The United Way of Yuma County is dedicated to building our community through its partnership of volunteers and organizations.

Mission:
To improve lives by mobilizing the caring power of community.

Vision:
To build a caring community where all children and youth succeed, families are self-sufficient, neighborhoods are vital and safe, and all people enjoy maximum health and independence.

To do this we will:

• Energize and inspire people to make a difference
• Craft human care agendas with and across our communities
• Build coalitions around these agendas
• Increase investments in these agendas by expanding and diversifying our own development efforts and supporting those of others
• measure, communicate & learn from the impact of our efforts

Description:
United Way of Yuma County provides funding to member agency programs for health and human services. The funding is determined related to Impact Areas as identified through the Measuring What Matters Community Assessment. Healthy Impact Community programs include: Adaptive Equipment Sharing Center, Catholic Community Services-Senior Nutrition and Adult Day Health Care, Saddles of Joy, Saguaro Foundation Group Homes, SMILE-Independent Living Center, Yuma Center for the Visually Impaired, and the Yuma Community Food Bank. Safe Community Impact programs include; American Red Cross Disaster Specialist & Disaster Assistance, Catholic Community Services -Safe House, Child & Family Services, Chicanos por la Causa, and Saguaro Foundation -transportation. Educated Impact programs include; Girl Scouts-Sahauro Council, Habitat for Humanity, and the Yuma Reading Council. Strong Comunity Impact programs include; Grand Canyon Boy Scout Council, Transitional Living Center, The Salvation Army Boys & Girls Clubs of Somerton and Yuma, and the Yuma WORC Center.

History:
In 1887 Denver, Colorado was undergoing rapid growth and facing critical social needs. Four men formed what was known as the Denver's Charity Organization Society to do fundraising in support of ten local charities. This was the root of what eventually would become a national/international organization known as United Way of America.

In 1913, the first Community Chest was organized in Cleveland. This was the first true financial federation of charities to be organized under the original concept of holding an annual fund drive and was the first real predecessor of the United Way movement.

The inspiration to hold an annual drive to benefit local organizations came to Yuma in 1943. On May 10,1943 local civic leaders would organize what would be known as the Yuma Community Chest and during the Fall 1944 Campaign raised $10,728 to fund three local service organizations in Yuma County. The first organizations to benefit financially from the Yuma Community Chest campaign were the Campfire Girls, Boy Scouts and The Salvation Army.

With the onset of World War I the concept of supporting fund raising campaigns took hold and were know as War Chests. To promote the development of these War Chests the United States Congress passed the first War Revenue Bill, which allowed for the first time the deduction of charitable contribution from taxable income. During the onset of World War II, these campaigns would see their next major change. The concept of using payroll deduction to support organizations was first introduced into the workplace. This would become the heart of what would become the United Way campaign and is still to this day the heart of the United Way movement.

In 1950, the first national campaign slogan "Give the United Way" was first used and in 1963, Los Angeles was the first community to formally adopt the name United Way. Starting in the 70's, another major change was in development. Over the years several communities had developed their own individual campaign name. There were an estimated 137 different drive across the country conducting annual local campaigns with names such as Community Chest, Torch Drive, Joint Appeal, United Crusade and United Fund Drive. With the support of the national organization these campaigns rapidly saw the need to develop a support network while maintaining their independence. It was during this time that many campaigns across the nation were becoming members of the United Way of America network and in 1967 our organization formally became know as the Greater Yuma Area United Way. As years passed organizations developed in accordance with their own communities and so did ours. With so many outlying communities in Yuma County their was a need to show unified support to the outlying communities and at this time the organization formally became know as the United Way of Yuma County, Inc and since it's creation to-date has raised and distributed over $9,880,441 to local social service agencies here in Yuma County.

We continue to be members of the United Way of America network, which has association with over 2,300 independently autonomous United Way's across the country. Although United Way of America provides central information and resources to each organization all United Ways remain totally independent and self-governed by their own communities volunteer governing Board of Directors. It is this concept of being accountable to your own community, which allows local United Way the flexibility to address their own community's needs. The concept of local money raised here stays here still rings true today and allows us the flexibility to address the issues that matter most in our community by improving lives and delivering meaningful results.

