HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVES Archive
Thirty-three years of association. What Holds United Way Alumni Together?
Author: Dick Aft, United Way Historian and Emeritus Board Member
January 2024
Author: Dick Aft, United Way Historian and Emeritus Board Member
January 2024
Associations like United Way NEXT make a difference in the lives of their members. Today, United Way employees, current and former, continue to value an association that formally began thirty-three years ago.
Reasons have varied:
inspired years of day-to-day involvement. Both wanted to continue associating with career-long colleagues in their post-United Way employment years. They, as well as many of their contemporaries, continued to take part in regional and national United Way professional conferences. They gladly shared lessons learned, relevant history and reminders of the values that had sustained them during their years of professional leadership. According to records preserved in past issues of the association newsletter, Devine, Berg and several of their retired colleagues incorporated the United Way Retirees Association to achieve these goals:
From its inception, the Association sought regular informational meetings with United Way of America’s President or National Professional Council Chair. It wasn’t unusual for members to try to influence national policies and programs during those years. Their historical perspective was welcomed. Barbara Edmond, 2023 United Way NEXT Board Chair, recalls the diplomatic skill of one national CEO in particular in dealing with Association members’ well-intentioned suggestions. She wrote, “I will always
remember and love that when Betty Beene became President of United Way of America in 1997, she took time to go back, look at history and visit leaders of the past. She used recordings of these visits in a video that formed the basis of her first national conference keynote address.”
Past “UPDATES” newsletters provide a window through which a just a few of the Association’s program highlights over the years can be seen.
1990 – Association President Chuck Devine announced a strategy that was aimed at achieving UWRA’s goal of increasing members’ support of local United Way fund-raising campaigns. “Mutual of America had agreed to deduct payments to the United Way they designated to allow retirees to continue to give to local campaigns.”
1995 – Retired United Way of America Senior Vice President Ray Unk reported that, “While lunching with Gerry Cerny, executive, United Way of Summit County, Ohio, we discussed a new way for retirees to give, by leaving, by gift, will endowment, or trust, monies to their local United Way.”
2000 – President Tom Vais shared his hopes for the future of the Retirees Association. “I am hopeful that we can begin to build programs and services that can make a significant impact on the field and our membership.”
2005 – Bernie Hyman, Board President wrote, “Those of us who have spent years building the foundations of today’s United Way organizations have much to offer our successors as teachers and mentors.”
2010 – Association President Alice Thacker shared her pride in the contributions that UWRA had made at the UWW Staff Leaders Conference, the Finance/Human Resources Roundtable and the National Professional Council.
2015 – Tom Brown wrote in his regular “Chairman’s Corner” column, “Volunteers for UWRA have had a productive summer consulting on a pro bono basis with an ever-larger group of United Ways that are in the process of starting a planned giving program or rejuvenating dormant programs.”
2020 - President Carl Zapora reported that “Our portfolio of events for individual members and United Way colleagues has increased ten-fold this year, a direct response to member feedback and the needs of the network: the initiation of Town Hall webinars with United Way Worldwide, another national ‘Gathering’ for members, increased mentoring opportunities, History Hangout webinars, Member Master Classes, and a workshop on ‘Implicit Bias,’ led by Roger Frick.”
Today, United Way NEXT programs reflect an ever-growing emphasis on members’ continued service to the United Way network. Re-branding has made clear its alumni focus, as opposed to the founders’ vision of an association limited to retirees. The growth of endowment and gift planning training in local communities has increased markedly. Members’ service as interim CEOs continues to grow as with the benefit of training by Third Sector, a company created and operated by United Way NEXT alumni
member Jeffrey Wilcox. United Way Worldwide staff members’ articles have appeared in United Way NEXT newsletters. UWW staff liaisons have often briefed the Association Board on subjects of common interest. Association programs have been regularly featured in United Way Worldwide’s semi-weekly ‘Global Digest.” Based on her 2023 experience, Edmond further observed, “Current and former United Way staff members are now participating, learning, and interacting side by side in a variety of online
programming and engagements. With more and more new local and national UW professionals joining the network from the outside, instead of ‘growing up’ through the ranks, there seems to be more of a demand for seeking the experience and expertise of UW NEXT members. In addition to the topics mentioned above, there is also increasing interest in mentorship on ‘evergreen’ topics such as board and volunteer engagement, strategic planning, and donor relationship management practices.”
