About United Way of Southwest Virginia United Way has been working in Southwest Virginia, including the New River Valley, for 60 years. Over that time, we have adjusted our work and shifted our focus from treating symptoms to addressing root causes. We have moved from being recognized as a premier fundraiser and funds distributor to an organization focused on prevention, which produces a greater return on investment. In addition to this shift in thinking, we have taken a more regional approach, providing programs and services to 21 localities, leveraging our region’s strengths and collective assets. This has allowed us to bring unparalleled resources to the region. Our programs and services have received high honors and support from national organizations such as the Appalachian Regional Commission, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and, in 2017, the organization was an inaugural recipient of the Virginia Governor’s Award for Excellence and Innovation in Education. Today, United Way of Southwest Virginia employees a 40 member team with some of the most talented subject matter experts in the region. Outside of our staff, we involve experts, leaders, practitioners, neighborhoods, community members, and governments. We work across partisan and income divides, leading community conversations and bringing people from all walks of life into the conversation. Whether we’re leading a coalition, developing an initiative, driving agencies to common outcomes, or creating collective impact, United Way is a driving force – in communities and for Southwest Virginia.