United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley Celebrates 100 Years of Service to the Community

United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley (UWGLV) is celebrating a milestone birthday this year, turning 100 years old. On September 16, 2017, the organization plans to commemorate the occasion with a 100^th Anniversary Gala at Sands Event Center.  
 
For the past 100 years, UWGLV has fought for every person in the community and created opportunities for a better life for all. Serving a population of just 75,000 people in 1918, United Way has since evolved into a community leader serving a population of over 750,000.
 
“The Lehigh Valley has changed a lot over the last century, and United Way’s strategies have changed along with it,” said David Lewis, UWGLV President. “But what hasn’t changed is our core mission: to build a greater, more vibrant Lehigh Valley where every individual is afforded an opportunity to thrive.”
 
Addressing the Need
 
In the past few years, UWGLV has organized its work around three goals aimed at strengthening the Lehigh Valley by 2022: increasing the number of older adults whose basic needs are met at home by 50 percent; increasing access to and availability of nutritious food by 50 percent; and increasing the number of third-grade students reading at grade level by 50 percent, which in turn will increase high-school graduation rates across the Lehigh Valley.
 
“These goals—and the strategies we’re employing to achieve them—are not arbitrary,” Lewis said. “They’re the result of years of research and data collection. We are directly addressing the most pressing needs in our community.”
 
UWGLV also continues to invest in critical emergency services to address the increase in natural disasters, homelessness, domestic violence, elder abuse and child neglect.
 
Raising the Funds
 
United Way accomplishes this work with the support of generous philanthropists, business leaders, corporations and organizations throughout the Valley. Last year, UWGLV raised more than $12 million for the community, in a year when other United Ways across the country were facing downturns. In fact, of the more than 1,800 United Ways worldwide, UWGLV ranked in the top 40 in terms of dollars raised.
 
“Everyone in the Lehigh Valley steps up year after year,” Lewis said. “We all know big challenges exist in our community, but when we work together, we can continue making a positive impact to turn these challenges into opportunities.”
 
Celebrating the Impact
 
UWGLV’s 100^th Anniversary Gala will celebrate a century of impact while looking forward to the next 100 years. The black-tie event will take place on Saturday, September 16, 2017 at the Sands Event Center in Bethlehem. Dan and Lucinda McCarthy are chairing the Gala’s host committee, and the event’s Presenting Sponsor is PPL Corp.
 
Bill Spence, who is Chairman, President and CEO of PPL Corp, and his wife Denise, are serving as UWGLV’s Campaign Co-Chair for its centennial year. The Spence’s have been longtime supporters of United Way and are challenging the community to dig deep and give more this year.  
 
“Denise and I feel UWGLV is uniquely positioned to address the needs of our community,” Spence said. “The Lehigh Valley cannot get stronger if we don’t focus on children graduating from high school, families having access to healthy food, seniors living safely in their own homes, and everyone having access to emergency services if they ever need them. Collectively, we can make this happen.”
 
Other Gala sponsors include Air Products, Alvin H. Butz, B.Braun, Capital BlueCross, City Center Lehigh Valley, Crayola, Dual Temp, FirstEnergy, JoycePayne Partners, Just Born, Inc., Lafayette Ambassador Bank, Norris McLaughlin & Marcus, P.A., The Express-Times+, UGI, and Wells Fargo.
 
For more information visit www.unitedwayglv.org/100.
 
 
Mission of United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley
 
The mission of United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley is to provide the leadership, convene the partnerships and develop the resources and solutions that improve our community. We remain committed to these goals and sincerely appreciate the continued support of partners, program providers and donors throughout the Lehigh Valley. www.unitedwayglv.org