Thirty-three years of Association service has matured from informal gatherings among retired United Way colleagues to an interactive organization of current professionals and alumni who share interests in one another, have a common commitment to the ideals of United Way, and, in many cases, seek to continue United Way service in some fashion. Just like the founders, they keep in touch and share memories. . . .they volunteer to coach and mentor the people who have followed them as United Way
leaders. . . .they look forward to Association newsletters. . . . and they hold fond memories of the good days, and bad, when they spent years doing what one called, ‘the Lord’s work.”
What holds the Association together? It’s been more than five excellent staff directors and nineteen dedicated Board Chairs. “Live UNITED” isn’t just slogan to United Way NEXT members. It’s a description of values that they hold dear as they seek to continue to make a difference as a "Community of United Way leaders".
Reasons have varied:
- Keeping in touch.
- Continuing to make a difference.
- Helping successors.
- Maintaining United Way identity.
inspired years of day-to-day involvement. Both wanted to continue associating with career-long colleagues in their post-United Way employment years. They, as well as many of their contemporaries, continued to take part in regional and national United Way professional conferences. They gladly shared lessons learned, relevant history and reminders of the values that had sustained them during their years of professional leadership. According to records preserved in past issues of the association newsletter, Devine, Berg and several of their retired colleagues incorporated the United Way Retirees Association to achieve these goals:
- Enabling retirees to keep abreast of current events and issues in the United Way field.
- Leveraging members’ time and talent to support the United Way network.
- Providing periodic opportunities to reunite and socialize with one another.
From its inception, the Association sought regular informational meetings with United Way of America’s President or National Professional Council Chair. It wasn’t unusual for members to try to influence national policies and programs during those years. Their historical perspective was welcomed. Barbara Edmond, 2023 United Way NEXT Board Chair, recalls the diplomatic skill of one national CEO in particular in dealing with Association members’ well-intentioned suggestions. She wrote, “I will always
remember and love that when Betty Beene became President of United Way of America in 1997, she took time to go back, look at history and visit leaders of the past. She used recordings of these visits in a video that formed the basis of her first national conference keynote address.”
Past “UPDATES” newsletters provide a window through which a just a few of the Association’s program highlights over the years can be seen.
1990 – Association President Chuck Devine announced a strategy that was aimed at achieving UWRA’s goal of increasing members’ support of local United Way fund-raising campaigns. “Mutual of America had agreed to deduct payments to the United Way they designated to allow retirees to continue to give to local campaigns.”
1995 – Retired United Way of America Senior Vice President Ray Unk reported that, “While lunching with Gerry Cerny, executive, United Way of Summit County, Ohio, we discussed a new way for retirees to give, by leaving, by gift, will endowment, or trust, monies to their local United Way.”
2000 – President Tom Vais shared his hopes for the future of the Retirees Association. “I am hopeful that we can begin to build programs and services that can make a significant impact on the field and our membership.”
2005 – Bernie Hyman, Board President wrote, “Those of us who have spent years building the foundations of today’s United Way organizations have much to offer our successors as teachers and mentors.”
2010 – Association President Alice Thacker shared her pride in the contributions that UWRA had made at the UWW Staff Leaders Conference, the Finance/Human Resources Roundtable and the National Professional Council.
2015 – Tom Brown wrote in his regular “Chairman’s Corner” column, “Volunteers for UWRA have had a productive summer consulting on a pro bono basis with an ever-larger group of United Ways that are in the process of starting a planned giving program or rejuvenating dormant programs.”
2020 - President Carl Zapora reported that “Our portfolio of events for individual members and United Way colleagues has increased ten-fold this year, a direct response to member feedback and the needs of the network: the initiation of Town Hall webinars with United Way Worldwide, another national ‘Gathering’ for members, increased mentoring opportunities, History Hangout webinars, Member Master Classes, and a workshop on ‘Implicit Bias,’ led by Roger Frick.”
