Delano giving tradition endures through time

Delano Loretto Area United Way (DLAUW) faces a world that has changed dramatically since chapter’s inception in the 1970s. A 100 years after the village of Delano was incorporated, the Delano United Way chapter was formally granted a charter by the national organization. The first United Way organization was founded in Denver in 1887. Now numbering over 1200 chapters throughout the country, United Way continues to be the largest coalition of community-based charitable fundraising in the country. Like its sister chapters across the country, the DLAUW has experienced many changes as the culture and demographics of the nation presented new challenges and new opportunities for service.

Shortly after World War II, a group of local business leaders and private citizens, who felt a sense of national pride and were inspired by new era of economic growth, founded the Delano Community Chest. A forerunner of United Way, Community Chests pooled locally-donated funds for the purpose of charitable giving. Throughout the 60s and 70s, the Community Chest grew to become Delano’s largest source of assistance for community needs as well as state and national causes. The annual campaign contributed funds to organizations such as the Lung Association, the American Cancer Society, the Sister Kenny Institute, Red Cross, the National Polio Foundation and the March of Dimes. The board of directors was comprised of representatives from clubs and organizations in the community—the churches, the American Legion and the Legion Auxiliary, chamber of commerce, school system and 4-H clubs. Board members were directly involved in fund raising. Each fall they would go door to door asking local businesses for contributions. Canisters were placed in businesses and public places for private citizens to contribute. The annual campaign was a source of community pride and was Delano’s primary philanthropic undertaking.

In the 1960s, the United Way model gained popularity across the country. Local charitable agencies could benefit from the promotional support of the national organization. In the mid-1970s, the Delano Community Chest formally became a United Way chapter. As a result of the association with the state and national organizations, Delano United Way expanded its campaign efforts to include direct marketing strategies to local citizens. In the early 2000s, the first coordinator was hired and an electronic data base and communication media were established. Because the Delano United Way serves people and agencies outside the immediate community, in the early 2000s it expanded its trade area to cover Loretto and Howard Lake to the northwest and southeast to Watertown and Mayer.

A change in giving patterns occurred in the 1990’s. There was a time when the major service organizations, such as the American Cancer Society and the March of Dimes were the primary funding requests. There occurred a proliferation of the number and variety of local charitable and service agencies. The DLAUW has responded to these requests by funding primarily local needs such as the library, senior center and city recreation programs.
   
The history of Delano is a story of people helping people, of neighbors joining together to in time of calm and crisis.  At this time of the coronavirus pandemic, the Delano Loretto Area United Way is aware is responding to this global health crisis.  DLAUW has initiated the COVID-19 Response and Recovery Fund.

 

Details of this funding source can be found on delanolorettouw.org.