Our History

United Way of Central New York has a long history of bringing the community together to create lasting change. The organization traces its roots to the historic Community War Chest effort, which was incredibly successful in mobilizing and uniting the community during World War I.

On June 18, 1917, Syracuse Mayor Walter R. Stone invited 100 local business leaders to meet with him at City Hall to consider a “war plan.” When the business leaders were gathered in the Common Council Chamber, the mayor explained his plan to establish a War Chest that would raise $600,000 in charitable giving. Half of the funds would go to charitable work in Syracuse; the other half to the Syracuse Chapter of the American Red Cross for use locally, nationally and in relief efforts overseas.

A team of more than 400 speakers was formed, with speakers appearing at schools, businesses, nonprofits and government offices. It was said that these canvassers went everywhere.

On Saturday, June 23—only five days later—the campaign kicked off with a huge parade. Members of the artillery regiment rode their mules from the State Fairgrounds (at the time a major military base) to their assembly point on Plum Street. A total of more than 3,500 soldiers marched in the five-mile parade.

The highlight of the parade was a huge War Chest carried on a motor truck. After the parade, two war chests were displayed in downtown Syracuse. Scoreboards were erected at stores. Large newspaper ads read, “If you can’t go, give,” and “Are you going to let your boy suffer?”.

On July 3, it was announced that $1,118,730 was pledged—$518,730 over the goal! In 1918, the War Chest became the Community Chest. More than $2 million was raised. The effort to raise money acrss the community continued for decades, and is still at work today.

In 1963, Los Angeles, Ca. became the first community to formally adopt the name United Way. The Syracuse Community Chest became United Way of Central New York in 1972.

United Way today
United Way of Central New York is an independent, locally governed organization. United Way currently funds a network of 102 quality human service programs, continually monitoring programs for effectiveness and agencies for fiscal responsibility.

Most of United Way’s donors are employees at more than 600 local workplaces that run charitable-giving campaigns. The organization raises more than $8 million annually.