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United Way of Northern Arizona — ‘We’ve Learned A Lot in the First Attempt’

by Community Contributor • July 27, 2023 • Comments Off

If I asked you to guess who was the driving force behind the founding of what would become the United Way of Northern Arizona more than a half century ago, what would you say?

City government? School officials? Local churches? Nonprofit organizations?

Actually, it was the business community.

Much has changed at UWNA since local businesses spearheaded the founding of the “United Fund” in 1967 (story below).

From the desk of:

Liz Archuleta

President & CEO

One thing has remained true throughout the past 56 years is how both the business community and UWNA benefit from this powerful connection.

I hope you enjoy the articles below about the vital role local businesses played in UWNA’s past and present, as well as the many ways hosting a workplace campaign is good for your business.

Our annual fundraising effort kicks off in about two months. To those businesses already planning to host workplace campaigns, we are very grateful. If you would like to start a workplace campaign at your business, please reach out to us at (928) 773-9813 or email me or Campaign and Operations Manager Christine Pierce. We’d love to help.

‘We’ve Learned a Lot in the First Attempt’

The United Way of Northern Arizona was essentially born over lunch at the Monte Vista Hotel.

On an unseasonably warm afternoon in February 1967, a group of 35 business and community leaders gathered there for a meeting organized by Flagstaff Chamber of Commerce President J. E. Neihart to discuss the viability of creating a United Fund.

The impetus was that businesses in town were regularly being approached by numerous charities each year for funding. A centralized campaign, it was argued, would simplify the process for business owners, who would only have to deal with one fund drive instead of a dozen separate appeals.

By the end of the week, the attendees had committed to creating the United Fund. Three months later, they had filed the organizational paperwork and three months after that they were launching their first campaign with the ambitious goal of $90,000 (about $822,000 today). The campaign fell a bit short, but that didn’t discourage Jack Blanton of APS, the first-ever campaign chairman in Flagstaff.

“We’ve learned a lot in the first attempt,” he said at the time.

The first campaign allocated funding to 11 partner organizations working to improve community conditions. The United Fund (it would be renamed United Way of Northern Arizona in 1976), would quickly grow after that, setting its sights higher and adding innovations so it could raise more funds to create a greater community impact.

For example, the very next year, the campaign got off to an earlier start with the six-member Flagstaff Automobile Dealers Association holding its drive during the summer. It was part of a trend to give automobile dealers and tourism-related businesses a chance to donate during their busy season, and it was the forerunner of our Pacesetter campaign, where several dedicated businesses hold their workplace fundraisers in August to set the pace for the annual campaign.

Much has changed for northern Arizona and UWNA since those early years. UWNA now supports almost 40 programs furthering its goals of promoting early childhood development, positive youth development, and the safety and security of the people who call northern Arizona home.

Unchanged is the importance of the business community and major local employers, and their commitment to making lasting changes in community conditions through their support of United Way of Northern Arizona.

Interested in Starting a Workplace Campaign? Email Us!

6 Reasons to Run a Workplace Campaign

Your company campaign will fund proven programs and invest in our community’s future. United Way of Northern Arizona focuses on critical community needs. We are conveners of resources and people to solve tough issues, particularly those involving our children and youth.
Increased employee morale. Businesses that run annual employee campaigns show higher morale and teamwork. Employees learn about services provided by UWNA and work collaboratively to plan and engage in fun activities to raise money as a company, from raffles to games to challenges between organizations to see who can achieve higher employee participation (the friendly competition between the City of Flagstaff and Coconino County for bragging rights are legendary).
Community recognition. When you run a workplace campaign, you join hundreds of people who have come together to support their neighbors. These companies demonstrate social responsibility that results in a positive brand lift.
Your money will go where it is most needed. Our Community Impact volunteers, residents of the counties that will be impacted by your support, carefully review our partner’s proposals and make funding recommendations to address our region’s biggest needs.
Your gift stays in your community. Funds raised through the annual campaign stay local to benefit those in Coconino, Navajo, and Apache Counties.
It’s easy. Payroll deductions, cash, checks, or online donations make it simple and convenient to turn the simple act of giving into a huge impact on the lives of our neighbors in northern Arizona.