Today, United Way NEXT programs reflect an ever-growing emphasis on members’ continued service to the United Way network. Re-branding has made clear its alumni focus, as opposed to the founders’ vision of an association limited to retirees. The growth of endowment and gift planning training in local communities has increased markedly. Members’ service as interim CEOs continues to grow as with the benefit of training by Third Sector, a company created and operated by United Way NEXT alumni
member Jeffrey Wilcox. United Way Worldwide staff members’ articles have appeared in United Way NEXT newsletters. UWW staff liaisons have often briefed the Association Board on subjects of common interest. Association programs have been regularly featured in United Way Worldwide’s semi-weekly ‘Global Digest.” Based on her 2023 experience, Edmond further observed, “Current and former United Way staff members are now participating, learning, and interacting side by side in a variety of online
programming and engagements. With more and more new local and national UW professionals joining the network from the outside, instead of ‘growing up’ through the ranks, there seems to be more of a demand for seeking the experience and expertise of UW NEXT members. In addition to the topics mentioned above, there is also increasing interest in mentorship on ‘evergreen’ topics such as board and volunteer engagement, strategic planning, and donor relationship management practices.”
Thirty-three years of Association service has matured from informal gatherings among retired United Way colleagues to an interactive organization of current professionals and alumni who share interests in one another, have a common commitment to the ideals of United Way, and, in many cases, seek to continue United Way service in some fashion. Just like the founders, they keep in touch and share memories. . . .they volunteer to coach and mentor the people who have followed them as United Way
leaders. . . .they look forward to Association newsletters. . . . and they hold fond memories of the good days, and bad, when they spent years doing what one called, ‘the Lord’s work.”
What holds the Association together? It’s been more than five excellent staff directors and nineteen dedicated Board Chairs. “Live UNITED” isn’t just slogan to United Way NEXT members. It’s a description of values that they hold dear as they seek to continue to make a difference as a "Community of United Way leaders".
I gave at the office. But what’s happened to the office?
Author: Dick Aft, United Way Historian and United Way NEXT Emeritus Board Member
11/1/23
Author: Dick Aft, United Way Historian and United Way NEXT Emeritus Board Member
11/1/23
Scrooge wouldn’t give at the office, but most people over 40 have. Back in the day, United Way employees and community members would have signs on their windows and doors of their homes that advised door-to-door solicitors that they had already given to United Way. Lapel pins and certificates hung on the walls illustrated their pride in having contributed to United Way.
Workplace giving most likely began in 1929 when a Cincinnati Milling Machine Company foreman stood next to the paymaster to “pass the hat” for fellow employees whose jobs had been eliminated due to the Great Depression. Since then, local United Way organizations have been challenged a number of times to respond to changes in the places and ways in which people work. The workplace has undergone sea changes in response to world wars, corporate nationalization, and economic globalization. Many Main Street businesses have been replaced by big-box stores. Electronic processors handle office work that not long ago required desk work at the office. People Zoom on a screen rather than meeting at a workplace conference room table. Recent pandemic quarantines require new perspectives on workplaces.
As the definition of “workplace” undergoes change, so does United Way workplace giving. Competitive departmental scoreboards have gone the way of pen and ink accounting. Modular workspaces whose walls displayed United Way Certificates of Appreciation are disappearing. Production floors are populated with more robots than people. Crowdfunding has replaced “passing the hat.” Texts, emails, and cell phone messages have replaced most inter-office memos and cork bulletin boards. By and large, employee contributions are made electronically. Reaching prospective donors is no longer just a matter of making workplace presentations any more than mid-20th century campaign volunteers reaching their goals by pushing working peoples’ doorbells. Gone are workplace campaign rallies and agency tours. No more “I gave at the office.” for most employees.
Just as United Way leaders found ways to meet past changes, today’s United Way strategists are focusing on new approaches to workplace fundraising. They aren’t alone. Employers are facing similar challenges in defining where and how work is done. Workplace design, methodology and processes are being continuously reinvented. For example: Christian Jesse, the visionary owner of OFFICE INSPIRATION, headquartered in Munich, Germany, responded to my request for his thoughts about the places people work. “Agile working, digitalization and new work are changing the demands on the office world immensely,” he wrote. “In our new concepts for organizations, we don´t think in terms of desks, chairs, and storage per worker. The following question matters much more: ‘How can we support the activities of workers during a working day?’. We think about major activities that increase workers productivity: focus, regeneration, collaboration, networking, and learning.” He added, “In our new concepts, it is possible that a worker doesn´t have a personal office. But, workers have the ability to choose a place in the building which is good for their requirements. For example, they can book a table in the morning for two hours to check their email. After that they may have a training in another area, before going to lunch. In the afternoon they may have a project team workshop with in another room.”
