United Way workplace Campaign: allowing everyone to make a difference.

• Author: White, Rindi
• Position: SPECIAL SECTION: Philanthrophy in Alaska

More than 325 businesses across Anchorage participate each year in United Way of Anchorage's Workplace Campaign, a yearly push to encourage workers to donate a little--or a lot--out of their paychecks to help charities in the community.

The program is popular and helped the organization meet its goal of raising $9.8 million last year. Part of the reason for its success, United Way organizers say, is that it allows anyone, even the lowest wage-earners, to contribute to charities and United Way of Anchorage initiatives they feel are important.

"It allows that individual to be philanthropic, and to make that decision to be philanthropic very easily," says Elizabeth Miller, resource development vice president for United Way of Anchorage.

A Resource in Good Standing

United Way is one of only four organizations in Alaska to be recognized by Charity Navigator with a four-star rating, and it's the only one to have received that rating three times in a row. According to its website, Charity Navigator is the nation's largest and most frequently used charity evaluator, using professionals to analyze the financial documents of thousands of non-profit organizations.

Charity Navigator's President Ken Berger said in a recent announcement about the recognition that only 9 percent of the thousands of charities his organization rates have received three consecutive four-star ratings.

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"This 'exceptional' designation from Charity Navigator differentiates United Way of Anchorage from its peers and demonstrates to the public it is worthy of their trust," Berger wrote.

Building up the Community Chest

Founded in 1887 by a Denver woman, a priest, two ministers and a rabbi who wanted to raise money to benefit 10 health and welfare agencies in their area, the organization that became United Way began a movement that spread across the nation.

The organization was initially known as Community Chest. Yes, that's the same Community Chest as is seen on Monopoly board games, according to Monopoly historians.

In 1943, America was fighting World War II and citizens used payroll deductions to purchase war bonds to support the war effort. That year, the process of withholding federal income and Social Security taxes from employee checks also began.

The same machines for deducting those payments had room for additional deductions, so Community Chest workers persuaded employers to authorize charitable deductions be taken out of paychecks as well. Thus, the...