History

The Greater Kalamazoo United Way advances the common good in Kalamazoo County by creating opportunities for a better life for all.

Originally founded in 1914 as the Kalamazoo Associated Charities, the original concept was to form an organized effort to gather and invest resources in health & human service programs to address growing community needs. In 1971, the Kalamazoo Community Chest and Community Services Council merged to form the Greater Kalamazoo United Way.

Organizational History

 

• 1914    Kalamazoo Associated Charities was formed with 7 health and human service agencies
• 1925    Name was changed to Community Chest.  First Community Campaign raised $109,505 – 99.5% of Goal.  Dr. Dwight Waldo was Board Chair; Charles Campbell was Campaign Chair.  There were 17 health and human service agencies
• 1941    Community Chest joined war relief organizations and changed its name to Kalamazoo War Chest
• 1966    First year to hit the $1 million mark - Raised  $1,057,400 – 100.5% of Goal.  Ed Trenkle was Board Chair; Russell Kneen was Campaign Chair
• 1971    Kalamazoo Community Chest and Community Services Council merged to form the Greater Kalamazoo United Way.  Community Campaign Raised $1,227,517 – 96.1% of Goal
• 1977    First Year to hit $2 million mark – Raised $2,003,906 – 100.2% of Goal.  Jack Lawrence was Board Chair; W. Quinn Kelly was Campaign Chair
• 1979    Loaned Executive Program began Community Campaign raised $2,470,823 – 100.1% of Goal.  There were 50 health and human service agencies
• 1984    Titus Bronson Society began.  Community Campaign Raised $3,584,054 – 97.8% of Goal.  John Whitman Was Board Chair; Chuck VanZoeren was Campaign Chair
• 1988    New GKUW Community Services Building funded by Kalamazoo Foundation and Irving S. Gilmore Foundation
• 1989    Youth United Way began.  First year to hit $5 million  - Community Campaign Raised $5,037,358 – 90.4% of Goal.  Doug Callander was Board Chair; Dr. Marilyn Schlack was Campaign Chair
• 1991    Donor Choice Program introduced
• 2000    Leadership Giving hits $1.7 million, with $556,000 coming from Alexis deTocqueville Donors
• 2003    Leadership Giving secured $100,000 in grants from the Irving S. Gilmore Foundation and Kalamazoo Community Foundation to match new and increased leadership gifts.  Emerging Leaders Society (donors 45 and under giving $1,000 or more) established
• 2004    First Day of Caring Event – 103 volunteers at 20 member agencies
• 2010    Met and exceeded goal for the first time in 4 years - Raised $9,266,072 – 102.4% of Goal.  Harley-Davidson Sweepstakes was highly instrumental in creating a net increase in donors (1200) for the first time in 10 years.  Dawnanne Corbit was Board Chair; Jeff DeNooyer was Campaign Chair