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January 17, 2020

United Way kicks off centennial celebration

PHOTO | New Haven BIZ United Way President & CEO Jennifer Heath at Friday morning’s centennial celebration kickoff.

The United Way of Greater New Haven kicked off its second century of good-deed-doing Friday morning at its 370 James St. headquarters.

Founded in 1920 as the Community Chest of Greater New Haven, the philanthropic group changed its name to the United Fund of Greater New Haven in 1951. Twenty years after that, it adopted the name United Way of Greater New Haven following a merger of the United Fund and Community Council.

The group doesn’t actually mark its 100th birthday until Dec. 22. But it’s not going to let the intervening 11 months go to waste. To give the occasion the pomp and circumstance it deserves, the United Way plans a full year of commemorative initiatives and activities.

To mark its first 100 years the non-profit will celebrate and recognize 100 “game-changers” — individuals throughout the UWGNH’s 12-town service area who have demonstrated their dedication to improving lives of the less fortunate through exceptional efforts of giving, advocating and volunteering.

“We think there’s no better way to celebrate our 100th anniversary than to shine a light on those who go above and beyond to make a positive impact on our community,” said United Way President and CEO Jennifer Heath. 

The first of these individuals was introduced Friday morning. Allison Batson of Hamden is a preschool teacher at the Helen Street School. Eight years ago she founded a program called Dinner for a Dollar at Grace and St. Peter’s Church in Hamden — a communal supper that welcomes all comers and feeds them dinner for $1. The weekly repast routinely feeds 50 or more hungry diners.

The Game Changer awards are supported by the Avangrid Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the Orange-headquartered parent company of the United Illuminating Co. and Southern Connecticut Gas Co.

The Friday morning press conference also announced the establishment of a UWGNH Centennial Fund, donations to which will allow for increased innovation and collaboration to tackle the community’s most intractable challenges related to health, education and financial stability, the company said.

“I invite all of us to live united,” said Heath. “If we work in a united way, we are unstoppable.”

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