United Way of Greater Stark County celebrates 100 years of supporting our community
100 years of United Way of Greater Stark County

Our History

United Way of Greater Stark County reaches a population of nearly 400,000, serving all of Stark County and parts of Carroll County. One of more than 1,350 local United Way organizations nationwide – United Way of Greater Stark County was formed in 2004 with the merger of Alliance Area United Way, United Way of Central Stark County, and United Way of Western Stark County.

CANTON’S “COMMUNITY CHEST”

During the early 1900s, “community chests” began to form across the United States and Canada. These fundraising organizations collected money from local businesses and their employees to support projects in their respective communities. 

The first community chest formed in Cleveland in 1913, drawing regional and national recognition. In 1922, a group of prominent Canton-area businessmen – William R. Timken, Paul Belden and H.C. Pontius – looked into the Cleveland organization and then set about forming their own community chest for the Canton area. 

Mr. Pontius drew up a constitution and by-laws based upon the experience of the chests already in operation. A cardinal principle insisted on by Mr. Timken was that under no circumstances was the community chest to assume responsibility or direction of operation of the agencies. 

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Together, we connect the families in our most vulnerable neighborhoods with resources and programs to help them succeed and thrive.

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