On October 16, 1887, in Denver, Colorado, a woman, a priest, two ministers, and a rabbi came together with a simple goal: to make their community a better place for everyone through cooperative action.

Calling themselves the “Charity Organization Society,” they planned and coordinated local services and conducted a single fundraising campaign to support more than 20 local health and welfare agencies.

That first fundraising campaign raised $21,700 (over $700,000 in today’s dollars) and ignited a movement that would become known as “Community Chest,” “United Fund,” and, by 1970, United Way.

United Way has been part of Cattaraugus County since 1922 and Allegany County since 1958. For generations, local people have come together through United Way to support education, financial stability, and healthy lives.