Started In 1887 in Denver of Colarado state of USA (central portion). A rabbi, two ministers, a priest and a woman started it. Frances Wisebart Jacobs, the Rev. Myron W. Reed, Msgr. William J.O’Ryan, Dean H. Martyn Hart and Rabbi William S. Friedman were founders. They created an organization to collect the funds for local charities, to coordinate relief services, to counsel and refer clients to cooperating agencies, and to make emergency assistance grants for cases that could not be referred. That year, Denver raised $21,700 and created a movement that would become United Way. In the mid 1900s local United Ways founded a national organization, later called United Way of America. In 1928, a Community Chest organization was established in Cape Town, South Africa. By 1974, may organizations internationally were established leading to creation of United Way International. Its staff spoke eight languages, with a Board of Directors from more than seven countries, working with member organizations in 45 countries and territories outside the US. In May 2009, United Way of America and United Way International were integrated as one global entity, United Way Worldwide. In its first 100 years, the United Way network reached 20 countries. Since 1990, United Ways have been created in 25 additional countries.
Unitedways has partnership with the National Football League from 1973 when the NFL and United Way of America came together to discuss the possibility of using the NFL's network contract airtime to promote United Way during game telecasts. NFL commissioner Pete Rozelle recognized the partnership as a viable means of communicating the good works of United Ways while putting faces on a league of players hidden by helmets. Since 1946, the American Federation of Labor and the Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO) and United Way Worldwide have enjoyed a cooperative relationship Leadership 18 is a coalition of long-established charities, faith-based organizations, and social and health groups that support and promote people's safety, health, well-being and social and economic development across America.
There is a significant history of misappropriation of funds and false accounting at United Way, with several high profile frauds by high ranking officials leading in part to the collapse of United Way of America and the organisation's rebirth as United Way World wide [William Aramony, a founder of United Way, was himself jailed for theft of funds
In 1986, The United Way of Cleveland, Ohio, held an event called Balloonfest '86, setting a world record by releasing 1.5 million balloons. Unfortunately, the event had disastrous consequences, wreaking havoc at Burke Lakefront Airport and Lake Erie, causing injury to animals and contributing to two fishermen's deaths.
William Aramony, CEO of the national organization for over 20 years, retired in 1992 amid allegations of fraud and financial mismanagement, of which he was subsequently convicted. He was sentenced to 7 years in prison and fined $300,000.
Ralph Dickerson Jr., a former CEO of United Way of New York City, was found to have used $227,000 in United Way funds for personal expenses during 2002 and 2003. He later agreed to reimburse the organization.
Oral Suer, CEO of the Washington, D.C. chapter, was convicted of misuse of donations in 2004. He pleaded guilty to theft of almost $500,000 and was sentenced to 27 months in prison. Norman O. Taylor, Suer's replacement, was never charged with misconduct but was forced to resign.
United Way has been criticized for abusing the employer-employee relationship to acquire funds. Employers often strive for 100% contribution by their employees, keep track of which employees contribute and which do not, and bring pressure upon those who do not, leading the employee to fear that his job is in jeopardy or that he otherwise is subject to economic penalty if he does not contribute
