United Way of Lethbridge

The United Way received its start in Lethbridge in 1941, when the annual campaign was still known as the Community Chest. The Community Chest was organized by local citizens in an effort to curb the multiplicity of public appeals for funds which came in the wake of the outbreak of World War II in 1939. There seemed to be a fund for every month of the year and it seemed to be the same band of hardy volunteers who carried the workload during each drive.

Early in the war, Mayor D. H. Elton called a meeting of representatives of the Legion, the Board of Trade (Chamber of Commerce), the service clubs, labour and other organizations, which had been active in raising funds, together with the Red Cross, War Services Organizations, and other bodies in need of funds with which to carry on their work. Their goal was to save the time and energy of people and cut down on the expense of running many campaigns, by running one fundraising campaign.

Headed by R. R. Davidson, the 1941 drive raised $56,067.00. It was a time of war and despite many worries, people were very generous. The Community Chest (United Way) was off to a good start.

Sixty nine years ago, Southern Albertans reached out with love and compassion and expressed the very basic need of people to care for one another. That same need is the centre of the United Way of Lethbridge & South Western Alberta’s mission statement:

“To build a better community, by organizing the capacity of people to care for one another”.

Due to the fact the caring agencies are so much a part of our day to day life, the recipient may not be even aware that United Way financial support is ensuring that help is available. The scope of the services provided is wide; we believe that one person in five will be touched by a least one United Way supported agency. This is so very remarkable.

United Way is one of the 119 member organizations of United Way of Canada-Centraide Canada. The organization, now known as the United Way of Lethbridge & South Western Alberta, is part of the United Way - Centraide Movement, which operates as a legally constituted and incorporated Registered Charitable Organization within all relevant local, provincial and federal laws, complying with all operating and reporting requirements. United Ways operate autonomously of each other; governed by a local volunteer board of directors.