United Way of Marathon County

History

Getting Started   Mention the words “Community Chest” and most people immediately think of the board game Monopoly.  But, Parker Brothers, Inc.  was just reflecting a common “door to door” cause when they included a yellow card saying “Pay Community Chest $20” in one of the best selling games ever. In the summer of 1930, a group of Wausau businessmen and civic leaders felt the time was right for the Wausau area to organize a Community Chest.  The intent was to consolidate the many fund-raising activities to avoid duplication of effort and costs.  The goal in 1930 was $60,000, but the community raised almost $75,000 – at a time when this country was reeling from the stock market crash of 1929.  The first campaign theme was “Help Meet the Need” and during most of the 1930’s the campaign was conducted during a one-week period in mid-October. There were eight agencies that received Chest funds in 1930.  Six of those are still partner agencies today:  American Red Cross, Samoset Council Boy Scouts, Federated Charities (now Family Counseling Services), Marathon County 4-H, YMCA and YWCA.

World War II Increases Need

As the Community Chest moved into its second decade, the impending war in Europe is evident in the material and ads of the Community Chest.  The 1940 campaign theme was “Count your blessings as Americans,” followed in 1942 by ad copy that read “Some of us must fight and die!  Some of us must work and Pay!  If you can’t Go—Give.”   It was during World War II that 16 foreign War Relief efforts were added to the list of funded programs, including two that have evolved into Lutheran Social Services and Catholic Charities.    Also during this time there were frequent references to patriotism mixed with religion as reasons to support the Community Chest.  With the end of World War II, the focus of the Community Chest changed to rebuilding, children, families and the American Dream.   

The United Fund

There were many changes in 1957.  The Wausau Community Chest became the United Fund of Marathon County.  The occasion was marked by the lighting of an Olympic torch on the Courthouse lawn to recognize our United Fund as the 1000^th Fund in the United States.   Dignitaries from across the state and nation attended the event or sent congratulatory telegrams. 

 Stan Staples, president of the United Fund stated at the time, “Community Chest was an organization of agencies; United Fund will be an organization of givers.”  During the next decade the

 During the late 1950s and 1960s, more than 15 new partner agencies were added to the United Fund family.  Most of these focused on disease prevention or providing services to these affected by terminal or long-term illnesses.   The “dread diseases” of cancer, heart attack, polio, and others were a major concern, and United Fund not only contributed money, but purchased equipment for local hospitals.

The United Way Today

The fundraising efforts continue each fall, but more importantly, for the last 10 years emphasis has been placed on letting donors know how their contributions are really making a difference in people’s lives.  Touring agencies and publishing client success stories are just two ways to help donors understand the very real needs that exist in Marathon County .

And what lies ahead?  In the years to come United Way will continue to positively impact our community.  United Way will identify solutions that get at the root cause of problems; United Way will bring groups together to creatively address issues and be a leader in creating lasting change.  United Way will do what matters.

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