The Centre County United Way improves lives by mobilizing and creating sustained changes in community conditions which improve the quality of life in Centre County.  One way we do this is through our participation in community collaboratives, which add value to the dollars we raise.

Communities That Care links school, family, community, and research groups, working together to identify risk factors among our youth, evaluate protective factors that may already exist, and plan and carry out strategies that address both, using a collaborative, multi-faceted approach. 

    We celebrated our 12th PNC Bank Day of Caring on October 6, 2005, conducting 260 improvement projects at 110 locations throughout the county.  Thousands of volunteers from every corner of the county pitched in to help.  The project is led by co-chairs Colonel Gerald Russell and Brent Pasquinelli, cheered on by Honorary Chair Sue Paterno.  

Centre County United Way created the Armed Services Assistance Program as an information resource network to link military families with services they need, but are not available through military support systems. 

Smart Start Centre County is a network of business and organizational leaders, educators, service providers, and parents dedicated to the principle that a successful childhood leads to a healthy, happy, and productive adulthood.  Smart Start's goal is to ensure that all Centre County children begin school ready to learn.

  The Penn State-Centre County United Way Trash to Treasure Saleoffers donations from Penn State students for sale to the community.  The 2005 event diverted 72 tons from the landfill, offered usable items at low costs to community members, and raised $50,000.