United Way of America

United Way of America
Lyntarshia Walton
11/18/11

The United Way of America is a leadership and support organization for the network of nearly 1,800 community-based United Ways in 40 countries and territories. They focus on improving education, and helping people achieve financial stability, and promoting healthy lives. This helps millions of people to give, advocate, and volunteer to improve the conditions in which they live. United Ways certify their adherence to standards that include comprehensive requirements for financial reporting, governance, ethics, diversity and operations. There are coded of ethics that all volunteers, employees and representatives have to comply with. Their responsibility is to uphold the highest ethical standards. These standards are believed to go beyond compliance with laws and regulations—calling us to fulfill higher obligations as stewards of the public trust. They are also in compliance with the spirit and intent of the U.S. Patriot Act and other counter terrorism laws. Affirmative action is taken to prevent technical, in-kind, or other resources from inadvertently being used for illegal acts and terrorist activities.
In 1887, a Denver woman, a priest, two ministers and a rabbi recognized the need for cooperative action to address their city’s welfare problems. The first United campaign for ten health and welfare agencies were started by Frances Wisebart Jacobs, the Rev. Myron W. Reed, Msgr. William J. O’Ryan, Dean H. Martyn Hart and Rabbi William S. Friedman. An organization was created to serve as an agent to collect funds for local charities, as well as coordinate relief services, counsel and refer clients to cooperating agencies, and make emergency assistance grants in cases which could not be referred. The vision of the United Way is a world where all individuals and families achieve their human potential through education, income stability and healthy lives. There are several goals that the United Way wants to...