Gary McClimans, owner of GHM Operations Consulting, LLC, has been recognized for his track record as a successful change agent, both as an interim operations leader and consultant. His work has focused on companies facing major competitive challenges. During the early 1990s, he provided extensive pro bono service to the United Way of Greater Cincinnati as it fought to maintain its position of philanthropic leadership during a period of crippling publicity emanating from the United Way of America. “Look at United Way from the outside and you see an organization that depends on people, both paid staff and volunteers, to achieve its goals, right? So don’t expect it to be exempt from the redefinition of ‘workplace’ that is sweeping the world of work. In fact,” he continued, “your history of uniting people from all kinds of employment, backgrounds, and experiences, is just what we all need as we learn to take advantage of change. You need to lead change instead of being the victim of it.”
Carson Aft, amused his United Way Historian grandfather with a much more focused description of his relationship with the offices of his employer. When asked how often he goes into his office, he responded, “I try to get into the office two or three times a week because the food is really good.”
History doesn’t provide any “silver bullet” solutions to the challenges of adapting to changes in workplace giving. It does, however, illustrate volunteer and staff creativity in marshalling volunteer and financial resources. United Way has a long history of bringing people together. Our history suggests that our continued success will be built upon that foundation, whether at traditional workplaces or in those of which no one has yet thought.
Beatle Paul McCartney once offered a clue to how United Way might successfully adapt to today’s workplace changes. “As long as you’re close,” he said, “something grows. When you’re not, something goes.”
Workplace giving most likely began in 1929 when a Cincinnati Milling Machine Company foreman stood next to the paymaster to “pass the hat” for fellow employees whose jobs had been eliminated due to the Great Depression. Since then, local United Way organizations have been challenged a number of times to respond to changes in the places and ways in which people work. The workplace has undergone sea changes in response to world wars, corporate nationalization, and economic globalization. Many Main Street businesses have been replaced by big-box stores. Electronic processors handle office work that not long ago required desk work at the office. People Zoom on a screen rather than meeting at a workplace conference room table. Recent pandemic quarantines require new perspectives on workplaces.
As the definition of “workplace” undergoes change, so does United Way workplace giving. Competitive departmental scoreboards have gone the way of pen and ink accounting. Modular workspaces whose walls displayed United Way Certificates of Appreciation are disappearing. Production floors are populated with more robots than people. Crowdfunding has replaced “passing the hat.” Texts, emails, and cell phone messages have replaced most inter-office memos and cork bulletin boards. By and large, employee contributions are made electronically. Reaching prospective donors is no longer just a matter of making workplace presentations any more than mid-20th century campaign volunteers reaching their goals by pushing working peoples’ doorbells. Gone are workplace campaign rallies and agency tours. No more “I gave at the office.” for most employees.
Just as United Way leaders found ways to meet past changes, today’s United Way strategists are focusing on new approaches to workplace fundraising. They aren’t alone. Employers are facing similar challenges in defining where and how work is done. Workplace design, methodology and processes are being continuously reinvented. For example: Christian Jesse, the visionary owner of OFFICE INSPIRATION, headquartered in Munich, Germany, responded to my request for his thoughts about the places people work. “Agile working, digitalization and new work are changing the demands on the office world immensely,” he wrote. “In our new concepts for organizations, we don´t think in terms of desks, chairs, and storage per worker. The following question matters much more: ‘How can we support the activities of workers during a working day?’. We think about major activities that increase workers productivity: focus, regeneration, collaboration, networking, and learning.” He added, “In our new concepts, it is possible that a worker doesn´t have a personal office. But, workers have the ability to choose a place in the building which is good for their requirements. For example, they can book a table in the morning for two hours to check their email. After that they may have a training in another area, before going to lunch. In the afternoon they may have a project team workshop with in another room.”
