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United Way Evolves with the Times, and the Need

We haven’t always been United Way.

 

When Frances Vinson Bryant recently passed away, the Charlotte Observer noted that she was once the residential chairman of United Way – “residential” meaning she led the segment of our fundraising campaign that involved neighborhood solicitation, rather than company fund drives.

 

We were still known as United Community Services when she served our organization in the 1960s; back then, United Way was simply our slogan: “give the United Way.” Frances’s husband, the late Donald G. Bryant, was an equally passionate supporter of United Community Services – he chaired the board of directors in 1970, the year after we moved into our current building.

 

In doing so, Donald Bryant followed in his father’s footsteps. James R. Bryant was the 7th board chair in our history, during World War II, when we were known as the War and Community Chest of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County. Son Donald served in the Army Air Corps at the time.

 

 

We’re grateful that the legacy of the Bryant family continues today, helping us serve nearly 250,000 neighbors in the Charlotte region every year.

 

How Our Name and Local Footprint Have Evolved

 

Our identity has changed over the years, from our Great Depression origins to this community’s World War II response; more recent changes have reflected the expansion of our service area. Regardless of the name, our mission of fighting for our local neighbors in need has remained constant for more than 85 years.

 

1931 – Emergency Relief/United Welfare Federation of Mecklenburg County

1937 – Charlotte Community Chest

1942 – War and Community Chest of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County

1950s – United Appeal/United Community Services of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County

1973 – United Community Services integrates Union County’s Combined Charity Organization

1982 – United Way of Mecklenburg and Union Counties, Inc.

1987 – United Way of Central Carolinas, Inc., after integrating Cabarrus County United Way

2000 – United Way of Central Carolinas integrates Mooresville-South Iredell United Way

2006 – United Way of Central Carolinas integrates Anson County United Way