2018 Year in Review

As we celebrated a century of service in the Greater Lehigh Valley, 2018 brought many reasons to celebrate our generous community and the impact you've made possible. Thank you for making our 100th anniversary a year to remember.
 

Women United awards $25,000 to help combat human trafficking

VAST and KidsPeace receive funding to raise awareness and support survivors in the Lehigh Valley
 

President David Lewis celebrates 30 Years with United Way

United Way President David Lewis celebrates his 30^th year of service to United Way.

Strengthening the collective impact of the Lehigh Valley

More than 600 local nonprofit team members study the community problem-solving method known as collective impact in collaboration with the Tamarack Institute and Ontario Trillium Foundation.
 

Emerging Leaders celebrate Read Across America Week

United Way Emerging Leaders celebrated Dr. Seuss’ birthday and National Read Across America Week with kindergarten, first-grade and second-grade students at Fountain Hill Elementary School.

 

Building a Culture of Health in Bethlehem

Robert Wood Johnson Foundation recognizes United Way’s Bethlehem partners for their efforts to build a culture of health as finalists for this national prize.


 

TeenWorks Honors Students' Community Service Projects

TeenWorks honors Aryman Kandelwal, Maeve Yanes and Orefield Middle School Builders Club at annual dinner. Since 1999, this collaboration between United Way and organized labor has provided more than $500,000 in funding to support 500 community-service projects.

100^th Anniversary Campaign breaks record

At the 2018 Celebration of Caring, campaign co-chairs Bill and Denise Spence announce a record-breaking campaign of $15,050,500 – a single-year increase of 27%, the largest of all U.S.-based United Ways.

 

VP Education Jill Pereira named Community Schools Initiative Leader Award Winner

The Coalition for Community Schools presents Vice President of Education Jill Pereira with a national award for Community School Leadership.
 

2022 Healthy Aging goal achieved

United Way achieves its goal to increase the number of dependent seniors whose needs are met at home by 50% five years ahead of schedule.
 



 

New campaign co-chairs announced

David Shaffer, Chairman of Just Born Quality Confections, and his wife Sue lead the first United Way campaign of the new century: “100 was fun, but it’s on to 101!”

 

Take a Senior Out promotes social inclusion

United Way partnered with Allentown Art Museum to launch Take a Senior Out with participants in the YWCA of Bethlehem Adult Day Services program. This series of events aims to combat social isolation and connect seniors to their community without the barriers of fear and transportation.
 

United Way makes largest community investment in 100-year history

The Board of Directors approves $13,500,000 community investment portfolio, the largest and most significant in United Way’s 100-year history. The portfolio includes increased investments in summer learning, behavioral health services for students, nutrition education and efforts to build an Age-Friendly Lehigh Valley.

Lehigh Valley Reads recognized by Campaign for Grade-level Reading

The Campaign for Grade-level Reading recognizes United Way with national Pacesetter Honors for Lehigh Valley Reads, a regional campaign that strives to ensure all children can read on grade-level by 2025.

 

Lehigh and Northampton counties join Age-Friendly Communities Network

AARP accepts Lehigh and Northampton counties in the Age-Friendly Communities Network, which strives to make communities more livable for older adults and their families.

 

City Center Next Century Challenge 

City Center Allentown pledges to match new and increased gifts.
 

Partners serve 100,000 summer meals

United Way partners and members of the Lehigh Valley Food Policy Council expand summer meal programs to serve almost 100,000 meals to children.



 

2018 Day of Caring

More than 900 employees from 45 businesses and organizations performed 60 community service projects at 42 nonprofits during United Way’s 26th Annual Day of Caring, the community’s largest, single-day volunteer effort.

 

Bethlehem Area School District Superintendent appointed United Way Board Chair

Dr. Joseph Roy, Superintendent of the Bethlehem Area School District, will serve as Chair of United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley (UWGLV) Board of Directors beginning July 2018. Dr. Roy is joined by Vice Chair Joanne Raphael who is Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary of PPL Corporation.
 

United Way expands investments in summer learning 

United Way tackles the "summer slide" by partnering with Allentown, Bethlehem Area and Easton Area School Districts to invest $450,000 in expanded summer learning opportunities for students in need.


 

United Way expands partnerships in Carbon County

More children, families and seniors who reside in Carbon County will have access to health and human services through programs funded by United Way. United Way incrased investments from $20,000 to $50,000 and welcomed ten new partners for a total of 17 nonprofit partner agencies serving Carbon County.
 

City Center Allentown supports United Way Community Schools

City Center Investment Corp. strengthens its commitment to revitalizing Downtown Allentown as the new corporate partner of Central Elementary, a United Way Community School in Allentown School District.
 

Lehigh Valley Recognized for Commitment to High-Quality Summer Learning

The Campaign for Grade-Level Reading has recognized the Lehigh Valley Summer Learning Coalition, led by United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley (UWGLV), as a Bright Spot community for 2018.

Philanthropist Valerie Lane honored by Women United

United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley Women United will honor Valerie Lane with its highest honor, the 2018 Betsy Torrence Philanthropist of the Year Award.
 
 

United Way and Allentown School District awarded $2.5 million education grant

More than 2,000 students will benefit from a $2.5 million federal grant awarded to United Way in partnership with Allentown School District, Communities In Schools of the Lehigh Valley, St. Luke’s University Health Network and Promise Neighborhoods of the Lehigh Valley.
 

Talk, Read, Sing campaign promotes early literacy skills

Launched in October 2018 with 100+ early child care providers, the Talk, Read, Sing campaign builds language and literacy development in children birth to age three, a benchmark for early student success. 
 


 

United Way sponsors Leader in Me

United Way strengthens its commitment to developing leaders of all ages under an agreement with FranklinCovey Education to become the local sponsors of Leader in Me.