Seven Local United Ways Will Merge to Form United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey

New organization will continue to have local presence and impact in the communities it serves

PHILADELPHIA, April 30, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ --  Seven United Ways throughout the region announced today that, effective July 1, 2012, they will merge to form United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey – one organization committed to improving lives and creating lasting community-level change across the region. 

Collectively, United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey will have the unique capacity to engage more donors, advocates, and volunteers to address the critical issues facing our local communities, including the focus areas for United Ways across the country related to education, income, and health. 

Jill Michal, President and CEO of United Way of Southeastern Pennsylvania, has been named President and CEO of United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey.

"By coming together and sharing our talent, resources and best practices, we will be able to deliver greater impact to those who need us most in local communities across the region," said Michal.  "While for profit mergers are often about delivering shareholder value, non-profit mergers are about amplifying mission. As an organization, United Way believes in the power of partnerships and collaboration to solve problems because we know the whole truly is greater than the sum of its parts."   

The process was led by a design team comprised of deeply dedicated staff and volunteer leaders from each United Way involved, who spent over eighteen months exploring this opportunity and working together to ensure the merger is positioned for long-term success. 

"This has been an incredibly thorough and thoughtful process, and we are excited to come together as a region and build on one another's strengths to create a lasting impact," said Mindy Holman, President and CEO, Holman Automotive Group, and co-chair of the merger design team.     

Continued Local Presence and Local Impact

United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey will not be defined by a single issue or a single geographic area; it will be driven by the needs of the local communities it serves and will continue to have local presence and impact.

"Relationships and strong community connections are key to the success of our work.  The people will be local, money will be invested locally, and the impact will be felt locally," said John Emge, Executive Director of United Way of Atlantic County and Holman's co-chair.

United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey will have a regional board of directors, chaired by Lon Greenberg, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, UGI Corporation.  This board will include volunteers from each community and will be charged with overseeing the regional strategy and governance.  Local operating boards in each community will focus on local community investments and resource development to continue the support of those investments.   

Addressing Regional Issues

United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey will create stronger partnerships throughout the region to capitalize on the synergies of its communities in order to build strategies that deliver lasting impact at the regional level, while ensuring the organization continues to address the local needs of each community in the way that United Way is uniquely positioned to do.  

"This merger will create a stronger, unified organization in the region, and better position us to improve lives and strengthen communities by amplifying the power of each individual who chooses to give, advocate or volunteer," added Rosemary Turner, President, Chesapeake District, UPS, and board chair, United Way of Southeastern Pennsylvania.  "By combining each United Way's unique strengths, capabilities and assets, we'll deliver more results in local communities."

Greenberg added "By coming together, United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey will be able to engage more organizations and individuals who look to United Way as a philanthropic partner, delivering impact in all of the communities important to them.  We'll now have the capacity to take a regional approach to addressing regional issues."

United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey

Atlantic County, NJ, www.unitedwayac.org
Burlington County, NJ, www.uwburlington.org
Camden County, NJ, www.uwccnj.org
Cape May County, NJ, www.uwcmc.org
Greater Cumberland County, NJ, www.uwcumberland.org
Southeast Delaware County, PA, www.uwdelco.org
Southeastern Pennsylvania, www.uwsepa.org

SOURCE United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey