Event proceeds to support and continue the nonprofit’s mission to bring together community partners, transform lives, and eliminate disparities.

Written by: Claudia Chow, Digital Marketing Manager, UWSD

San Diego, Calif. – Oct. 20, 2020 – On Thursday, Oct. 8, United Way of San Diego County hosted its Virtual Centennial Celebration and fundraiser commemorating its Diamond Anniversary. The nonprofit raised its glass to honor its past and celebrate the present, as well as redefine and reimagine the future of our local community. More than 225 attendees gathered virtually to celebrate the organization’s outstanding work and raise more than $110,000 to support the nonprofit’s mission.

The event co-chairs included the following:

• Constance M. Carroll, D., chancellor, San Diego Community College District
• Jerry Sanders, president and CEO, San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce
• Mark Stuart, CFRE, president and CEO, The San Diego Foundation

Event co-chairs and the Mulvaney Family recognized four prominent community leaders in the education, business, and philanthropy sectors in San Diego. Honorees included:

• Solar Turbines, Lifetime Achievement Award
• SDG&E, Philanthropic Partner of the Year Award
• Hunter Family, James F. Mulvaney Award
• Sylvia McGrade, Principal, Adams Elementary School (ret.) Community Partner Award

Celebrating 100 years of community service

The organization’s Virtual Centennial Celebration also focused on its current and future work—including its leadership in the Earned Income Tax Credit Coalition and the Count Me 2020 Coalition, which aims to ensure every San Diegan is counted in the 2020 U.S. Census; the San Diego Worker Assistance Initiative to help provide flexible resources to individuals and families impacted by layoffs and reduced working hours due to the pandemic; and its partnership with the Advancing San Diego initiative to build a pipeline of local talent through internships for community college students with local businesses.

United Way of San Diego County also addressed the racial justice movement throughout the event, reminding attendees that only by being united can the community achieve equality and racial justice, especially when it comes to the urgency of addressing educational gaps between White and Asian, and Black and Brown students in our schools.

Attendees had the opportunity to participate in a silent auction and delight in entertainment from Fernando DaRosa, Mariachi Torres, NuEra, and Whitney Shay. A presentation of United Way of San Diego County’s past, present, and future community leaders was also showcased and prominent San Diegans came together from the comfort of their homes to wish the organization a ‘Happy Centennial Celebration.’

Event sponsors included San Diego Gas and Electric as the Diamond Sponsor, Solar Turbines as the Platinum Sponsor, the San Diego County Regional Airport Authority and US Bank as the Gold Sponsors, and Dudley & Finch and The San Diego Foundation as Silver Sponsors for the event.

Leading the San Diego community into the future

“It has been a whirlwind of a year for our community and the world, and to be able to still celebrate our sponsors, donors, volunteers, and staff was an unforgettable way to give thanks to all who support our mission year round,” says United Way of San Diego County President and CEO Nancy L. Sasaki. “Whether you’re a longtime supporter or someone who just started your involvement with our organization, your support has transformed the lives of many children, young adults, and families throughout our region. We look forward to continuing our work for many years to come with the help and support of our community guiding us through.”

The celebration isn’t over! United Way of San Diego County has kicked off its 100 Days of Giving to raise $100,000. The campaign will end on December 31, 2020. For those interested in supporting the nonprofit’s next 100 years, visit uwsd.org/give-100 for more information on how to donate, volunteer, and get involved.

Written by: Claudia Chow, Digital Marketing Manager, UWSD

As we celebrate our Centennial year, we continue to highlight the role United Way of San Diego County (UWSD) has played in our region throughout our history. This month, we want to focus on the 2000s, a decade when United Way entered a period of significant change.

The organization adapted to a shifting philanthropic landscape by amending its approach to funding programs. Innovative new partnerships were created to better meet the needs of donors and recipients alike. In moving to its new Community Impact model in 2006, UWSD decided it could have the greatest impact in the community by focusing on three of the major building blocks for a better life: education, income, and health. The strategy was simple: invest donor dollars strategically in just a few, but critical, areas where measurable improvements in lives could be achieved.

United Way chose three of the most challenging issues facing our community at the time:

Preventing Child Abuse and Neglect, Promoting Financial Stability and Independence, and Homeless Outreach and Prevention. To stimulate this unique new way to build communities, UWSD joined with the United Way of America (now United Way Worldwide) and other chapters around the country in a new marketing effort called “Live United”, encouraging people to “give, advocate, and volunteer”.

United Way promised, over the next decade and on the way to its Centennial Celebration, it would continue to assess the needs in our community and, where appropriate, address more or other issues where the organization believes it can advance the common good by creating opportunities for a better life for all.

Join us for our Virtual Centennial Celebration on October 8^th, where we’ll honor our past, highlight the present, and look forward to redefining and reimagining the future of our local community. Enjoy drinks, music, inspiration, good company, and opportunities to win prizes and bid on auction items. Join business and community leaders as we virtually come together to celebrate the 100-year legacy United Way has across the San Diego region. You can help support San Diego’s future—and the bright futures we want for all our children, young adults, and families.

Written by: Claudia Chow, Digital Marketing Manager, UWSD

As United Way of San Diego County (UWSD) celebrates their Centennial year, they are looking back through our history to see the way it has shaped the organization they are today. This month, they are looking at the 1990s- a decade when the perception many people have of United Way changed significantly.

At the beginning of the 1990s, United Way was deeply committed to a business model that had served it well for decades. The tens of millions collected each year by the United Way/CHAD Campaign were allocated to nonprofit agencies and charitable organizations certified by United Way. The agencies used the donations to fund more than 200 different health and human services, dramatically improving the lives of thousands who previously had nowhere else to turn.

Donor choice widened in the mid-1990s when the campaign was restructured to allow contributors to support environmental and educational agencies—or any tax-exempt organization of their choice, such as schools and churches.

United Way’s relationship with local companies and their employees through workplace giving campaigns became even stronger. The campaign began to raise upwards of $25 million a year. An effort to attract contributions from high-wealth individuals began to pay off with several major donations.

The organization continued to build partnerships, including the launch of The Children’s Initiative, bringing together business and community to help address the problems facing our young people. United Way also helped form the Earned Income Tax Credit Coalition to help low-income residents qualify for millions of dollars in federal tax credits.

Save the date and join community and corporate partners for our Virtual Centennial Celebration on Thursday, October 8^th, 2020! Learn more about UWSD’s Centennial and visit uwsd.org/centennial.