President's Message

A Message from the President & CEO

When I started at United Way in 2005, a great foundation was already in place, thanks to a number of people, beginning with the handful of local visionaries who started this organization in 1920 leading all the way up to dynamic executives and community leaders who have served over the years and lead our Board today.

United Way’s reputation for adapting to the needs of the community it serves still holds, as we continue to implement a fresh approach to philanthropy.

Our efforts in Education, Income and Health are changing San Diego for the better. We find solutions and fund interventions at critical points … in an abused child’s life, a working family’s financial troubles, or someone who’s living on the streets. Our goal is to get at the root of problems and change the conditions before they become critical issues.

We believe in the power of a caring community, a group of people dedicated to improving lives. If you knew you could make the difference between struggle and success for your fellow San Diegans, what would you do? There are many ways to get involved in giving, advocating or volunteering.  We hope you’ll be inspired to make a donation of either time or money to continue the important effort underway.

Together, we can accomplish more than any single group can on its own. That’s Living United.

Doug Sawyer
President & CEO
United Way of San Diego County