Our History

In the Beginning, The First Community Chest is Born

• On October 16, 1887, a woman, a priest, two ministers, and a rabbi formed the Charity Organization Society to respond to a community crisis in Denver, Colorado.
• The first single fundraising campaign supported more than 20 health and welfare agencies, raised $21,700 ($700,000 in today’s dollars), and ignited a movement that would become known as a “Community Chest.”
• The first Community Chest was not established until 1913 in Cleveland.

A Local United Way is Born

• On November 2, 1920, the minutes of the Williamsport Board of Trade reflect that “The Secretary called attention to the need of a Community Chest in Williamsport to finance the annual budget of several charitable institutions that make an annual appeal to our people for funds to meet their budget.
• Records show that on September 21, 2921, a meeting of persons interested in a Community Chest was called to order by Mr. J. Henry Smith, President of the Board of Trade. Present at that meeting were representatives from the Florence Crittendon Home, the YWCA, members of the Administrative Committee of the Red Cross, and members representing the Ministerial Association, Social Service Bureau, Girl’s Training Home, the Salvation Army, and the Board of Trade. All those present were in favor of establishing a Community Chest.
• On October 4, 1921, the Board of Trade met. The Secretary read a report from the Committee appointed to develop plans for the Community Chest, “and asked that he be authorized to pay out of the Board of Trade funds, if necessary, the sum of $100 in order to bring an authority on the organization and operation of a Community Chest to speak at a dinner meeting.
• On November 11, 1921, 150 attendees attended a dinner at Pine Street United Methodist Church. Mr. Wilbur Maxwell from the Harrisburg Welfare Federation was the guest speaker, and Mr. Flavel Wright from Harrisburg delivered an inspirational talk. A draft constitution for the Community Welfare Corporation was presented and unanimously adopted.
• On December 6, 1921, 50 trustees were elected, and on December 16, officers and an Executive Committee comprised of seven men and five women were elected. The Committee authorized preparing and submitting a formal application for a charter to the Lycoming County Court of Common Pleas.
• On April 14, 1922, the trustees of the Community Welfare Corporation met with leaders of organizations likely to affiliate with the Community Chest. The purpose of the meeting was to determine whether it was best to move ahead given the difficulties and delays facing the completion of the project. The group approved moving forward with the project with the least possible delay.

The Great Depression

• After operating as a committee for raising funds from 1922 to 1933, the organization filed for a certificate of incorporation as the Williamsport Community Welfare Corporation. The name was approved on May 5, 1933, and the Lycoming County Court of Common Pleas approved the certificate of incorporation on January 11, 1934. The corporation was organized with $185,587.30 in assets.

The United Fund

• Over the years, this federated effort has involved thousands of people who have enriched the quality of life in Lycoming County. It has taken on many names — Hughesville Community Chest, Jersey Shore Community Chest, Montgomery Community Chest, Montoursville Community Chest, Lycoming United Fund, Lycoming United Way, and the Lycoming County United Way.
• The development of the United Fund was spearheaded by the West Branch Manufacturer’s Association, the Chamber of Commerce, and organized labor and professional groups. After careful study, the Association unanimously endorsed and adopted the United Fund concept in 1956. The Association broadened the representation of the development group to include other citizens in drafting by-laws and nomination of directors and officers.
• On May 23, 1956, the courts granted a charter, and the Lycoming United Fund became a reality.
• On April 16, 1958, the Lycoming United Fund, Inc. merged with the Williamsport Community Welfare Corporation.
• In 1960, James Baggett was hired as a full-time Executive Director, a position he held for 30 years.

The United Fund becomes the United Way

• In 1970, the United Way of America developed a logo and changed its name from United Fund to United Way.
• On April 3, 1974, the Lycoming United Fund became the Lycoming United Way.

Broadening our Reach

• Recognizing that the Lycoming United Way did not reflect the all-encompassing nature of our work in Lycoming County, on March 6, 2000, the Lycoming United Way became the Lycoming County United Way, a new name for a community icon.

A Decade of Expansion

• With the dawn of a new century, LCUW initiatives were developed to address the emerging needs of Lycoming County residents. The organization’s Community Needs Assessment surveys identified a housing shortage and homelessness as concerns. Partnerships with YWCA, New Covenant United Church of Christ, and the American Rescue Workers created the establishment of Liberty House (2002), Journey House (2007), and Saving Grace (2011). The programs provide temporary shelter and case management assistance to assist individuals with the tools to reach self-sufficiency.
• The concept of Community Impact Funding was established in 2007. Recipients of LCUW funding were required to serve an identified community need and report how their efforts improved lives. The funding model emphasizes the requirement that LCUW funds be directed to specific human service programs rather than as general funding to a specific agency.

The Future of Outreach

• In 2011, LCUW spearheaded the establishment of a 24-hour, 7-day-a-week information referral network known as 211. The toll-free service, manned by trained individuals to respond to human service needs, has now become PA 211, which now encompasses all 67 counties in Pennsylvania and is part of the national 211 system.
• Also, in 2011, LCUW introduced an electronic online allocation system that enabled human service programs to process reports and requests for funding more efficiently. This software was replaced in 2018 by eC-Impact (Seabrooks), a more user-friendly and robust platform.
• In 2012, the organization raised the most dollars in its history under Virgil Probasco’s volunteer campaign leadership, at $1,612,125 at the peak of the Marcellus Shale natural gas exploration activity. The organization raised over $1,000,000 in almost 40 years.
• In 2013, responding to requests from Tioga and Sullivan counties, LCUW began assisting those counties in raising human service funding for programs in their respective areas. In 2015, all Sullivan County zip codes were transferred from the United Way of Wyoming Valley, and the Wellsboro United Fund was merged into the Lycoming County United Way.

A New Era Begins

• In January 2017, Scott Lowery announced his retirement after 12 years of service to the organization.
• On April 17, 2017, Ron Frick was named President, effective with Scott’s retirement on July 1, 2017. The organization was restructured to focus on community impact, resource development, marketing and communications, and finance and operations.
• In October 2017, LCUW was awarded a $15,000 grant from the Geisinger Health Foundation to support transitional housing at Journey House.

Diversifying Revenue

• No stranger to special fundraising events, LCUW has hosted concerts, Tailgate at the Dome, Derby Days, 5K races, clay shoots, golf outings, and annual basket bingo.
• In March 2018, the first annual Spring Forward for the United Way 5K trail run was launched in partnership with the Williamsport Country Club.
• Hampered by the COVID-19 pandemic and weather, the race ended in 2023.
• In January 2018, we were also named as the recipient of funds from Jersey Mike’s Month and Day of Giving campaigns, which generated over $22,000 each March during the four years we participated. The program ended in 2021 after Jersey Mike’s began supporting other causes.
• In April 2018, we partnered with the Pine Square Group for the Brickyard Restaurant & Ale House Stonehouse Wood-Fired Pizza and Pasteria Kid’s Carnival on Pine Square. This annual event has become part of the popular Kid’s First Friday and generates more than $2,000 annually to support our programs.
• In October 2019, the organization launched LIVE UNITED in Music, our signature fundraising event. Canceled in 2020 and 2021, this community event has raised over $150,000 in its six years of existence.

Navigating a Pandemic

• In March 2020, just after our third annual trail race, the United States was hit by a global pandemic, COVID-19.
• The Lycoming County United Way participated with the Greater Susquehanna Valley United Way, the United Way of Columbia and Montour Counties, and the First Community Foundation Partnership of Pennsylvania (FCFP) to launch the COVID-19 United Community Funds. Seeded with $250,000 from FCFP, the fund granted almost $764,000 to support community needs in the eight counties served by the United Ways and FCFP.
• One month later, our organization also participated with 14 regional United Ways in a collaborative media and fundraising campaign with Eyewitness News WBRE/WYOU to help individuals and families needing services during the ongoing pandemic. The on-air and online campaign reached hundreds of thousands of residents in 17 northeastern and central Pennsylvania counties.

Community Resiliency

Also, in 2020, we were named a subgrantee for several grants, allowing us to expand our reach in critical areas.

