“Our partner agencies and United Way of Enid & Northwest Oklahoma have a combined need of approximately $1.5 million to continue operating and serving our community,” Board President Jennifer Bauman said. “That is our goal—$1.5 million to support neighbors in need.”

During this centennial year, we knew it was time to go back to our roots. Rather than following a traditional single-chair campaign model, our centennial campaign introduces a new approach: Campaign Champions. Each champion will take responsibility for leading one month of fundraising and engagement throughout the year, helping sustain momentum and visibility across all twelve months. We will work closely with our partner agencies to ensure they are recognized and honored throughout the year as we celebrate collaboration, history, and impact.

We are also proud to announce that Courtney Dennis, CEO of the YWCA, will serve as our 2026 Campaign Chair Leader. The YWCA is one of the four original partner agencies that started the Community Chest in December of 1926 and received the very first Community Chest funds in 1927.

“I am honored and excited to lead the United Way Champions this centennial year,” Dennis said. “This connection reminds us that our work today is built on a century of trust, partnership, and shared purpose.”

The Red Feather Campaign has deep historical significance. The red feather was adopted as a symbol of unified giving, a badge of generosity representing community members coming together to meet real needs. While our name officially became United Way in 1964, the red feather remains a powerful symbol of our origins and our enduring mission: uniting people to improve lives.

As we embark on our next century, the Red Feather Campaign serves as both a tribute and a call to action—inviting our community to once again unite around compassion, collaboration and hope.

For more information about the Red Feather Campaign or how to get involved, contact United Way of Enid & Northwest Oklahoma at 580-237-0821 or dan@unitedwayenid.org.