Throughout the 1940's, communities nationwide were overwhelmed with monetary requests from their local health and human service organizations. Their solution.....a unified/combined annual campaign. The resources collected from this campaign would then go into what was known as a Community Chest and distributed back to these charitable organizations, according to need and quality of services provided to local residents.

In the fall of 1949, a newly formed Community Council, comprised of 38 civic organizations from both the James City County and the City of Williamsburg, appointed a Fund Drive Committee to initiate such a combined campaign.

This first community fund drive was scheduled to open on October 17 and continue for one week. Chairman of the Drive, Robert P. Wallace, announced the campaign goal of $6,475.00. The Community Fund drive was then postponed until October 31, due to a knee operation Wallace underwent.

The Greater Williamsburg area showed its support by donating $9,283.00, surpassing the original goal by $2,808.00, which was announced to the Community Council on November 25, 1949.

The success of this community drive was accredited to the many residents who cared enough to give something and that something added up. In the ensuing years, more agencies were added and workplace campaigns blossomed. The Community Fund evolved into the United Way and became the leading advocate of health and human services.

In 1999, Nan Cruikshank formed and chaired a special anniversary committee comprised of past United Way campaign chairs, employees and volunteers from the last 50 years. This committee was directly responsible for archiving memorabilia and information from each year.

A variety of meetings were held - such as research sessions at The Virginia Gazette, and a wine and cheese party held past United Way board presidents and campaign chairs to share their United Way memories and experiences. Collectively, these events and this committee not only provided us with a glimpse of the generosity of our community, but the dedication of these individuals and many others helped make United Way of Greater Williamsburg what it is today. Their work and the information they collected proved to be an inspiration to us all.

In conclusion, the Greater Williamsburg community and United Way have partnered for 50 years to raise over $20 million, however it's much more fitting to recount the individual agencies, the peoples' lives they have touched and the tremendous impact they have had and continue to have on our community. This best defines our United Way and our tradition of caring.

• The United Way received the Williamsburg Area Chamber of Commerce's prestigious "Roll of the Drum Award" - presented by 1999 Chamber President John Barnett, Jr.

In 2009, United Way of  Greater Williamsburg celebrates it's 60th anniversary.  Thanks to the wonderful archiving of memorabilia by the 50th anniversary committee, Karen Jamison was able to present "United Way Through the Decades" at the annual meeting on March 23rd, 2009, kicking off our 60th anniversary year.

Please help us continue this wonderful tradition of caring and help United Way of Greater Williamsburg be here for another 60 years or more.