• As a grant sub-recipient, our United Way received $6,300 as part of a $170,000 grant for 49,000 books, which allowed us to purchase approximately 1,500 books for distribution to our community partners, local libraries, student groups, and more in Lycoming, Sullivan, and Tioga Counties.
• Through the William Penn Foundation, the United Way of Pennsylvania (UWP) awarded us a $3,500 grant to support continued advocacy to promote expanded access to high-quality Pre-K in Pennsylvania in collaboration with the Pre-K for PA campaign and increased access to high-quality childcare through the Start Strong PA campaign.
• UWP also gave us a $5,000 subgrant from the Land O’ Lakes Foundation, which we awarded to Sojourner Truth Ministries to assist with the feeding program.
• All One Foundation awarded a $350,000 grant to seven local United Ways to support visiting nurse programs in seven northeastern and northcentral Pennsylvania counties and information referral services provided by PA211. The Lycoming County United Way was the second largest sub-recipient at $50,000.
• Finally, we assisted the Andrew G. Curtin Intermediate School in raising $2,500 in funds for Socktober, a program we have continued to support with time and socks to help teach kids about the value of community and the issue of homelessness.

Partnerships

• Our first Cup of Love was introduced in February 2021, celebrating Heart Health Month in partnership with UPMC and Alabaster Coffee Roaster & Tea Company’s Community Tap Program. The month-long event has raised almost $55,000 in four years.
• In 2021, Temple University awarded us a grant to implement a COVID-19 Trauma Informed Workforce Initiative. The $50,000 grant allowed us to hire and train trauma-informed health outreach specialists, promote the accessibility of COVID-19 vaccines, and provide outreach activities and marketing.
• Later, in 2021, LCUW began discussions with Hope Enterprises, the recipient of a grant from All One Foundation to fund Project Lifesaver. An agreement was reached in 2022 for LCUW to administer the program. Project Lifesaver is the premier search and rescue program operated internationally by public safety agencies and was designed for at-risk individuals prone to the life-threatening behavior of wandering. The primary mission of Project Lifesaver is to provide timely responses to save lives and reduce potential injury for adults and children with the propensity to elope due to a cognitive condition.
• In December 2021, we partnered with the Pennsylvania State Police to provide 150 backpacks with school supplies to Sullivan County Elementary School students
• In February 2023, we partnered with the Bullfrog Brewery to support our programs. Our Pint of Love has raised over $5,00 to date.
• In early 2024, we partnered with the school nurse at the Mongomery Elementary School to establish our first Kidz Klozet, aimed and helping kids and families in need in Lycoming County
• In October 2024, C&N Bank donated $50,000 to the Tioga County Partnership for Community Health, the United Way of the Southern Tier, and the Lycoming County United Way to assist with flood recovery efforts resulting from Tropical Storm Debby in August 2024.

A Year of Celebration

• 2022 began with a cold night on the front lawn of UPMC Williamsport, honoring healthcare workers who had given so much of themselves battling the COVID-19 pandemic. Lights of Hope featured thousands of luminarias placed in the shape of a heart at UPMC with prayers and remarks from hospital leadership, the mayor of Williamsport, and our United Way.
• On April 14, 2022, we celebrated our 100th anniversary as a United Way with cake and a press conference. We announced a $1,000,00 gift to the First Community Foundation Partnership of Pennsylvania (FCFP) to establish the Lycoming County United Way Centennial Endowment Fund. This gift was enhanced with FCFP establishing a $250,000
• On May 18, 2022, we celebrated our incorporation in 1956 with a Centennial Gala at Herman & Luther’s.
• In May 2022, we partnered with United Way Worldwide and Cummins Sales & Service, which has provided children’s bikes for children in need every summer since 2022.

Rebuilding for the Future

• 2023 was a transition year as we lost two employees who worked in Marketing and Community Impact. However, we were still able to support a relaunch of ALICE data, participate in school supplies distribution with Lycoming Engines and hold several annual events, including our Month of Love, Annual Meeting, Kids Carnival, Summer Reading activities, a campaign kickoff carnival, LIVE UNITED in Music III, and the establishment of a Hope Garden.
• In December 2023, we welcomed Savannah Lorson as Administrative Manager and Amber Newell as Director of Community Impact
• The new year in 2024 welcomed participation in Dream Week activities, our Month of Love featuring the Cup of Love and Pint of Love with Alabaster Coffee and the Bullfrog Brewery, a successful grant-making season under the leadership of Amber Newell, a successful annual meeting under the leadership of Savannah Lorson, fundraising for flood relief from Tropical Storm Debby and other successful annual events like our Kids Carnival, End of Summer Celebration at New Trail Brewing, LIVE UNITED in Music IV, and our first Purse Bingo. These events generated over $100,000 in income for our programs.
• We participated as an early adopter for the new United Way Worldwide brand refresh.