Our Mission: To mobilize the caring power of our community to advance the common good.
Our Vision: United Way envisions a community where all individuals and families in Kenosha county achieve their human potential through education, income, and healthy lives.
Our History: In 1923, eight agencies in Kenosha County joined together to form the Community Chest to campaign once a year for funds for all. Those agencies were St. Catherine's Hospital, Kenosha Memorial Hospital, Salvation Army, Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts, American Legion, Carmelite Sisters and Kenosha Service Leagues.
In its first 95 years in operation, United Way of Kenosha County was called by many names including Community Chest and United Funds. There were dozens of other names as well. During the war years of the 40’s, we experience an increase in health agencies and many other appeals - The name of the Community chest was changed to War Fund and remained so during the duration of World War II.
After the war, the War Fund was dissolved and the name changed to Kenosha Community Fund and it remained so until 1959 when this organization was dissolved in favor of a United Fund encompassing all of Kenosha County. The name changed once again in 1973, when the board of directors sought to broaden the scope of the mission and align with the national United Way movement. They had decided that United Way had outgrown its service station role and had become an instrument by which local United Ways could begin to function as a national force. The board adopted the name United Way of Kenosha County (UWKC), which is our organization’s name today, and adopts the United Way national logo.
