Our History

United Way of Genesee County began under the aegis of the Chamber of Commerce in 1922.  The founders, John Pierce, W.S. Ballenger, G. W. Cook, Charles F. Barth,  J. E. Burroughs, L.H. Bridgman, S. S. Stewart, Fred A. Aldrich and Merliss Brown named the fundraising organization, Flint Community Chest.

A. G. Bishop was one of the leaders of the movement and on January 21, 1922, he appointed a forty-two-man committee.  In 1928, the Community Chest was incorporated as a separate body.  Sidney Stewart of W. F. Stewart Company offered the following resolution:

  “RESOLVED: That we proceed to organize a non-profit corporation under the laws of the State of Michigan by the name of FLINT COMMUNITY CHEST, for the purpose of the collecting and disbursing of funds for charitable purpose and for character building, with its home office in the City of Flint, Michigan; that George Barnes be the President; Merliss Brown, Vice President; Joseph H. Crawford the Secretary; and Fred A Aldrich the Treasurer of such corporation.”

Since then, Flint Community Chest has taken on several names; Red Feather Fund, United Fund and finally the present name, United Way of Genesee County.  Throughout its early years, money was disbursed through the Flint Community Fund, the United Health and Welfare Fund and the War Chest.

United Way and its family of agencies has been servicing the people of this area through the Great Depression of 1929, the Sit Down Strike of 1937, the “year of the tornado” in 1953, the steel strike in 1960 and now during this new era after September 11, 2001.  In 1949, the Red Feather Organization was created to “act as an umbrella over the Community Chest and the United Health and Welfare Fund in Genesee County”.  A new name for the Red Feather in 1970 transformed the organization into the United Fund of Genesee and Lapeer Counties.  As community needs grew, it became increasingly apparent that the United Fund could not be the sole supporter for a select few agencies.  United Fund could no longer raise money based on the “give once for all” philosophy.  The change in thinking reflects the name of today, United Way of Genesee County.

Today, United Way of Genesee County celebrates 84 years of caring in our community.  Hundreds of volunteers from every sector in our community help to make United Way of Genesee County a positive agent for change: bringing the people of the community together, building on our strengths and solving our problems together. United Way is working hard to invest the community’s donations wisely in four focus areas:

• Basic Needs
• Older Adults
• Youth Development
• Strengthening Families

United Way is the foundation for charitable giving in our community. United Way of Genesee County is…The Way Our Community Cares.

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