The United Way of Warren County grew out of the Phillipsburg, NJ and Easton, PA area, a single hub of commercial and community life. In the 1960’s and 70’s, the Forks of the Delaware United Fund provided services in Phillipsburg and Easton. At that time there were no United Way services being provided in Warren County outside of Phillipsburg. In 1977 the Greater Bethlehem Area United Fund merged with the Forks of the Delaware United Fund to create the United Way of Northampton and Warren Counties. This new United Way provided services for the first time to all areas of Warren County. In 1992 the United Way of Northampton and Warren Counties merged with the United Way of Lehigh County to create the United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley.

In the early years, the agencies from the counties in both New Jersey and Pennsylvania participated in a single funds distribution process, deriving funding from one campaign. In 1996 the United Way serving Warren County was established as a separate division of the United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley. This move created Warren County staff positions, a separate citizen review process made up exclusively of Warren County volunteers, and a separate campaign structure. All money raised in Warren County has been going exclusively to support the many United Way programs in Warren County ever since. A Steering Committee was formed to guide the strategic direction of the Warren County division. Fiduciary responsibility for Warren County still remained with the Greater Lehigh Valley Board of Directors.

The historical relationship with Phillipsburg meant that the vast majority of the campaign and volunteer base had been from the Phillipsburg area. A strategy to broaden the base throughout the county has successfully grown the volunteer leadership and campaign to include leaders and companies throughout Warren County. Increased organizational development efforts have resulted in the evolution of the Warren County Steering Committee to becoming an active Board of Directors with a focused commitment to building a strong United Way.

In early 2003 the Warren County Board formed a Blue Ribbon Panel for Reorganization. This panel was charged with researching and recommending a detailed plan for how an independent United Way of Warren County would operate and what the impact of such a move would be. The Blue Ribbon Panel was co-chaired by Ron J. Harding, Vice President and General Manager of Mallinckrodt Baker, Inc., and Steve Maternick, Director of Development, Hackettstown Community Hospital. A Financial Feasibility Study was conducted, and a financial plan was devised. An agreement with the United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley was completed for a cooperative, mutual separation of the two organizations.

In June 2004 the United Way of Warren County was granted full membership status in the United Way of America. July 1, 2005 marked the one year anniversary of the United Way of Warren County operating as an independent United Way. Please join us to grow your United Way to do even more here in Warren County.

Click here to find out how you can help.