About Your United Way

About Your United Way

Investing in our Community

Success Stories

Community Impact

Impact Areas

Where your contribution goes

Calendar of Events

Current Annual Report

Board of Trustees

Our Strategic Plan

Project Blueprint

Youth Initiative

The Volunteer Center

United Way Staff

Our Mission
We improve lives by mobilizing community assets for health and human services.

United Way of Summit County is a nonprofit fundraising and community service organization supporting 110 programs provided by 49 local affiliated health and human service agencies in Summit County, and by 4 non-affiliated agencies that were recipients of Development Fund Grants.

The History of United Way of Summit County

United Way of Summit County is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that has supported health and human service programs in our community for 90 years. It plays a vital role in assessing the needs and challenges faced by our community, raises funds and distributes financial support to 49 local agencies, including the American Red Cross, and coordinates volunteers who participate in the investment of those funds collected.

Most importantly, the funds donated by an individual or company remain within this community to help our neighbors, co-workers, friends and families.

1918	Led by civic leader W.D. Shilts from Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co., Better Akron Foundation became Akron’s first united solicitation. It was an outgrowth of the WWI War Chest drives and raised $1.5 million.
1938	Better Akron Foundation renamed Akron Community Chest.
1939	Akron Community Chest was renamed Akron Community and War Chest, until after WWII when the name was changed to United Community Chest.
1951	Akron was the seventh U.S. city to join the United Foundation, a centralized organization that brought together several organizations that were already raising funds. The Red Cross became one of the partners in this new group. $2 million were raised, exceeding their goal by $100,000.
1956	Renamed again, this time it was called the United Foundation of Summit County.
1965	United Way Women, an educational and fund-raising arm of the United Foundation was formed to educate and inform people of the services available and recognize female volunteers.
1975	United Community Council and United Foundation of Summit County merged to form United Way of Summit County.
1982	United Way of Summit County moves into new offices on North Prospect Street.
1989	The Tocqueville Society was implemented locally to recognize donors of $10,000 or more.
1990	United Way of Summit County surpasses its goal of $10 million for the first time in the organization’s history.
1996	The Young Leadership Society formed for donors, 40 or younger, who contribute $1,000 or more.
1997	The Evergreen Society was formed to recognize benefactors who mention United Way in their wills, invest in a life income gift or give a gift to the Endowment Fund.
1998	The Women’s Leadership Giving Society was established.
2001	The Volunteer Center of Summit County becomes a division of United Way. Project Blueprint, a volunteer development program, begins in Summit County. Impact Areas and Impact Councils introduced.
2004	Merger with the Barberton Area United Way produces a true countywide United Way to improve service delivery and efficiency.
2005	United Way of Summit County Youth Initiative established.
2006	The Dorothy O. Jackson Society is established to increase minority giving and to increase involvement of minorities in United Way.