United Way of Chelan and Douglas Counties
FundraisingWashington, United States0-1 Employees
The Wenatchee Welfare Federation was started on April 1, 1939, as a community, volunteer led, fundraising organization. Original officers were Mr. Clarence Johnson, president; Mrs. J.W. Hungrate, vice president; and Mr. Russell Congdon, secretary/treasurer. A professional fundraiser from Portland, Oregon was hired with an objective to raise $20,000. However, the Federations name was confusing to local residents and within four months the name changed to Wenatchee Community Chest and the campaign drive commenced to raise funds for the Boy Scouts, Salvation Army, Camp Fire and the YMCA. We operated under the name Wenatchee Community Chest until 1956, when we charted as a non-profit corporation under the name of United Good Neighbors, commonly referred to as UGN. In an effort to tie into the nationally recognized and publicized name of United Way, the membership approved a name change to United Way of Greater Wenatchee in 1974. Given the fact that member agencies were providing services throughout Chelan and Douglas counties, the membership unanimously approved a name change to United Way of Chelan and Douglas Counties on April 26, 1982. Whatever the name, our mission has always been to mobilize the resources of our community, and we have been doing that since 1939.