United Way of Washington, Greene counties announce merger
The United Way of Washington and Greene counties have announced a merger.
The two organizations officially came together in January. Both are now operating under the name United Way of Washington and Greene Counties (UWWGC). The United Way in this region and around the country provides funding for local nonprofit groups that focus on such areas as health and education.
The merger has been in the works since September 2024, according to Jessica Tennant, the director of marketing and funding for the UWWGC, when officials with Greene County’s United Way branch “reached out to the United Way of Washington.”
In a news release announcing the merger, P. Ann Hrabik, the UWWGC’s executive director, said the union of the two “is about amplifying our impact.”
She added, “We are committed to coordinate with volunteers and community leaders from both counties to help guide local strategies, local programs to fund by our Community Impact Fund, and build relationships. We share a common vision and values, and together, we will be able to do more for the people we serve.”
Tennant said no job losses have resulted from the merger and, in fact, the UWWGC is hoping to hire a finance and administration manager. The merger between the United Way organizations in Washington and Greene counties is the third such consolidation to happen in Pennsylvania recently: the United Way of the Laurel Highlands and the United Way of Blair County have become the United Way of the Southern Alleghenies; and the Venango County and Titusville region United Ways have joined forces.
The organizations the United Way provides funding for in Washington and Greene counties include Washington City Mission, Domestic Violence Services of Southwestern Pennsylvania, the Flenniken Public Library in Carmichaels and the Eva K. Bowlby Public Library in Waynesburg.
United Way of Washington County’s Community Impact Fund distributed $432,740 from 2024 to this year. Greene County United Way distributed $40,000 in the 2024 calendar year.
MaChai Forbes, the previous executive director of the Greene County United Way and now a board member of the UWWGC, said the merger will be the start of “a new chapter of strength and collaboration for our communities. By joining forces, we can expand our reach, pool our resources, and create even greater opportunities to address local needs.”
The administrative office for the UWWGC will be in Washington.