Board of Directors

Executive Committee President Joel Schram The Foothills Bank 2nd Vice President Teri Norris YRMC - SPHR Past President Renee Dinwiddie Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona 1st Vice President Eldon Dyer YRMC - Diagnostic Imaging Director 3rd Vice President Dennis Light City of Yuma Fire Department Secretary/Treasurer Julian Reyes Philips Healthcare Board Members Lynn Dalbey Retired Citizen Kirsten Brock Southwest Gas Corporation Andrea Bereznak Arizona Public Service Mark Hutsell Yuma Regional Medical Center Raul Mendoza Housing Authority- City of Yuma

Not pictured: Joel Schram, Brandon Kinsey, and Lynn Dalbey Madeleine Coil, President CEO Nicole Ochoa, Director of Resource Development Yolanda Renteria, Director of Finance and Administration

Partner Agencies

Adult Literacy Plus of Southwest Arizona Regina Vieyra, Director 825 S. Orange Avenue Phone: 343-9363 Fax: 539-1918 Emails: r.vieyra@yumaapls.org Community Services GED preparation & ESL classes	American Academy of Pediatrics Reach Out & Read 2600 N. Central Avenue, Suite 635 Phoenix, AZ 85004 Local: Irene Garza 180 W. 1st Street, Suite B Phone: 928-783-0515 ext 405 Fax: 928-782-5463 Email: Irene@rorarizona.org Makes early literacy a standard part of pediatric care.	American Red Cross Southwest District P.O. Box 6373 1-800-842-7349 Website: www.redcross.org There are no public hours Red Cross office est. at Fire Station #1 Crisis Intervention Services Provides relief to victims of disaster, prevents/prepares for emergencies
Arizona's Children Association Sheryl Derby, Associate Regional Director Joslyn Carlson, Grants Coordinator 3780 S. 4th Avenue, Suite K Yuma, Arizona 85365 Phone: 344-8800, ext. 153 Fax: 344-8837 Website: www.arizonaschildren.org Email: sderby@arizonaschildren.org Increases the number of children who enter school ready to learn.	Assistance League of Yuma Operation School Bell Karen Griffin 1054 S. 4th Avenue P.O. Box 4056 Yuma, AZ 85366 Phone: 928-257-5217 Email: griffin@aol.com Serving the emotional and physical needs of children and adults.	Catholic Community Services Western AZ Local: Sis. Betty Adams, Executive Director 690 E. 32nd Street Yuma, AZ 85365 928-341-9400 Email: srbetty@ccs-westaz.org Catholic Community Services of Southern AZ 140 W. Speedway Blvd., Suite 230 Tucson, AZ 85705 520-623-0344, Marguerite Harmon, CEO Provides a variety of programs serving the needs of programs serving the needs of the elderly, individuals, families, vulnerable adults and victims of crime.
Child & Family Services of Yuma Judy Smith, Director 301 2nd Avenue, Suite 3 Phone: 783-0141 Fax: 783-0633 Website: www.cfsyuma.com E-mail: jsmith@cfsyuma.com Crisis Intervention Services Temporary residential services & family counseling for children	Crossroads Rescue Mission Bicycle Shop & GED/Vocational Programs Myra Garlit, Executive Director 2291 E. Palo Verde Street Yuma, AZ 85364 Phone: 726-0491 ext. 15 Fax: 928-314-0717 Email: mgarlit@crossroadsmission.org Emergency homeless shelter providing services for life skills, adult education, substance abuse treatment, vocational rehabilitation, transitional living programs, case management services, restoring hope, lives and families.	Grand Canyon Boy Scout Council Scouting in Yuma Program 2969 N. Greenfield Road Phoenix, AZ 85016 Local: Brett Bybee, District Director 1950 W. 3rd Street Yuma, AZ 85364 Phone: 928-782-1896 Fax: 928-782-1905 Email: bbybee@bsamail.org Provides character building, citizenship training, and personal fitness by instilling values and ideals that prepare young people to make lifelong ethical choices.
