United effort was launched 60 years ago
This 1968-69 United Way campaign advertisement reminded donors that children in need would benefit from their generous contributions.
Archive photo “Coeur d’Alene’s United Crusade got its first contribution today,” reads the caption of this Sept. 26, 1957 Press photo. Washington Water Power division manager L.R. Wood, right, presented the contribution to Crusade chair Carl Gridley before the drive officially began.
Archive photo Members of the United Crusade of Coeur d’Alene’s incorporating committee gather Sept. 23, 1957 in the Elks building to organize the new nonprofit’s first election.
Archive photo This Sept. 17, 1957 Press photo ran with the announcement that the new United Crusade of Coeur d’Alene, which is now United Way of North Idaho, would host a meeting explaining the recently formed nonprofit. The headquarters were first housed at 215 Sherman Ave.
Hagadone Hospitality president and co-founder Jerry Jaeger, bottom photo, is seen here in this Press clipping announcing that he was selected as president-elect of the 1982 Kootenai County United Way (now United Way of North Idaho) fundraising drive. UWNI has attracted several prominent people to its leadership through the years, including Jaeger, Mayor Steve Widmyer and the Knudtsen family.
This Press clipping in a United Way of North Idaho scrapbook announced that to-be Coeur d’Alene Mayor Steve Widmyer would serve as president of the nonprofit from 1992-1993. This year marks the 60th anniversary of the organization, which works with partners in the community to raise funds for education, healthcare, homelessness and other issues.
By DEVIN HEILMAN
Staff Writer
The good-hearted people of North Idaho knew way back in the 1950s that in order to accomplish their altruistic goals, they needed to accomplish them together.
This meant only one way was possible to get things done — the United Way.
"It began with a group of businessmen who were tired of working on drives and wanted to coordinate them into one big drive, to save time and money,” said T.D. Burger, executive director of the Spokane United Crusade, quoted in a Sept. 20, 1957, Coeur d'Alene Press article. “Later the organization was perfected.”
United Way of North Idaho is celebrating its 60th anniversary this year. The organization began as United Crusade of Coeur d'Alene, a name that reflects the dedication its early members had — and current members still have — for improving their community through unified efforts.
"The United Way model was started in the late 1800s in Colorado,” said UWNI executive director Mark Tucker. "Individuals got together because the community was just overwhelmed with health and homelessness and poverty issues. Service providers were overwhelmed. The group got together to raise funds for them to help them out, and that model just carried on.
"That's what it was like when it started here," Tucker continued. "People going door-to-door, raising funds."
The local United Way was born out of those same needs. The first causes it supported were the Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Camp Fire Girls, Red Cross and the Kootenai County Health and Welfare committee, with the Salvation Army joining the list of beneficiaries the following year.
Its very first meeting was held in a temporary headquarters at 215 Sherman Ave. on Sept. 19, 1957. It was attended by about 10 members and led by chairman Carl Gridley. Gridley explained the need for the organization and appointed the members to co-chair four divisions — special gifts, business, employee and residential — as well as handle publicity and auditing.
The brand-new group had a public meeting that evening in the Elks temple to let the community in on the excitement. That meeting was attended by community leaders such as then-Coeur d’Alene Mayor Perry Christianson and Coeur d’Alene Fire Chief Wallace Swofford.
The public had many questions: “Can other agencies participate in the future?” “Will this plan work in a community as small as ours?” “Does any of this money go out of the community?”
“We are following a national trend — it is the most economical way, both in time and money, to raise the necessary funds for all our needy causes,” the meeting minutes state.
In the United States in 1957, gas was 24 cents a gallon, the average yearly salary was $4,550, a new house cost $12,220 and Elvis Presley's "Jailhouse Rock" entered the airwaves.
In the Lake City that year, North Idaho Junior College (now NIC) President G.O. Kildow was named honorary chairman of United Crusade of Coeur d'Alene. People were already wanting to expand the nonprofit and the first Crusade drive was launched Oct. 1 with a goal of $40,000.
"Will you help us become history makers?" Gridley asked his "fellow Coeur d'Aleners" in a Sept. 27, 1959, letter to community members informing them of the upcoming drive.
"We will call on you within the next few days and trust that in the fullness of your heart and spirit, you will understand our community problem and do your utmost to solve it," the letter reads.
Coeur d'Alene was still a small town then. With the World War II effort long over, neighbors still wanted to help neighbors, whether it was actively collecting funds or baby-sitting to watch the children of those going door-to-door. It was a community effort at its best, one that would continue each year and garner leadership from many prominent Coeur d'Alene people such as Mayor Steve Widmyer, Hagadone Hospitality president and co-founder Jerry Jaeger and the auto-dealing Knudtsen family.
According to a "capsule look" document in the 1957 scrapbook UWNI members lovingly preserved, the organization and its fundraising "not only makes sense, but is the American Way of providing for health, welfare and social needs in Coeur d'Alene.
"When our forefathers drew up the Declaration of Independence, they planned and worked together for a common good — and they flourished," the document reads. "Working and giving in Coeur d'Alene's United Crusade is a responsibility — and a privilege — for the common good."
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United Way of North Idaho is hosting its 2017 Awards Luncheon in the Hagadone Event Center from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. today. The luncheon will highlight the work and successes of UWNI and its many partners. The event will recognize leading campaign companies, corporate champions and legacy donors who have given for 10 years or more, as well as individuals in the nonprofit sector with the Nonprofit Professional of the Year and Volunteer of the Year awards. Tickets are $30. Info: www.unitedwayofnorthidaho.org.