About Us | GVUW

Mission

Improve People's Lives By Mobilizing the Caring Power of Our Community.

Vision

To Better the Lives of All Our Community Members.

Focus

Advocating the Common Good by Investing in Education, Income, and Health - the Building Blocks for a Good Quality of Life and Strong Community.

A Little About Us

For more than 70 years, Greater Valdosta United Way has been committed to strengthening communities and improving lives across South Georgia. Since our founding in 1954, our mission has remained the same: to improve people’s lives by mobilizing the caring power of our community.

Our story began when a group of community leaders came together to address critical needs in Valdosta and Lowndes County. They created an organization called the "Valdosta Community Chest", launching the community’s first fundraising campaign in 1954. That campaign raised $94,712.37, providing support to eight local agencies addressing some of the community’s most pressing challenges.

Over the decades, the organization evolved into what is now known as Greater Valdosta United Way. What began as a local effort has grown into a regional organization serving 17 counties across South Georgia: Atkinson, Bacon, Berrien, Brantley, Brooks, Camden, Charlton, Clinch, Coffee, Echols, Glynn, Jeff Davis, Lanier, Lowndes, Pierce, Ware, and Wayne.

Today, Greater Valdosta United Way partners with 23 local nonprofits and supports more than 38 social service programs, helping address the needs of individuals and families throughout our region. We also coordinate and mobilize hundreds of volunteers each year, bringing people together to create meaningful, lasting change.

What We Do

Everyone deserves the opportunity to thrive. Greater Valdosta United Way works to create stronger communities where individuals and families have access to the resources, support, and opportunities they need to build a better future.

We invest in solutions, create partnerships, mobilize volunteers, and address critical community needs to maximize our impact across South Georgia. By bringing nonprofits, businesses, community leaders, and individuals together, we turn collective generosity into meaningful action and lasting change.

Our work is centered around four Community Impact Areas:

Youth Opportunity – Helping children and young people access the education, resources, and support they need to succeed and reach their full potential.
Financial Security – Connecting individuals and families with resources and opportunities that promote financial stability, independence, and economic mobility.
Healthy Communities – Supporting access to resources, services, and programs that promote physical and mental well-being and help individuals lead healthier lives.
Community Resiliency – Strengthening our communities’ ability to prepare for, respond to, and recover from challenges and emergencies while ensuring people have the support they need when it matters most.

Through these impact areas, Greater Valdosta United Way focuses our resources where they can make the greatest difference. When we work together, we can address critical needs, strengthen community conditions, and create lasting opportunities for people throughout South Georgia to thrive.