United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley Expands to Carbon County

United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley is expanding its existing coverage in Northampton and Lehigh Counties to also include Carbon County. The merger was unanimously approved by the Carbon County Board of Directors and the volunteer leadership staff at United Way of Carbon County is very grateful to combine resources.

David Lewis, President of United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley stated, “We are excited to share what we consider to be the next logical step in the evolution of United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley. We see this as an opportunity to increase efficiencies and meet the needs of our largest employers.” 

Approximately 4,000 Carbon County residents commute daily to the Lehigh Valley to work at some of the area’s largest companies. Some of those commuters, through their companies, have expressed a desire to see the community impact model implemented in Carbon County.

The merger with the Carbon County United Way is another step in a general progression toward the regionalism in the Lehigh Valley. United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley helped start this progression decades ago when it combined separate Allentown, Bethlehem and Easton UW organizations. The name of the merged organizations will exist as United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley. 

The approved merger will bring a new level of service to the people of Carbon County by providing more staff resources and, more importantly, the proven benefits of the community impact model – identifying and targeting the greatest needs of each community. As the Lehigh Valley has grown, the counties have begun to identify with a larger, regional definition of the term “Lehigh Valley.” Carbon County, for example, is now part of the Chamber of Commerce of the Greater Lehigh Valley.

Even though dollars raised in Carbon County will stay in Carbon County and dollars raised in the Lehigh Valley will stay in the Lehigh Valley, there will be a great upside in terms of disaster relief. If a disaster strikes in one of the counties, the merger as a larger United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley will have the flexibility to shift funds if necessary.
 
Increased contributions in the Carbon County area will provide the opportunity to spread costs over a larger base, thereby increasing available funds for all three counties. United Way of Carbon County is strictly a volunteer-led organization and they have limited fundraising efforts due to non-paid staff. This merger will allow increased funds to pay for services where they are needed most. 

Today the Greater Lehigh Valley just got a little greater as we Live United – and the people of our communities will all benefit.