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.