History of Batavia United Way
Batavia United Way evolved from the community-based organization, Community Chest. In the late 1930’s, concerned citizens of Batavia organized to raise dollars for charitable giving. Every year, this group would organize volunteers to canvas each person in the community in order to support the agencies in existence at that time: Valley Sheltered Workshop, Salvation Army, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, and the USO. A grade school student was chosen to be the “Red Feather Kid” as the poster child to represent the best of the community agencies funded.
In 1961, the first Board of Directors filed Articles of Incorporation and became the Batavia Community Chest. Those responsible included J. Maynard Dixon, William Petit, Francis Youssi, Marjorie Brown, and Carl Witschonke. Others who served on the board were Maurice Anderson, Tom Armesy, Ray Collins, Eleanor Burkitt, Walter Johnson, Stanley Johnstone, Chester Lindgren, William Lisman, Gladys Larson, Mrs. Tom Malner, J.B. Nelson, Bruce Paddock, and Melba Pierson. In 1968-69, the campaign goal was $22,800.
In 1996, the Batavia Community Chest banded with the United Way of America. This was done to better serve the residents that worked outside of the community thus becoming The Batavia Community Chest/United Way and then later changing its name to the Batavia United Way. The current goal of Batavia United Way is to raise $160,000 to support our grants and our internal programs.
In the last five years, over a HALF A MILLION dollars in Community Impact Grants has been awarded to local nonprofit agencies. Every year, Batavia United Way conducts an extensive grant review process with each agency’s application and financials reviewed in depth before awarding any grant funds. In 2023, Batavia United Way granted $120,000 to 19 area agencies.
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