| In 1986, the Greenbrier County Committee
on Aging approached the United Way in Charleston
for funding. Its budget was being affected
by state and federal cutbacks, and they could
not afford to reduce services to senior citizens.
The Committee on Aging did not receive any
financial support from Charleston, but they
were advised to start a United Way in the
Greenbrier Valley. The Committee on
Aging was a member of the Greenbrier Valley
Interagency Council, and so at their next
meeting, the seed was planted. It wasn’t long
before those at the table agreed that the
impending cutbacks would affect many of the
local agencies, and that a coordinated fund
raising effort, on behalf of all of them,
was needed. And what better way than to start
a local United Way. After phone consultations
with United Way of America, the volunteers
received ‘hands-on’ guidance from a West Virginia
United Way staff member housed in Charleston.
In those days, United Way staff traveling
the state were called “Circuit Riders”. Circuit
Rider Jim Thibeault worked with the volunteers
in the months ahead to establish our local
United Way. Because the concept originated
from the Interagency Council, to this day,
United Way bylaws reserve a seat for the Interagency
Council President on the board of directors.
The United Way of the Greenbrier
Valley started out with a flurry
of activity. Several things were
happening that gave us an opportunity
to celebrate in style. First,
United Way of America was making
plans to commemorate its 100th year
anniversary. United Way of America
was founded in Denver, Colorado in
1886. When it was learned that
John Denver was going to be in concert
at the West Virginia State Fair,
he was quickly recruited as the anniversary
spokesperson for United Way. The
stage was set. West Virginia state
officials, United Way of America,
and local United Way volunteers planned
a grand celebration – 100 years for
United Way of America and the birth
of United Way of the Greenbrier Valley. This
is how we became known as “the first
United Way in the second century”.
With the celebration behind them, board
members threw their energy into the first
campaign. Jim Thibeault was still providing
consultation, and he encouraged everyone
to ‘think big’. A goal of $60,000 was set.
Bold as it was, the volunteers quickly learned
some lessons. First, the organization was
in its infancy and the public really needed
to be educated about its mission and purpose.
Second, volunteers were doing all of the
work with no staff support. And finally,
they had no previous experience in conducting
a campaign. As a result, only $8,000 was
raised that first year. But they were not
deterred!
With a lot of hard work and dedication,
slowly but surely, United Way began to grow.
After operating for seven years with volunteers,
the decision was made to hire an executive
director. And what better than to hire one
of the volunteers! Gene Meyers was brought
on board in 1993. This was a critical move
because it finally gave United Way the day-to-day
attention it needed to begin growing the
campaign. Gene took the helm and stayed
with the organization for the next 6 years.
Here are a few more interesting
United Way tidbits…
- The first annual United Way golf
tournament was held in 1994 and
raised $3,405.
- The Valley Leader Society was
started in 1995 to recognize individual
gifts of $500 or more. Mrs. E.
D. Knight chaired the first Valley
Leader reception in her home.
- In 1996, the United Way set up
office for the first time in the
Post Office building in Ronceverte.
- 1997 was the beginning of a 8
year tradition of bell ringing
with 50% benefiting the agencies
and 50% to the United Way campaign.
$7,600 was raised in the first
yea, and in 2005, the final year of
bell ringing, $18,236 was
raised.
- The first (and only) An Evening
at the Moxie was held in
April 2007. and generated over $7,500.
United Way is grateful to all of
the founding volunteers who have
worked so hard to see the organization
come to fruition.
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