Our Mission
United Way improves lives by mobilizing the caring power of communities around the world to advance the common good.
Our Goals
In 2008, United Way World Wide initiated a 10-year program designed to achieve the following goals by 2018:
- Improve education, and cut the number of high school dropouts — 1.2 million students, every year — in half.
- Help people achieve financial stability, and get 1.9 million working families — half the number of lower-income families who are financially unstable — on the road to economic independence.
- Promote healthy lives, and increase by one-third the number of youth and adults who are healthy and avoid risky behaviors.
These goals are ambitious, but with your help, and by utilizing our core strengths — a national network, committed partners and public engagement capacity — we can achieve them.
History
1955 The United Fund organized. Campaign goal $37,000, raised $38,276. Jack Deacon drew up orginal Constitution
1972 Name changed to United Way of Jonesboro. Martha Hannah served as Interim Director. Gene Beck was hired
as full-time Director.
1973 Name changed to United Way of Greater Jonesboro. $10,000 set aside to help tornado victims. 
1982 Beth Walker became Executive Director
1983 The Loaned Executive Program began
1985 Offices moved to 907 Union
1986 June Morse hired as Executive Director.
1987 United Way of America was 100th Anniversary. First class stamp issued, Pillars received the first day issue.
1988 Marilyn Hummelstein served as the first female president.
1990 Martha (Hannah) Secrease retires after 21 years of service.
1994 Day of Caring began.
1996 Campaign goal of $721,000 was reached.
1997 Record amount of $784,000 raised.
1998 Shootings at Westside Middle School. Westside Crisis Fund Committee was formed.
1999 Bonnie May hired as Executive Director. United Way moved to City building 407 Union.
2000 Carol Ann Belk hired as Executive Director. $677,176 was raised.
2001 September 11, terrorist attacks at World Trade Center. Day of Caring/Campaign Kick- Off were scheduled for
September 14. A decision was made to proceed with campaign; Kick- Off, raised $707,246.
2002 Kevin Lawrence was hired as Executive Director. United Way Campaign raised over $740,000.
2003 Sara Howell created the first Pillar’s art. The first Gary Schuchardt Memorial 5K Run/Walk held.
2004 Campaign Kick-Off set $760,000 goal. Nanette Heard joined the staff as Bookkeeper.
2005 Happy 50th Anniversary United Way of NEA! New logo was unveiled. The first “Stuff the Bus”
held in Corning and Newport. Organized volunteers to serve Katrina evacuees. Campaign
Kick-Off goal was $704,000, raised $711,163. Ruth Baker became Executive Assistant.
Imagination Library program begins.
2006 Name changed to United Way of Northeast Arkansas
2007 Governor Mike Beebe announced the proposition of statewide 2-1-1
2008 Kevin Lawrence accepted position with City Water and Light. Wendy Kirk hired as Executive Director.
First Randolph County Day of Caring. Paula Robertson joined as Community Impact Coordinator with
departure of Melanie Polsgrove
2009 Started VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) Program
2010 Wendy Kirk moved to United Way of Madison County/Huntsville. Director Carol Damron leaves. Nanette Heard
becomes Executive Director. Ruth Baker becomes Accountant. Megan Scribner joined staff as Executive Assistant.
2011 An anonymous donor committed to give $10,000 per year for 3 years to fund “Education Matters” scholarships.
2012 The 19th annual Day of Caring puts 500 volunteers to work at a value of $78,925 in “man hours” 
2013 Megan Scriber resigned for new position. Paula Robertson moved to the
Executive Assistant Position. Jenny Keller is hired as the Resource
Development Director.
2014 Inagural Live United raised $7,328.97. Student United Way began at Arkansas
State University
2015 Happy 60th Birthday United Way of Northeast Arkansas! In its 6th year, VITA
program expanded appointment days and nearly triples the number of clients
served. Most volunteers ever on Day of Caring.
2016 Jenny Keller left to take a new position. Shaila Creekmore joined staff as Director of Business Development.
Tiffany Gipson joined staff as Director of Community Impact.
2017 4th annual Live United with the Stars set record for proceeds. Paula Robertson begins semi-retirement.
2018 4th annual Batting for a Better Tomorrow Softball Tournament set records for proceeds.
25th Annual Day of Caring- First Innagural Terry Williams Service Award given out.
2019 Tiffany Gipson left to take a new position. Erin Calhoon joined staff as Director of Programs and Events.
2020 Courtney Swindle joined staff as part-time Executive Assistant. The Jonesboro Tornado Recovery Fund & COVID-19 Response & Recovery Fund are formed to provide assistance following the world-wide pandemic and EF3 Tornado.
2021 Shaila Creekmore left for a new position and Erin Calhoon transitioned to Director of Business Development. Brittany Oliver joined staff as Accountant and VITA Coordinator.