwide. UWT's ambition is to gather together the economic, political and social leaders to initiate collective community efforts to solve social problems.
United Way New Zealand
United Way New Zealand (UWNZ), officially known as United Way (NZ) Inc., was established in 1975 as the United Way of Greater AucklandAuckland Region
The Auckland Region was one of the sixteen regions of New Zealand, named for the city of Auckland, the country's largest urban area. With one third of the nation's residents, it was by far the biggest population and economy of any region of New Zealand, but the second-smallest land area.On 1...
. In 1998, the geographic scope of the organization was expanded, and the name was changed to reflect the new national focus.
Response to earthquakes in Chile, Haiti & Japan
United Way's local organization in ChileChile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
, along with other United Way organizations throughout Latin America
Latin America
Latin America is a region of the Americas where Romance languages – particularly Spanish and Portuguese, and variably French – are primarily spoken. Latin America has an area of approximately 21,069,500 km² , almost 3.9% of the Earth's surface or 14.1% of its land surface area...
have mobilized to respond to the earthquake that hit Chile
2010 Chile earthquake
The 2010 Chile earthquake occurred off the coast of central Chile on Saturday, 27 February 2010, at 03:34 local time , having a magnitude of 8.8 on the moment magnitude scale, with intense shaking lasting for about three minutes. It ranks as the sixth largest earthquake ever to be recorded by a...
on February 27, 2010. They provided support in areas with the most pressing long-term recovery needs.
In the wake of a natural disaster
Natural disaster
A natural disaster is the effect of a natural hazard . It leads to financial, environmental or human losses...
, United Way's role is to support long-term recovery efforts to rebuild lives and communities affected by a disaster and to address educational, financial and health-related challenges.
United Way Worldwide established the United Way Worldwide Disaster Fund, introduced a text-to-give program, and is coordinating the integration of efforts from United Ways around the world. United Way Worldwide has worked with the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
government – the White House
White House
The White House is the official residence and principal workplace of the president of the United States. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., the house was designed by Irish-born James Hoban, and built between 1792 and 1800 of white-painted Aquia sandstone in the Neoclassical...
, Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
, State Department
United States Department of State
The United States Department of State , is the United States federal executive department responsible for international relations of the United States, equivalent to the foreign ministries of other countries...
, Department of Homeland Security
United States Department of Homeland Security
The United States Department of Homeland Security is a cabinet department of the United States federal government, created in response to the September 11 attacks, and with the primary responsibilities of protecting the territory of the United States and protectorates from and responding to...
, and to underscore the vital role of U.S. and international NGOs in Haiti's long-term recovery.
Immediately following the earthquake and tsunami disaster in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, United Way
United Way
The United Way of America, based in Alexandria, Virginia, is a non-profit organization that works with nearly 1,300 local United Way offices throughout the country in a coalition of charitable organizations to pool efforts in fundraising and support...
began raising crucial funds needed for the Central Community Chest of Japan
Central Community Chest of Japan
The Central Community Chest of Japan has promoted national welfare throughout the country for more than 60 years. Central Community Chest of Japan is a national organization with a vast network of local members. CCCJ acts as a national coordinating body for local Community Chests...
, part of the United Way worldwide network. Almost 90 volunteer centers have been set up throughout the country at the prefectural, municipal, district, and community levels. As of March 22, eight consultants and 23 volunteer coordinators have been dispatched to Fukushima
Fukushima
may refer to:*Fukushima City – the capital city of Fukushima Prefecture, Japan*Fukushima Prefecture – a Japanese prefecture*Two nuclear power plants located in Fukushima Prefecture:**Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant...
, Miyagi
Miyagi
-Places:* Miyagi Prefecture, one of the 47 major divisions of Japan* Miyagi, Gunma, a village in Japan, merged into Maebashi in 2004-People:* Michio Miyagi , Japanese koto musician* Chōjun Miyagi , Japanese martial artist...
, Iwate
Iwate
Iwate can refer to:* Iwate Prefecture, a prefecture of Japan.* Iwate, Iwate, a town in Iwate Prefecture, Japan.* Japanese cruiser Iwate, an armored cruiser of the Imperial Japanese Navy from 1900 to the end of World War II....
, and Aomori
Aomori Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located in the Tōhoku Region. The capital is the city of Aomori.- History :Until the Meiji Restoration, the area of Aomori prefecture was known as Mutsu Province....
Prefecture, with another 68 coordinators preparing for dispatch. The Central Community Chest of Japan
Central Community Chest of Japan
The Central Community Chest of Japan has promoted national welfare throughout the country for more than 60 years. Central Community Chest of Japan is a national organization with a vast network of local members. CCCJ acts as a national coordinating body for local Community Chests...
has helped provide supplies to volunteer centers including: bicycles, mattresses, cell phones, and laptops. Additional supplies requested by the volunteer centers include motorbikes, prefab houses and tents, copy and fax machines, PCs and printers.
The Central Community Chest of Japan is collaborating with 43 affiliated non-profit organizations through the Council for Disaster Relief Project for Volunteers. This number is expected to grow rapidly as transportation conditions continue to improve.
See also
- United Way of America
- United Way of CanadaUnited Way of CanadaUnited Way of Canada is the national organization for the 117 autonomous, volunteer-based United Ways across Canada. United Way campaigns raise money for local groups that address community issues and problems, and the national organization provides leadership, services and coordination to the...
- United Way New ZealandUnited Way New ZealandUnited Way New Zealand , officially known as United Way Inc., is a charitable organization in New Zealand. It was established in 1975 as the United Way of Greater Auckland. In 1998, the geographic scope of the organization was expanded, and the name was changed to reflect the new national...
- Central Community Chest of JapanCentral Community Chest of JapanThe Central Community Chest of Japan has promoted national welfare throughout the country for more than 60 years. Central Community Chest of Japan is a national organization with a vast network of local members. CCCJ acts as a national coordinating body for local Community Chests...