United Way of Greater Cleveland history

The campaign fared poorly during the Depression but rallied during World War II, when it was known as the War Chest. Its direct roots lie in the Community Fund drives of the Community Chest, created by the Welfare Federation in 1919.

The Ithaca Community Chest was formed in 1921.

Walter F. Willcox was the Community Chest's first Budget Committee Chair, and he held that position through 1928.

Using an inspiring slogan and thousands of volunteers, the Community Fund surpassed $5.65 million in 1931, with 471,319 donors.

By 1938 100 Protestant, Catholic, Jewish, and non-sectarian agencies supported the fund.

In 1952, Paul Livermore, George's son, donated the family home where United Way of Tompkins County offices remain today.

1956, the Community Chest became the Tompkins County Community Fund.

Failure of the 1970 United Appeal campaign to match the previous year's total led to the establishment of the Commission on Health & Social Services in Sept.

Then in 1973, the Tompkins County Community Fund became the United Way of Tompkins County.

In 1983, Elizabeth "Million Dollar Betty" Cornish chaired the first United Way County Campaign that exceeded contributions of $1,000,000.

Business leaders, in collaboration with The Cleveland Foundation, The George Gund Foundation and United Way of Greater Cleveland, established BVU in 1993.

K. Michael Benz served as United Way's president and CEO in 1995.

The board matching and training program grew rapidly to over 80 board elections a year by 1996.

In response to this demand from business members, BVU developed highly innovative board development, consulting and training services in 1997.

In 1999, BVU presented a national conference in Cleveland to help other cities replicate the BVU model.

In 2000, BVU established and developed BVU Lorain County after receiving a $250,000 grant from The Stocker Foundation to provide core program funding.

CNE was founded in Akron in 2001 by a coalition of community leaders from the public and private sectors, including an operating endowment funded by the GAR Foundation and the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation.

In 2002, with funding from the Charles Mott Foundation, BVU facilitated the establishment of BVU Maryland.

Following the departure of founding President & CEO, Alice Korngold, the BVU Board named Brian Broadbent as the new CEO in July 2005.

In 2007, John Alexander ('02 Campaign Chair) chaired the first Corporate Cornerstone Campaign, a fundraising campaign designed to cover the administrative and operating expenses of United Way of Tompkins County.

In 2008, 100% of community raised donations went back to the community, the first time in the history of United Way of Tompkins County.

In September 2011, BVU and CNE merged, with a combined 29 years of strengthening nonprofits.