United Way's origins are rooted in volunteerism. Today's United Way movement includes approximately 1,300 community-based United Way organizations. Each is independent, separately incorporated and governed by local volunteers.

United Way calls volunteers to be engaged in creating a shared vision and commitment to improving communities by focusing on the root causes of the most serious problems. It has existed for more than a century because it recognizes that its' most important resource is people-those it serves and all who volunteer, work, invest and care about making a long-term change in community conditions.

To ensure volunteerism remains at the heart of United Ways' community impact work, United Way is focused on improving the mechanisms and partnerships that support and encourage volunteerism. Over half of the largest United Ways run or fund a Volunteer Center in their communities. Annually, more than one million people volunteer directly for United Way including 355,000 Day of Caring volunteers. Everyday, Volunteer Solutions-United Way's online volunteer matching application-hosts thousands of volunteer opportunities in communities across the nation.

For decades, United Way's longtime partnership with the National Football League has been used as a vehicle for getting more people engaged with their communities. And new partnerships-like the one with Cheap Tickets around volunteer vacations and with MTV around the Alternative Spring Break-are extending United Way's reach to thousands and engaging a new generation of volunteers to the work of United Way. Hundreds of young adults, including a dozen from around the world, traveled to the Gulf Coast this year to help in the rebuilding process.

Looking ahead, United Way will continue to explore ways to use technology to engage more people and has committed to connect five million volunteers as part of the Clinton Global Initiative's efforts to reduce poverty and increase economic empowerment. United Way's commitment to volunteerism also means working with policy makers at the local level, like the League of Cities, to mobilize volunteers around issues like early learning and financial stability.

United Way was founded by volunteers. It is sustained by volunteers. And it will continue to seize the power of volunteers to build a stronger America and improve people's lives.