From combatting infant mortality during its early years to preparing the next generation of local students and leaders today, the United Way of Berks County’s mission has remained the same. Through wars, floods, the Depression, COVID-19, you name it, the United Way has been dedicated to serving the needs of its community over the last 100 years.
The people behind the mission are a testament to that, whether it’s the volunteers, the board, partners or full-time staff members. United Way’s longestserving term of employment is 38 years, with the average employee staying with the organization for approximately 12 years.
“When I started, if somebody had told me that 34 years later I’d still be here, I’m not sure I would have believed them,” says President Tammy White. “But what I quickly learned early on is what we do matters, and working for an organization that has such an incredible team of not only staff, but volunteers, is inspiring. It’s amazing. It is an organization that looks at possibilities for the community. I always feel like I work with people who always view the glass as halffull. There’s that can-do attitude that if we work together, we can have lasting change in the community.”
Many donors have been tenured through the decades as well. Take Sue and Craig Perrotty, for example.
The 2020 campaign chairs began as a loan specialist and a donor, respectively, in the 1980s. They have remained engaged with the organization in many capacities and are honorarily co-chairing the centennial campaign with Carolyn and Jerry Holleran, also longtime supporters.
“My why has always been — and I was raised this way — to give and help others when they are in need,” says Sue Perrotty. “And we have done that. What I love about the United Way is that it funds different agencies that really represent the safety net of the whole community, and what we do matters…United Way is terrific at providing that broad support and ensuring that we have a safety net in this community that helps with things that we need.”
In addition, four of the original 20 agency partners continue to serve as partners today among the current 33, including the American Red Cross, Boy Scouts, Salvation Army and Tower Health at Home, formerly the Visiting Nurses Association. It was the people and the partners who started the organization, and it will be the people and the partners who will continue United Way’s legacy of meeting Berks County’s everevolving needs in the future.
Get a glimpse of what has been made possible through the steadfast teamwork, unwavering dedication and resilience leading up to the United Way’s centennial:
• There were zero full-time staff members, only volunteers, during the organization’s inception in 1925. There are now nearly 40 board members and about 30 fulltime staff members.
• The first campaign raised $256,000 in 1925.
• The first million-dollar campaign was achieved in 1956.
• A $10 million gift was allocated to the organization by Mackenzie Scott in 2020.
• The latest campaign raised $11 million in 2023.
• $114,685,572 was raised in the past decade.
• Over $400 million has been raised since the nonprofit’s inception.
• 80+ programs are funded annually.
• More than 190,000 people are served annually
Fun Facts
Through the Decades. Visit uwberks.org for the organization’s timeline from 1925 to 2025 (beginning in January) and follow United Way on social media to see those milestones come to life with throwback posts, trivia and more.
A Bigger Big Cheese. United Way is opening the highly anticipated event to 1,000 volunteers (compared to the usual 500) to pack 500,000 meals for those in need. Sign up at uwberks.org.
