United Way of Jackson County History

United Way of Jackson County Celebrates 50 Years of Caring

It’s 1957.  The world is all shook up awakening to an Asian flu pandemic, Great Britain building hydrogen bombs, and Martin Luther King, Jr. forming the Southern Christian Leadership Conference.  And locally, United Fund is established from the Ashland-Talent United Fund, Medford Crusade and the Upper Rogue Fund.

The United Fund raises $128,000 and invests $114,000 in 9 agencies helping 36,000 people.

United Fund is the most expeditious and democratic method of sharing the responsibility in a community. 

– Stanley Jobe, Ashland Senior High, United Fund chair 1958

The world wakes to the Berlin Wall, the Civil Rights Movement, and the Cuban Missile Crisis.  It’s the 1960s.  And locally, the United Fund meets goal year after year.

The United Fund raises $204,000 in 1967.  Now with 10 agencies and investing $182,000, almost 50,000 people get help.

You notice I said expose them to the excitement of working for the United Fund, for there is excitement, love and adventure to be found there.

– Joe Gunn, United Way volunteer, 1965

President Nixon resigns.  TV marks time with Roots.  And the Camp David Accords give the world hope.  It’s the 1970s.  Locally, United Way has its first woman board president, Vieva Redmond, First National Bank, 1976.

The United Good Neighbors raises $216,000, almost doubling in just 20 years. We have 12 agencies and help more than 63,000 people by investing $194,000.

With the broad volunteer base and low cost of administration, what other organization could an individual or business give to with so wide a range of service and value per dollar given.  We are spreading the word about cost effectiveness and the United Way is the only way to fly.” 

1980s bring us Where’s the Beef?, Perestroika and Black Monday, the stock market crash.  Locally, United Way begins investing in programs and multi-year funding.

The United Way raises $708,000 and invests in 27 programs, three times more than in 1957.  By investing $517,000 more than 88,000 people receive help. 

I’m impressed time after time by the tremendous number of dedicated people I see, both in the United Way and in the agencies. 

– Lou Budge, United Way Allocations Volunteer, 1986

I am personally committed to raising all we can get to help those people.  It won’t hurt my feelings a bit if we go over our goal. 

– Tony Rayburn, United Way Campaign Chair 1988

I think caring is what gives a person’s life meaning, and United Way is the epitome of caring.

– Cheryl Smith Patton, Morgan Stanley, United Way Volunteer of the Year 1989

Princess Diana dies in Paris.  Mother Teresa dies the next week.  The world mourns.  Germany reunites and Ashland floods New Years Day.  Locally, United Way begins Day of Caring.  It's the 1990's.

In 1997, United Way raises $905,000, invests $745,000 in 20 agencies helping almost 98,000 people!  The number of people helped now has almost tripled since 1957.

The opportunity to positively impact another life, is the greatest gift that any of us can receive – and that is the possibility that United Way offers to each of us. 

– Peggy Wisneski, Key Bank, United Way Campaign Chair, 1997

The new century brings Y2K fears.  The Supreme Court decides the US Presidency and September 11th.  Locally, United Way launches building a learning community, the meth task force, and sends volunteers to Louisiana to rebuild a home after Hurricane Rita.

United Way of Jackson County is building community, changing lives.  We raised more money than ever in our history totaling $1,065,000.  With 48 partner programs, more than 131,000 people are helped.  United Way has grown more than 8-fold over the 50 years.