Who We Are
History of United Way of Missoula County
United Way of Missoula County has been serving this community under a variety of different names since March of 1931, when the Federated Social Services of Missoula County was formed. At the helm, charting its original course, was Bill Gallagher, well respected local philanthropist. The goal, soon achieved, was to raise $28,000.
Federated Social Services adopted the name Community Chest in the late 1930s. During the 1940s and 1950s, amounts raised grew to more than $60,000 annually. Eighty-five percent of the money raised went to four Missoula agencies: Boy Scouts, Camp Fire Girls, YWCA and the Salvation Army.
In 1963, the name Community Chest was changed to United Givers. The old concept of agencies managing the organizations to raise funds for them was replaced by a new purpose: that of givers joining together to determine which agencies receive funding. Throughout the 1960s, over $100,000 was raised each year and new agencies supported, included Montana Association for the Blind, Catholic Charities and Lutheran Social Services.
In the 1970s, our organization raised about $200,000 and supported more new agencies, including the Crisis Center, Multiple Sclerosis Association, Seeley-Ovando-Swan Health Center, Law Enforcement Youth Camp and Day Care Scholarship Fund. The most significant change to United Givers was an affiliation with a growing national movement, and a name change to United Way of Missoula County. We joined an association of more than 1,400 other United Ways across the United States. United Way was defined as, “a community project, locally organized and supported, with two primary purposes: 1) raising money each year in a single campaign and 2) seeing that this money was wisely allocated and carefully used.”
Today, United Way Worldwide is the nation’s largest charity, raising more than $4 billion annually. Its mission – to improve lives by harnessing the caring power of communities – sets a leadership example for our local United Way to follow.
During the 1980s, local campaign goals exceeded the $400,000 mark. At the request of experienced campaigners, we implemented a team fund-raising structure. The teams included Commerce and Industry, Government, Education, Retirees, Medical and 125 volunteers from supported agencies for the Sales Division. Big Brothers & Sisters of Missoula, Missoula Developmentally Disabled, Community Homes Council and Missoula Senior Citizens Centers were newly funded agencies during this decade.
Today, United Way of Missoula County supports 34 funded programs at 21 partner agencies providing critical services and support to the most vulnerable people in our community. Organizations are screened carefully to make sure that donated dollars are being invested wisely and well, and we give donors a trusted, one-stop way to support critical services for the most vulnerable people in our community.
United Way of Missoula County invests in high-quality programs that produce measurable results; programs like Youth Homes, Watson Children’s Shelter, Missoula Food Bank, the Poverello Center, the Parenting Place and the Flagship Program in the public schools. We also were the driving force behind the creation of 2-1-1, our community’s human service referral line, where callers in need of help are referred to organizations and programs that can provide it. We understand and educate the community on key human-service issues like child neglect, homelessness, hunger, and health care. We serve as a community trustee for donors interested in giving to an efficient, one-stop charitable entity in touch with Missoula County’s health and human service needs, and we collaborate with diverse partners to create lasting improvements in community conditions.
In 2007, her first year as CEO of United Way of Missoula County, Susan Hay Patrick spearheaded a record-breaking campaign. The organization’s “community impact model” called upon United Way to focus its fundraising efforts not solely on a time-limited workplace campaign bolstered by payroll deductions, but on building and sustaining strong, lasting relationships with diverse supporters. In 2007 our collective efforts raised $1.45 million, $77,000 more than our goal. This enabled United Way, and the programs and initiatives we support, to continue to making measurable, long-lasting improvements in the lives of people throughout Missoula County.
In 2008, United Way Worldwide announced a 10-year Challenge to America in the areas of Education, Income and Health, setting ambitious, measurable goals for our country to achieve in each of these areas by the year 2018. United Way of Missoula County and United Way of Ravalli County endorse these overarching goals. We also implemented LIVE UNITED, United Way Worldwide’s campaign to encourage all Americans to give, advocate and volunteer. LIVE UNITED is much more than an awareness and branding campaign; it is a call to action. Through giving, advocating, and volunteering – living United – we can all play a role in building a better community for everyone.
In 2010, United Way of Missoula County raised more $1 million, and our Bitterroot affiliate, United Way of Ravalli County, reached the highest mark in its history at $30,000. In partnership with donors, funded programs and diverse partners throughout our community, as we celebrate our 80th anniversary, we aspire for excellence as we work towards our goals of community excellence, measurable impact and improved lives.
