United Way of the Midlands celebrates 87 years of caring service in 2010 by mobilizing the caring power of people who live and work in Douglas, Sarpy and Pottawattamie Counties.

United Way-funded programs change people’s lives and make an impact on community conditions. Through 2-1-1, United Way connects people with the local services they need, by phone and over the web. United Way recruits and refers volunteers of all ages, and builds partnerships that improve the quality and delivery of human services across the metro area.

OUR HISTORY

United Way of the Midlands' prototype, The Omaha Community Chest, was founded in 1923 in response to community needs, a hallmark of the organization throughout its history. A group of volunteers was convened to allocate funds among the 30 participating agencies in Douglas County.

As the Depression gripped our society and economy, the needs of the people of Omaha increased. In 1928, the struggling Community Chest borrowed money to meet the overwhelming agency relief requests. The introduction of federal relief programs in 1933 eased the strain, and the Community Chest directed much of its resources to those ineligible for government relief. The World War II years brought Omahans together, and each Community Chest Campaign exceeded the goal.

In 1950, Omaha was one of the communities to pioneer a national model for a single organization concerned with fund-raising, budgeting, planning and allocations, all under one volunteer board of directors. Its name: United Community Services.

In 1956, after a special committee had analyzed five-year agency building needs, a capital-fund drive of $2 million was initiated and conducted in concert with the annual campaign. It was known as the "United Red Feather-Red Cross Campaign".

In 1966, articles of incorporation were revised, and new bylaws were adopted, creating a volunteer Citizens Assembly. The assembly increased representative citizen participation, and had group responsibility for electing the members of the board of directors.

In 1970, the name of the organization was changed to United Community Services of the Midlands, and in 1975, to United Way of the Midlands.

In 1979, the American Cancer Society, Nebraska Division, became a campaign partner with United Way of the Midlands. In 1981, a merger joined the United Way of Council Bluffs and United Way of the Midlands. The American Heart Association became a campaign partner in 1984, and in 1987, United Way of the Midlands and the Combined Health Agencies Drive signed a joint fund-raising agreement in Douglas and Sarpy Counties in Nebraska and Pottawattamie County in Iowa. In 1998, United Way of the Midlands celebrated 75 years of service to the community. Since World War II, United Way donors in the Omaha-Bellevue-Council Bluffs metro area have given more than $548 million dollars to strengthen the lives of children and adults who want to build a better life.

Throughout its history, United Way of the Midlands and its predecessors, have remained flexible, meeting the changing needs of our community. (One way we do it - United Way hosts the state of Nebraska's 2-1-1 call center, and serves the people in 8 southwest Iowa counties, too.) United Way of the Midlands has become the principal mechanism through which people can become most fully involved - directly and personally - in improving life in our community. We thank you, and those before you, for your generous support. 

LIVE UNITED_™!