Gary McClimans, owner of GHM Operations Consulting, LLC, has been recognized for his track record as a successful change agent, both as an interim operations leader and consultant. His work has focused on companies facing major competitive challenges. During the early 1990s, he provided extensive pro bono service to the United Way of Greater Cincinnati as it fought to maintain its position of philanthropic leadership during a period of crippling publicity emanating from the United Way of America. “Look at United Way from the outside and you see an organization that depends on people, both paid staff and volunteers, to achieve its goals, right? So don’t expect it to be exempt from the redefinition of ‘workplace’ that is sweeping the world of work. In fact,” he continued, “your history of uniting people from all kinds of employment, backgrounds, and experiences, is just what we all need as we learn to take advantage of change. You need to lead change instead of being the victim of it.”
Carson Aft, amused his United Way Historian grandfather with a much more focused description of his relationship with the offices of his employer. When asked how often he goes into his office, he responded, “I try to get into the office two or three times a week because the food is really good.”
History doesn’t provide any “silver bullet” solutions to the challenges of adapting to changes in workplace giving. It does, however, illustrate volunteer and staff creativity in marshalling volunteer and financial resources. United Way has a long history of bringing people together. Our history suggests that our continued success will be built upon that foundation, whether at traditional workplaces or in those of which no one has yet thought.
Beatle Paul McCartney once offered a clue to how United Way might successfully adapt to today’s workplace changes. “As long as you’re close,” he said, “something grows. When you’re not, something goes.”
Labor and United Way: An 80 Year Partnership
Author: Dick Aft, United Way Historian & United Way NEXT Emeritus Board Member
8/31/2023
Author: Dick Aft, United Way Historian & United Way NEXT Emeritus Board Member
8/31/2023
It was Jordan “Bud” Biscardo, AFL-CIO Community Services Labor Liaison-Vice President at United Way Worldwide, who summarized his bridging role between labor and United Way when he spoke at a late 20th century Community Leaders Conference. “It’s not about the organizations that I’m privileged to represent. It’s about the people we serve.” Those words reflected the shared vision that has undergirded this United Way relationship since its beginning in 1942.
In late 1942, Matthew Wolf, Vice President of the American Federation of Labor, wrote about this relationship in the American Federationist, “Few events in the history of the trade union movement have held so much significance for the future status of organized labor in the life of the American community. . . . . the AFL War Relief Committee’s agreement to coordinate fundraising for Community Chests by creating the first version of Labor Liaisons.”
Thanks to the research of United Way Worldwide’s Director of Labor Engagement Kelly Temple, we know that by the end of 1945, more than 4,000 labor leaders served on the boards of directors of local War Chests. Their coordination of services to and campaigns among members of local labor unions was evident in local and national advertisements and posters. During the following year, according to People & Events: A history of the United Way, “Community Chests & Councils of America approved a budget for its first Labor Relations Department.” This led to the creation of Union Counselor Training programs in hundreds of communities. As a result, countless numbers of union and non-union people in need of services have received referrals for help. Worthy of special mention: United Way and the AFL-CIO are founding partners of the annual National Association of Letter Carriers Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive, the largest one-day food drive in the U.S. that is now over thirty years old.
People & Events traces the first quarter century of the United Way-Labor relationship, during which union leaders held high offices in United Way. William Green, President of the American Federation of Labor and Philip Murray, President of the Congress of Industrial Organizations, as well as George Meany, President of the merged AFL-CIO, served as Vice Chairs of United Community Campaigns of America, the fund-raising arm of United Community Funds & Councils of America. Some United Way alumni will recall the 1966 election of the Communications Workers of America, AFL-CIO President Joe Beirne as Board President of UCFCA. Beirne had previously served as the founding chair of the joint AFL-CIO Community Services Committee. Subsequently, the presentation of the “Joe Bierne Nautilus Award” was made during the remainder of the 20th century to an outstanding labor leader who exemplified the “endless connection of United Way and organized labor values to the good of humanity.”
When Douglas A. Frazier, Vice President of the United Auto Workers, was named general Chair of Detroit’s 1974 United Way Torch Drive, he stated the meaning of United Way-Labor teamwork, “It gives emphasis to the principle that the United Way is all parts of the community working for common goals.” Today, in the words of Temple, “the partnership continues to work together to create sustainable impact in local communities.” Illustrating her point, she observed, “United Ways and Labor also continue to partner for disaster relief efforts across the country. When the pandemic hit in 2020, United Way local Labor Liaisons and labor staff jumped into action to help community members in need from holding vaccine clinics and offering testing sites, to holding hundreds of events, collecting and distributing food and other essential items.” Today, the important bond between organized labor and the United Way movement is evidenced by the United Way Worldwide Board membership of Liz Shuler. She is the first woman President of the AFL-CIO whose membership includes sixty unions and over twelve million members.
For nearly four decades, Leo Perlis was responsible for maintaining the productivity of the Labor-United Way teamwork. He was Director of the Community Services Department at the AFL-CIO from its beginning until his retirement in 1980. According to B. G. “Pete” Culver, author of a biography of Perlis entitled "An Angel with the Union Label, a History of the AFLCIO Community Services Program", Perlis often spoke of organized labor’s partnership with United Way by saying, “When times change, we must change with the times. That’s why we have endured it all. That’s why we endure in our mission to serve others.” Over 80 years of productive partnership? That’s why!
In late 1942, Matthew Wolf, Vice President of the American Federation of Labor, wrote about this relationship in the American Federationist, “Few events in the history of the trade union movement have held so much significance for the future status of organized labor in the life of the American community. . . . . the AFL War Relief Committee’s agreement to coordinate fundraising for Community Chests by creating the first version of Labor Liaisons.”
Thanks to the research of United Way Worldwide’s Director of Labor Engagement Kelly Temple, we know that by the end of 1945, more than 4,000 labor leaders served on the boards of directors of local War Chests. Their coordination of services to and campaigns among members of local labor unions was evident in local and national advertisements and posters. During the following year, according to People & Events: A history of the United Way, “Community Chests & Councils of America approved a budget for its first Labor Relations Department.” This led to the creation of Union Counselor Training programs in hundreds of communities. As a result, countless numbers of union and non-union people in need of services have received referrals for help. Worthy of special mention: United Way and the AFL-CIO are founding partners of the annual National Association of Letter Carriers Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive, the largest one-day food drive in the U.S. that is now over thirty years old.
People & Events traces the first quarter century of the United Way-Labor relationship, during which union leaders held high offices in United Way. William Green, President of the American Federation of Labor and Philip Murray, President of the Congress of Industrial Organizations, as well as George Meany, President of the merged AFL-CIO, served as Vice Chairs of United Community Campaigns of America, the fund-raising arm of United Community Funds & Councils of America. Some United Way alumni will recall the 1966 election of the Communications Workers of America, AFL-CIO President Joe Beirne as Board President of UCFCA. Beirne had previously served as the founding chair of the joint AFL-CIO Community Services Committee. Subsequently, the presentation of the “Joe Bierne Nautilus Award” was made during the remainder of the 20th century to an outstanding labor leader who exemplified the “endless connection of United Way and organized labor values to the good of humanity.”
When Douglas A. Frazier, Vice President of the United Auto Workers, was named general Chair of Detroit’s 1974 United Way Torch Drive, he stated the meaning of United Way-Labor teamwork, “It gives emphasis to the principle that the United Way is all parts of the community working for common goals.” Today, in the words of Temple, “the partnership continues to work together to create sustainable impact in local communities.” Illustrating her point, she observed, “United Ways and Labor also continue to partner for disaster relief efforts across the country. When the pandemic hit in 2020, United Way local Labor Liaisons and labor staff jumped into action to help community members in need from holding vaccine clinics and offering testing sites, to holding hundreds of events, collecting and distributing food and other essential items.” Today, the important bond between organized labor and the United Way movement is evidenced by the United Way Worldwide Board membership of Liz Shuler. She is the first woman President of the AFL-CIO whose membership includes sixty unions and over twelve million members.
For nearly four decades, Leo Perlis was responsible for maintaining the productivity of the Labor-United Way teamwork. He was Director of the Community Services Department at the AFL-CIO from its beginning until his retirement in 1980. According to B. G. “Pete” Culver, author of a biography of Perlis entitled "An Angel with the Union Label, a History of the AFLCIO Community Services Program", Perlis often spoke of organized labor’s partnership with United Way by saying, “When times change, we must change with the times. That’s why we have endured it all. That’s why we endure in our mission to serve others.” Over 80 years of productive partnership? That’s why!