On December 7, 1933, The Ogden Standard-Examiner announced plans for a new Community Chest. The Community Chest would become United Way of Northern Utah, so this article marks the beginning of UWNU's 90-year legacy serving Northern Utah

In January 1934, the Community Chest of Ogden was officially founded. The same year, George S. Eccles, Chairman & CEO of First Security Corporation (now Wells Fargo), became our first donor and our first Chair. The George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Foundation continues to support United Way of Northern Utah today.

In honor of our 90th Birthday, here are 9 of the most popular books published 90 years ago. Do you recognize any? Have you read any?

After the United States entered World War II in December of 1941, the Community Chest of Ogden partnered with Red Cross to run the United Campaign to help with the war effort❣️. This is the first instance where "United" was used by the organization that would become United Way of Northern Utah.

Only days after the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, the American Red Cross made an appeal for $50 million for war relief. The Ogden/Weber chapter's quota was $15,000. To consolidate asks and make giving as easy as possible, the community chest (later to become UWNU) united with Red Cross to raise money for war relief. Their goal started at $31,000. At the campaign's end, $76,360 + had been raised. The next 4 slides are major headlines and 3 full Ogden-Standard Examiner articles following the Red Cross - Community Chest United Campaign.
 

Only days after the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, the American Red Cross made an appeal for $50 million for war relief. The Ogden/Weber chapter's quota was $15,000. To consolidate asks and make giving as easy as possible, the community chest (later to become UWNU) united with Red Cross to raise money for war relief. Their goal started at $31,000. At the campaign's end, $76,360 + had been raised

Only days after the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, the American Red Cross made an appeal for $50 million for war relief. The Ogden/Weber chapter's quota was $15,000. To consolidate asks and make giving as easy as possible, the community chest (later to become UWNU) united with Red Cross to raise money for war relief. Their goal started at $31,000. At the campaign's end, $76,360 + had been raised... This January 2, 1942 story headlines: "Red Cross Drive for $15,000 in Weber County Set for Monday."

Only days after the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, the American Red Cross made an appeal for $50 million for war relief. The Ogden/Weber chapter's quota was $15,000. To consolidate asks and make giving as easy as possible, the community chest (later to become UWNU) united with Red Cross to raise money for war relief. Their goal started at $31,000. At the campaign's end, $76,360 + had been raised... This January 19, 1942 story headlines: "Drives Passes Halfway Mark At First Meet: Nearly $40,000 given in Red Cross-Chest Campaign."

Only days after the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, the American Red Cross made an appeal for $50 million for war relief. The Ogden/Weber chapter's quota was $15,000. To consolidate asks and make giving as easy as possible, the community chest (later to become UWNU) united with Red Cross to raise money for war relief. Their goal started at $31,000. At the campaign's end, $76,360 + had been raised... This January 24, 1942 story headlines: "Subscriptions Add 'Grand and Glorious' conclusion to Red Cross-Chest Efforts." 

While WWII raged on in 1944, the Community Chest of Ogden (later to be United Way of Northern Utah) turned 10 years old. They celebrated by continuing to fundraise for war efforts and organizations at home, such as Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Children's Aid society, and Salvation Army.

Many non-partisan and nonprofit organizations would come together through the 1960s and 1970s to form United Way of Northern Utah. But in 1952, these organizations all still functioned as individual efforts. One of the organizations was the Ogden-Weber County Community Welfare Council. From the Ogden Standard-Examiner: "The council is described in the constitution as a non-partisan, non-sectarian and inter-racial organization promoting the general welfare of the community needs and resources, the co-operative planning of health and welfare services, the promotion of social improvements and the creation of public opinion."

In its 20th year (1954), the Ogden Community Chest, American Red Cross, and the Utah Society for the Physically Handicapped (cerebral palsy) decided to merge their fundraising efforts into a federated drive. By October, the United fund drive, known as the Ogden Area Federated Drive, opened with a goal of $197,484. The Ogden Area Federated Drive was the first federated drive of Ogden. The next slide provides more of the Ogden Standard-Examiner article from August 1954, when the United Society for the Physically Handicapped (cerebral palsy) joined the United fund drive.
 

In its 20th year (1954), the Ogden Community Chest, American Red Cross, and the Utah Society for the Physically Handicapped (cerebral palsy) decided to merge their fundraising efforts into a federated drive. By October, the United fund drive, known as the Ogden Area Federated Drive, opened with a goal of $197,484. The Ogden Area Federated Drive was the first federated drive of Ogden. Here's some of the Ogden Standard-Examiner article from August 1954, when the United Society for the Physically Handicapped (cerebral palsy) joined the United fund drive.

In 1957, the Ogden-Weber Area Federated Fund (which we posted about last week!) changed its name to the United Fund of Ogden and Weber County. Officially, United had entered the name of the organization that would become United Way of Northern Utah.

1959 marked 25 years of the Community Chest, turned United Fund of Ogden and Weber County, soon to be United Way of Northern Utah. A quarter of a century!

Rulon Stanford (1915-1992) was named CEO in 1961. He served as United Way of Northern Utah's CEO for 13 years. Rulon was the first leader promoted after United Way of Northern Utah officially adopted our new identity from Ogden-Weber Area Federated Fund to the United Fund of Ogden and Weber County.

Through the decades, we've watched the United Fund of Ogden and Weber County grow in size and influence. In 1964, in its 30th birthday year, the United Fund campaign processed donations from over 3,900 companies and employees.

For all 90 years we have loved and appreciated all of our corporate partners and individual donors giving in workplace campaigns!

Clayton Beal (1931-2007) was named CEO in 1970. He served as the second CEO of United Way of Northern Utah, a post which he held of 29 years.

We’re jumping ahead a bit in our timeline, to the year 2014. United Way of Northern Utah accomplished many incredible things this year, one of the biggest being Welcome Baby’s birth. Welcome Baby is a free home visitation program that supports families with new babies and promotes healthy early childhood development. And in 2024, right alongside UWNU’s 90th Birthday celebration, Welcome Baby is celebrating their own 10th anniversary.

There’s no better way to kick off Volunteer Appreciation Month than spotlighting this program, because Welcome Baby would not be nearly as influential or impactful without the 18 AmeriCorps members and 99 volunteers (perfect for our 90th birthday!) who support it. We love our Welcome Baby Team!

We’re still celebrating Welcome Baby and their 10th anniversary! The program, which started in 2014 as a Northern Utah initiative, expanded statewide in 2021. We now serve in 7 counties:

1. Box Elder
2. Cache
3. Davis
4. Salt Lake
5. Weber
6. Summit
7. Utah

Happy anniversary Welcome Baby!

We’re still celebrating Welcome Baby and their 10th anniversary! The program, which started in 2014 as a Northern Utah initiative, expanded statewide in 2021. We now serve in 7 counties:

1. Box Elder
2. Cache
3. Davis
4. Salt Lake
5. Weber
6. Summit
7. Utah

Happy anniversary Welcome Baby!