During that very first campaign, in 1929, a total of $48,851 was raised.  Marion Community Chest continued to serve the Grant County Community until 1943 when it became the Grant County War Chest.

            Those early campaigns conducted by the Marion Community Chest generated anywhere from a high of $59,093 in 1932 to a low of $25,291 in 1939.

            The original eight member agencies did not change during those early years with the exception of Marion General Hospital, which withdrew in 1939.  The first new agency, Carver Community Center, was added in 1942.  This paved the way for the addition of several more agencies.  The Girl Scouts were added in 1943 and Teenage Recreation Center in 1945.

            On June 19, 1956, ninety-six citizens of Grant County met to consider the organization of a United Fund for Grant County.

            A fact finding committee, chaired by Cornell Bailey, spent much time in assembling all available information about every voluntary fund drive held during a twelve month period.  This information included goals, results, costs, and number of volunteer solicitors involved.  This information came from eight different organizations including the Grant County War Chest.  The facts obtained showed that a total of 1,256 solicitors were used to raise a combined total of $176,865 over a period of 262 days.

            The finding of the committee revealed that several of the goals were unmet and the number of solicitors and time involved was great.  The committee's recommendation was that a United Fund be organized to reduce the demand of solicitor time and effort.

            The results of that June meeting were the formation of the United Fund of Grant County, which, in 1974, became today's United Way of Grant County.

            The first United Fund campaign raised $238,608 or 134% of its goal.  These funds were used to provide allocations to twenty member agencies.

            The United Fund experienced two major milestones during 1962.  The first was the inclusion of the Boy's Club as a member agency.  The second was the establishment of a citizens' budgeting panel.  This panel's purpose was to review agency budgets and programs in related fields of service.  This plan of operation provided for a greater understanding of these services and their costs.  The formation of this committee paved the way for our current allocations process.

            With the annual in-plant solicitations became the need to establish a suggested giving amount.  In 1964, on the recommendation of the Central Labor Union, a suggested minimum fair share gift was established of one hour's pay per month.  This standard still exists today.

            To meet the ever-increasing needs of those within the labor movement in Grant County, the position of Labor Liaison was created in 1969.  This position was dissolved in 2006 as a result of lost jobs in the production industry.

         The United Way has seen many changes during the past seventy-nine years and continues to play a very important part in our community.  One of the major changes facing the organization today is the allocations process.  To ensure that the organization and its agencies remain active, a different approach has been taken in funding today's fifteen member agencies.  Through the purchasing of programs, as opposed to agency funding, board members are supplying the community with the services residents say are needed.

            During the 1990's the United Way of Grant County became involved with the Indiana Association of United Way's Giant Step Initiative.  This program, funded by the Lilly Endowment, offered various grants to United Ways throughout Indiana.  During the years of 1991 through 1994 Grant County received a total of $164,000 in monetary grants.  These grants were used for the Giant Step Media Campaign and the COMPASS Project.  Matching funds were received through their Leadership Giving program designed for all new givers.  An up to date computer system was also provided with Giant Step money.  Participation in Giant Step enabled the United Way to "come out of the box" and take a more visible, active part in the community.

            With the opening of the new Marion/Grant County Senior Center in 1991, and St. Martin Community Center in 1999, the United Way demonstrated its deep commitment to the community.  Through the collaborative efforts of the City of Marion and Grant County, the Senior Center and St. Martins have become two of the fastest growing "new" agencies in Grant County.

            The United Way's other current member agencies include; American Red Cross, Boys' & Girls' Club of Grant County, Cancer Services, Carey Services, Crippled Children and Adults, Family Service Society, Girl Scouts of Central Indiana, Grant-Blackford Mental Health Center, Sagamore Council-Boy Scouts of America, Services for the Visually and Hearing Impaired, The Salvation Army, and Y.M.C.A.

            With the establishment of an endowment through the Community Foundation in 1995, the United Way has demonstrated that it is planning for the future.

            Due to the ever-increasing challenge for the charitable dollar, alternative means of funding have to be sought.  To help with this situation, "United Way Day" was born.  The brainchild of Doug Lance of Lance's New Market, this one-day event has grown almost four-fold since its inception in 1993.

            The United Way continues to be a leader in the community in addressing current and emerging needs.  It is committed to actively bringing together all sectors to help make the community more successful.  In past years it has provided grants for the operation of Answer line, a community information and referral service, and to the Community Rehab Project.  When St. Martin Community experienced a devastating fire last May, the United Way was quick to respond with a gift of $10,000 to help it get back on its feet and to ensure that the needs of its clients would continue to be met.  In 2007, the United Way gave a grant to the Community School of the Arts for an after school program called “Energy Program”.  This program gave students instruction in Arts and Sports.  Educated instructors from each area gave lessons on each topic. 