Rodel Foundation of Arizona Dr. Carol Peck President, CEO 6720 N. Scottsdale Road, Suite 380 Scottsdale, AZ 85253 Phone: 480-367-2920 Fax: 480-348-0502 Website: www.rodelfoundationaz.org Email: cgpeck@rodelfoundations.org Improving Arizona's pre-kindergarten through grade 12 public education system so that it is widely recognized as one of the best in the country by 2020.	Saddles of Joy Therapeutic Riding Barbara Tomlinson, Director 2749 W. County 14th 85365 Phone: 344-3562 Fax: 726-6104 Cell: 246-6175 Email: saddlesofjoy1@gmail.com Health, Rehabilitation & Counseling Services Therapeutic riding program for physical, mental, emotional, and learning disabled children.	Saguaro Foundation Mike Van Guilder, Executive Director 1495 S. 4th Avenue Yuma, AZ 85364 Phone: 928-783-6069 Fax: 928-782-0061 Email: saguaroweb@aol.com Provides all aspects of care for developmentally disabled adults. building, citizenship training, and personal fitness by instilling values and ideals that prepare young people to make lifelong ethical choices.
Sahuaro Girl Scout Council 4300 E. Broadway Blvd. Tucson, AZ 85711 Debbie Rich drich@sahuarogsc.org Local: Jonica Flores 1950 W. 3rd Street Yuma, AZ 85364 Phone: 928-210-3629 Fax: 928-329-0293 Email: jonicaflores@yahoo.com Serves through troop and individual experiences to foster self-esteem, health values, community responsibility and leadership.	Salvation Army Boys & Girls Club-Somerton 235 W. Canal Street Somerton, AZ P.O. Box 6227 Somerton, AZ 85366 Recreational Facility that provides social skills, education reinforcement, and technology programs in a positive atmosphere for youth ages 5 to 18 years old.	Salvation Army Boys & Girls Club-Yuma Captain Randy Hartt 1100 S. 13th Avenue Yuma, AZ 85364 P.O. Box 6227 Yuma, AZ 85366 Phone: 928-783-0181 Fax: 928-783-3145 Recreational Facility that provides social skills, education reinforcement, and technology programs in a positive atmosphere for youth ages 5 to 18 years old.
SMILE Program Services Maximizing Independent Living & Empowerment) Home Modification & Adaptation Program Laura Duval, Director 1929 S. Arizona Ave., Suite 12 Phone: (928) 329-6681 Fax: (928) 329-6715 Email: Director@smile-az.org Disabled and Senior Services Provides services for people with disabilities, empowering them to achieve success.	The Freedom Library Howard Blitz, Founder 2435 S. 8th Avenue Yuma, AZ 85364 Phone: 928-726-8050 Fax: 928-726-1105 Email: info@freedomlibrary.org Promotes the ideas of liberty through its education and scholarship program by teaching the US Constitution.	Yuma Community Food Bank Ronna Stubbs, Director 2402 E. 24th Street, Suite A Yuma, AZ 85365 Phone: 343-1243 Fax: 782-7924 Website: www.yumafoodbank.org Email: sbarbato@yumafoodbank.org rstubbs@yumafoodbank.org Community Services Emergency food supplies for residents in crisis
Yuma Council for CASA Day of Education Program Brooke Adams-Ferguson, President PO Box 903 Yuma, AZ 85366 Phone: 928-726-4830 Fax: 928-314-2280 Email: Bnaflour@yahoo.com Raises funds for the Yuma County CASA Program to serve the unmet needs of the at risk children of Yuma.	Yuma WORC Center, Inc. Deena Fetzer, Director 3250 A E. 40th Street (Site) Yuma, AZ 85365 256 S. 2nd Avenue, #A (Office) Phone: 783-0295 Fax: 329-1019 Website: www.worccenter.org Email: deenaf@worccenter.org Disabled and Senior Services Provides vocational training and employment opportunities to disabled persons.