A Reaffirmation of Voluntary Giving

Giving is a personal matter and a personal decision; whether individuals wish to give and how much they choose to give are up to the individual.

No form of coercion is acceptable, particularly that which includes any stated or implies effect on personal employment status.

United Way Histroy

Frances Wisebart Jacobs, known as Colorado's "Mother of Charities," was the driving force behind the concept of today's United Way. In 1887 she spearheaded the creation of the Charity Organization Society, which became a federation of charities that coordinated fundraising and other efforts and shared the proceeds. This was the model that led to the creation of today's United Way, which recognizes Jacobs as its founder. She brought together Rabbi William S. Friedman, Rev. Myron W. Reed, Msgr. William J. O'Ryan, and Dean H. Martyn Hart to put their heads together and plan the first united campaign for ten health and welfare agencies. They created an organization to serve as an agent to collect funds for local charities, as well as to coordinate relief services, counsel and refer clients to cooperating agencies, and in some make emergency assistance grants to those in need.

Many Community Chest organizations, which were founded in the first half of the twentieth century to jointly collect and allocate money, joined the American Association for Community Organizations in 1918. The first Community Chest was founded in 1913 in Cleveland, Ohio and had Red Feather as its logo. The number of Community Chest organizations increased from 39 to 353 between 1919 and 1929, and surpassed 1,000 by 1948. Other names have been War Chest during World War II, United Fund, and in 1963, after several name changes, the term United Way was adopted.

United Way of Ponca City, as it is known today, began in 1937-38 raising $19,500 under the name of Ponca City Community Chest.  The first campaign chairman was Reverend O.L. Shelton.  The name changed to United Fund in the 1960’s and to United Way of Ponca City in January 1974, with it’s first paid director, Bonnie Phillips hired in 1973.  Since the beginning, Ponca City’s most prominent citizens have held leadership positions in the organization.  The first woman campaign chair was Jan Beeson in 1991.With the help of the citizens of Ponca City, United Way has raised over $22,156,269.  It began with a goal of $19,500 seventy years ago, to a goal for 2007-2008 of $760,000 under the direction of campaign chair Janice Myers. 

The United Way of Ponca City mission has changed throughout the years to meet the changing needs of the community.  Today’s mission is to improve people’s lives by mobilizing the caring power of our community.  “Ten years ago, United Way become more than a funder of agencies by looking outside our community for grants to bring more programs and dollars into Ponca City.  From that beginning, over $500,000 in grants are received each year through the AmeriCorps, Success By 6/Smart Start, Homeless Management Information System and RSVP (those presently funded)”, programs to help make our community a better place to live”, says Helene Schwartz, executive director.  We team up with business, government, community organizations and the faith community to tackle the issues facing our community.  We’re community builders and want to help make long-term changes in our community.  We find out what the unmet needs are and help bring people to the table that can make a difference.  Changing lives means more than changing lives of the people within our member agencies it’s about changing lives within the context of our community needs as a whole.”

Another major change has been in the member agencies.  Several agencies have been with United Way since its charter and others have come and gone throughout the years.  Some agencies in the past included: The Loft, American Cancer Society, Junior Baseball League, United Service Organization, Ponca City Handicapped Club, National Travelers Aid. 

Today, the 13 member agencies include American Red Cross, Arthritis Foundation, Child Development Center, Cimarron Council-Boy Scouts of America, Domestic Violence Program, Girl Scouts-Bluestem Council, Golden Villa Adult Day Services, New Emergency Resource Agency, Northern Oklahoma Youth Services, Peachtree Landing, RSVP, The Salvation Army, and the YMCA. 

Since 1938 United Way has been raising funds and bringing the community together to focus on the most important human needs — building partnerships, forging consensus and leveraging resources to make a measurable difference. Today’s’ United Way and its member agencies focus on community needs — helping children and youth succeed, strengthening and supporting families, promoting self-sufficiency, partnering to insure vital and safe neighborhoods, and supporting vulnerable and aging populations.  A lot has changed since 1938.  But the one thing that has remained the same is the giving spirit of Ponca City.  It’s the spirit that rallies citizens to contribute their time, treasure and talent; the spirit of everyone pitching in to help others. That community spirit is United Way. 

To learn more about United Way, member agencies or United Way sponsored programs, visit our website at www.unitedwayponcacity.org. To volunteer, donate, or just say hi, stop by 205 N. 2nd Street from 8:30-4:30pm Monday-Friday.