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Organization

United Way of America

American federation of local charity fundraising campaigns; now United Way Worldwide.

3 links, 1 backed by primary records

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Also known as
United Way, United Way Worldwide

The national board of the United Way brought together business and civic leaders. Around 1980 it included IBM’s president John Opel and Seattle’s Mary Maxwell Gates, who chaired its executive committee from 1983. Bill Gates later served on the same national board, and gives the proceeds of his 2025 memoir to United Way Worldwide.

Connections 3

members

  • William H. Gates Sr. 1989 chair of the Seattle-King County United Way campaign (1989) Scholarship & press 1

board members

  • John Opel national board Scholarship & press 23

    On the board by 1980, alongside Mary Maxwell Gates.

  • Mary Maxwell Gates national board; first woman to chair its executive committee (1983) Primary record 34
Timeline 1 date
  1. 1989 William H. Gates Sr. member of United Way of America
Proof 4 sources
  1. Gates, Mary Maxwell (1929-1994), HistoryLink.org. Scholarship & press
    He supported United Way and was chair of the Seattle-King County United Way Campaign in 1989.
  2. Mary Gates: She's Much More Than Just The Mother Of Billionaire Bill, The Seattle Times, 9 Jan 1994. Scholarship & press
    In 1980, IBM President John Opel had already spent a couple of years on the national board of United Way with Mary.
  3. Mary Gates Dies: Cancer Claims Longtime Seattle Civic Leader And Mother Of Microsoft Founder Bill Gates, The Seattle Times, 10 Jun 1994. Scholarship & press
    Opel served with Mrs. Gates on United Way's national board at the time.
    In 1983 she was named the first woman to chair the national United Way's executive committee.
  4. Lessons From Mom: How Bill Gates's Mother Shaped His Philanthropic Journey, United Way of America, Feb 2025. Primary record
    Mary later became board chair for United Way International and board director for United Way of America.
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