Tygart Valley United Way

About Us Counties Served Tygart Valley United Way is a five-county regional United Way serving Marion, Randolph, Taylor, Barbour, and Tucker counties. Our Mission United Way improves lives by mobilizing the caring power of communities around the world to advance the common good. Our History The Community Chest was founded on August 26, 1938 by Allison Fleming in Fairmont, WV. The first red feather campaign raised $39,980. The United Fund of Marion County was incorporated on August 26, 1957 with two main goals: To raise funds and finance in part, or in the entirety, local, state, or national health, welfare, and character building organizations. To unite, as far as possible, in one annual campaign the fundraising activities of such organizations in Marion County, and to develop uniform financing policies. The first office was located at 202 Adams Street in the First National Bank building. Allan W. Babcock served as the first President of the Board of Directors and C.R. Higinbotham served as the first campaign chairman. The first campaign raised just over $74,000. The first agencies were the Red Cross, the Milk and Shoe Fund, Salvation Army, Boy Scouts, and the Girl Scouts. In 1961, the United Fund of Randolph County was formed as a committee of the Elkins Chamber of Commerce. The first meeting took place at Phil's Restaurant located on Davis Ave. Harold McMillen served as the first President and Clay Whetsell served as the first Campaign Chairman. The first drive raised $44,670.