For more than six decades, United Way of Calgary and Area has been about people helping people where and when they need it. Calgarians have given more than $400 million to our organization since 1940. Today, we are more than the largest non-government source of funding for human care programs in the city; we are leaders in making Calgary a better place for all Calgarians.
Timeline of United Way of Calgary and Area
2006 United Way invests $40.8 million into agency programs and collaborative initiatives.
2005 Calgarians raise $44 million in the annual campaign.
2004 Annual campaign raises $37.8 million through the support of 52,000 donors and 15,000 volunteers. United Way invests $28.2 million from the previous year's campaign into the community.
2003 Annual campaign raises $32.3 million through the support of 52,000 donors and 10,000 volunteers. United Way invests $25.8 million from the previous year's campaign into the community.
2002 United Way leads community collaborations to brighten the future for urban Aboriginal youth and people living in poverty.
2000 United Way becomes the only nonprofit organization to help agencies operate more effectively.
1998 The Calgary Children's Initiative, created and partially-funded by United Way, connects more than 80 organizations and individuals to create positive change for future generations of youth.
1998 Home Front program represents a new way for communities to work together as groups connect to advocate for victims of domestic violence.
1997 Formal outcome-measurement tool introduced to ensure support is maximized.
1996 Move from funding isolated programs to creating long-term impact in priority areas.
1990 Organization renamed United Way of Calgary and Area and develops funding priorities based on new community needs.
1988 Creativity and spirit combine in Esso Resources Canada Ltd.’s workplace campaign with the staging of “The Wizard of Es.” Company president Doug Baldwin stars as Dorothy and all four lunchtime performances sell-out, setting a new company fundraising high of $210,000.
1984 United Way’s Annual Campaign reaches $5.59 million, 104 per cent of its goal. “Calgary has one of the best records of pledge completion in Canada,” says Charlie Pingle, president United Way. That year donors give an average of $74 each.
1983 More people give money than ever before in United Way’s history, raising $5.05 million, $250,000 more than the target.
1979 United Way Calgary captures first prize at a United Way of North America competition for communication materials. Its winning 14-page brochure describes the work of the 33 community organizations it supports.
1977 United Way’s door-to-door residential campaign raises $158,000, 13 per cent more than targeted.
1975 Originally the Community Chest, the Calgary United Fund becomes United Way of Calgary.
1974 Sue Higgins, residential campaign chairman, reminds Calgarians that one in four Calgarians receives help of some sort from the United Fund as the organization kicks off a campaign to raise $2.1 million.
1968 CBC Radio host Max Ferguson makes headlines across the city when he launches off the annual United Fund campaign with imitations of Lester Pearson, John Diefenbaker and Pierre Elliot Trudeau.
1967 More than 5,000 Calgary families turn to the United Fund for support.
1969 More than 5,000 Calgarians turn out for the Annual Campaign kick off at Stampede Park.
1964 Close to 200 Calgary businesses are honoured for their support of the 1963 United Fund. The companies - among them the Bank of Nova Scotia, City of Calgary, Alberta Government Telephones, Burns & Co. Ltd. and Bawden Drilling - each had 80 per cent or more of their employees give to the campaign.
1943 Workplace campaigns begin.
1940 Community Chest is formed to raise funds for a handful of charities.
