United Way does what no other organization can – we coordinate the collective strength of individual donors, local businesses, non-profit partners and numerous community resources. Together, we work to create opportunities for a better life for all. Our focus is on providing the building blocks for a good quality of life. Our funded programs and our agencies focus in the areas of Health, Education, Income and Basic Needs for our 10 parish area.
Our mission is to collaboratively improve the lives
of the citizens of Northwest Louisiana.
History
United Way of Northwest Louisiana was founded in 1921 by the Rotary Club of Shreveport as the Federated Charities of Shreveport. $131,000 was raised and invested in local non-profit agencies in its first campaign. The name of the organization changed in the 1940s to the Community Chest of Shreveport. It was incorporated as an Internal Revenue designated 501c3 entity in 1956 and renamed the United Fund of Shreveport and continued as such for the next 14 years.
In order to reflect its membership with other organization across the United States, in 1972 it became the United Way of Caddo-Bossier. By 1982, eight additional parishes in the northwest part of the state were incorporated into its service area and thus the name was again changed to the United Way of Northwest Louisiana and has remained as such to this day.
In the most recently completed campaign of 2011, $2,800,000 was raised as a result of its Community Campaign and Combined Federal Campaign! This money was contributed by more than 250 companies, their employees and individual donors throughout the 10 parishes of Northwest Louisiana and in turn invested in the human service building blocks of education, income, health and basic needs.
