Who We Are

Kewanee Area United Way (KAUW) has proudly served Henry & Stark County citizens since 1957, starting as the Kewanee Community Chest.  In 1982, it became the Greater Kewanee United Fund   Since that time, it has become Kewanee Area United Way.  Although the name has changed, the goal is the same, to improve the lives of those in this area through health, educational opportunity, and financial stability.  Those are lofty goals but through community support to the United Way, area agencies in conjunction with KAUW work to meet them. 

Each year nonprofit agencies are selected by the KAUW Board of Directors to receive funding to support the important services provided by those agencies.  The agencies selected must show stability, ongoing provision of essential services and are in alignment with the mission and vision of Kewanee Area United Way (KAUW).  The nonprofit agencies that are awarded grants each year are very committed to improving the lives of people in the area. We are proud to be partnered with all of them!

KAUW works in the communities in Henry and Stark County to address the needs of those communities through the nonprofit agencies selected and through community impact activities.  Shoes for Kids is a program started in 2024 to provide shoes for kids in the Kewanee Area School Systems.  The program will continue in 2025 and expand to further reach the needs of the kids in our area. 

Each year KAUW works with the community to raise funds to address needs in this area.  The support of businesses and area residents is vital to addressing needs in this area.  During the fourth quarter of each year we hold the Annual Campaign to reach out to the community to build support for the upcoming year.