Mission & History

Our Mission

United Way of the Ocoee Region mobilizes people, partnerships, and resources to strengthen our community and improve lives across Bradley and Polk Counties in southeastern Tennessee. We lead our community's collaborative nonprofit efforts by identifying local needs, aligning solutions, and investing in strategies that create measurable, lasting impact.

The mission of United Way of the Ocoee Region is to be the community-based organization that leads the effort in identifying community needs, facilitating collaboration, and maximizing resources to positively impact our community and the surrounding area, including Bradley and Polk Counties (in southeastern Tennessee).

Identifying Community Needs - our Community Needs Identification Committee (CNIC) determines our service area's most pressing needs by analyzing national, regional, state and local data, including ALICE (Working Families) population statistics, and disseminates prioritized findings in an annual report. 

Facilitating Collaboration - driven by CNIC findings, United Way facilitates a strategic donor-driven allocation cycle that takes a holistic approach to funding programs that will move the needle to address our community's most pressing needs. 

Maximizing Resources - the true power of United Way is our ability to multiply through collaborative fundraising efforts that translate every dollar raised into a meaningful lifeline for neighbors in need.

Our Vision

We envision a thriving Ocoee Region where every individual and family has the opportunity to achieve stability, well-being, and hope for a better tomorrow.

United is the Way to Create Change

Your impact on the Ocoee Region through United Way makes the most meaningful impact. We provide the strongest safety net to serve our entire community and our impact areas are prioritized to meet the unique needs of Bradley and Polk Counties, focusing on the essential building blocks of a stable family.

Meet Immediate Basic Needs - when our neighbors are devastated by natural disasters, acts of violence, homelessness, hunger or grief, we are prepared to mobilize critical services that stabilize short-term crises.

Break the Cycle of Poverty - by addressing the root cause of problems, we are helping secure people now so they can better position themselves for stability and sustainable financial independence.

Give Kids an Equal Chance - we are changing the course for future generations by ensuring families have access to affordable childcare where kids are safe, nurtured and prepared to learn, making them more likely to graduate, succeed and become productive citizens.

Pathways to a Healthy Community - we are breaking barriers to make quality medical and dental care, mental health and substance misuse support, nutritional resources and fitness programs more accessible. 

The Power of Collective Action

Positive change begins with a single choice to give, to volunteer, or to raise your voice. When your generosity is combined with the actions of neighbors across our region, its impact multiplies. Through donor support, United Way of the Ocoee Region invests in grants, programs, and collaborative initiatives that address root causes, remove barriers, and deliver measurable results.

Our Commitment

We are committed to an ongoing journey of listening, learning, and growing. United Way of the Ocoee Region holds itself - and its funded partners - accountable to advancing equity, strengthening trust, and fostering a more just and inclusive community for all.

Local Impact, Global Movement

United Way is part of a global network serving nearly 1,800 communities in more than 40 countries and territories, yet each United Way is locally governed and community-driven. Because local needs require uniquely-tailored solutions, your support always stays here - benefiting your neighbors, strengthening local organizations, and driving change close to home. 

OUR HISTORY

United Way of the Ocoee Region was founded in 1938, at a time when families were still feeling the deep and lasting effects of the Great Depression. In response, local business leaders and area churches came together with a shared purpose: to care for neighbors in need and strengthen the community they called home. That effort began as the Community Chest - a simple but powerful idea rooted in generosity, collaboration, and local responsibility.

Over the decades, our name has evolved and our strategies have grown, but our purpose has remained constant. For more than 85 years, United Way of the Ocoee Region has been an organization made up of local people, led by the local people, and for the benefit of local people.

While we are proud of our fundraising legacy, today our work goes far beyond raising dollars. United Way serves as a community connector and problem-solver - bringing together residents, nonprofits, businesses, and leaders to identify needs and drive solutions. We unite the Ocoee Region around a shared vision and a clear path forward.

By connecting resources, aligning partners, and focusing on education, health, and financial stability, United Way of the Ocoee Region addresses both immediate crises and long-standing challenges. Our work across Bradley and Polk Counties is rooted in one belief: when a community comes together, lasting change is possible.

TIMELINE OF UWOR