The United Way is accountable to the community for every dollar raised and spent.  It is committed to spending the funds wisely and in a cost-effective manner.  It is dedicated to conducting the annual campaign at the lowest possible costs.

The United Way strives to serve the community and fifteen member agencies.  With the support of its dedicated and caring board members and the financial support of the community, it will continue to ensure that the needs of the community are met well into the next century.

The United Way of Grant County, Inc. was able to allocate $470,505.00 to fifteen agencies in 33 programs for 2009.  These programs support all 68,000 county residents in Grant County.  To follow I have shared some examples of what these agencies, through the dollars allocated by the United Way, did for the individuals in Grant County.

Marion-Grant County Senior Center provided services for 4,076 participants (or units) in the Health, Screenings, and Education Programs.  1,195 people received free blood pressure checks and another 93 received flu shots.  For these programs our dollars helped these senior citizens maintain a healthy body.  There were 924 seniors (or units) that participated in exercise classes and 201 used the exercise equipment.  The Marion-Grant County Senior Center with the funding provided by the United Way of Grant County, Inc. continues to support and assist our senior citizens to maintain or improve their quality of life.

Family Service Society has been providing counseling and shelter to victims of abused children and adults.  In 2009, 218 different women and children received safe shelter for a total of 3,100 days/nights of safety.  Of the 117 women and 101 children residing at the shelter, 95 adults and 64 children were residents of Grant County.  Support groups are provided and children’s activities assist children in processing the trauma they experience.  In 2009, 311 Crisis Calls were managed; 176 Information and Referral calls, and 6,080 General Information calls were received. 

Family Service Society provided over 1,597 clients (individuals or families) with counseling services.  These services are provided in the office, home, or school.  United Way funds assist in underwriting the cost of counseling services for uninsured clients or those unable to pay their sliding scale fee.  Other ways of how the United Way funds are used includes support for surviving family members of those lost to suicide, families experiencing parent-teen conflicts, and adult children facing elder care.  Our funds help to bring families back together.

In 2009, Crippled Children & Adults, with the help of the United Way, provided 928 units of service to Grant County residents for transportation to and from medical appointments and/or treatment centers.  The Crippled Children & Adults provided 378 units of service for equipment that deem medically necessary such as wheelchairs, hospital beds, walkers, and crutches.  For many of these people these services provided necessities that would otherwise be immobile or restricted to everyday situations.

Services for the Visual and Hearing Impaired, Inc. provides a special service to those with visual and/or hearing impairment.  These individuals would not have ready access to the independent living aids and training that this agency offers.  Our funding provides counseling, Braille classes, sign language classes, needed equipment and aids to help with their impairment.  Overall, they provided 2,160 individuals from Grant County services/programs.

The United Way of Grant County purchased programs from Grant-Blackford Mental Health.  These programs provide addiction services for individuals who have been diagnosed with addictive disorders.  These programs offer inpatient care, two adult intensive outpatient programs and one adolescent program.  The addiction program centers on the physical/psychological aspects of addiction, family and social interaction, and wellness that include relapse prevention.  Also, offered is the Educational and Continuing Care Program for both the adult and adolescent residents of Grant County.  For these individuals who require additional support Grant-Blackford Mental Health offers case management to assist with individual needs (e.g. – education, employment, housing and medication).  319 clients were served in the Inpatient Unit for substance abuse.  611 clients required substance abuse related treatment and 92 clients were served in the Substance Abuse Day Treatment Program.  86% of those served earned less that 20k per year while 41% had no insurance.

            The Functional Analysis for Rent Evictions and Utility Disconnect Assistance provided by the Salvation Army states in 2009 the number of families serviced were 693. The Food Pantry Assistance served 5,970 baskets, which helped 12,405 individuals. The United Way Funds provided 2,124 persons with electricity and water as well as the funding for food.

            The Young Men’s Christian Association received funding so 415 children will have before and after school care in all schools in Grant County.  Live Y’rs provides care for children from 1^st grade thru 5^th grade.  Parents who work can rely on the YMCA to watch their child as early as 6:00 am up until school is to start and as late as 6:00 pm after school lets out.  This gives every parent the assurance that while they are working their child is being cared for at the schools location.  Parents no longer have to stay at home, become jobless, to watch their children.  This program also keeps the children off the streets at such a young age.  The YMCA also provided a Day Camp during the school vacations.  Our funds provided 75 children with a safe environment when school was not in session.

            The needs of Grant County residents are great in this time of hardship.  The funds allocated to St. Martin’s Community Center for Kay’s Kitchen fed 45,694 men, women, and children in 2009.  This number has increased from 2008 by 5,647 individuals.

            The United Way of Grant County is proud to associate with all of the 15 member agencies to help people of our community.  Weather it is for supporting the children’s activities and learning programs at the Boys & Girls Club or helping to provide transportation in association with Cancer Services.  The United Way is proud to touch the lives of so many and help to make a difference in our Community.