In November 2024, the United Way of Staunton, Augusta County and Waynesboro closed and, in April 2025, the United Way of Harrisonburg and Rockingham County announced its intention to expand to serve Staunton, Augusta County and Waynesboro.
President and CEO Amanda Leech announced the name change live on Facebook Friday afternoon during Day of Action 2025 celebrations. She told the audience that part of the organization’s mission is to improve lives, which each of them did as volunteers for Day of Action.
“You all made lives better across our community,” Leech said.
The United Way‘s mission is also to connect and mobilize resources.
“Making connections, bringing people together and making an impact are all part of the work we do here at United Way,” Leech said.
More than 100 volunteered to help with 15 different projects across Rockingham County and the city of Harrisonburg on Friday.
“That is, perhaps, the definition of our mission,” Leech said. “You’ve lived it today.”
Working together improves lives.
“United is the Way to making our community better, stronger and a more resilient place to live for years to come thanks to [volunteers] and your help,” Leech said.
Leech shared how United Way of Rockingham County and Harrisonburg started 67 years ago with a logo of the “Circle of Hope” which has changed slightly over the years but always been a circle.
“This symbol will continue to guide our work into the future as we continue to evolve into the United Way our community needs us to be,” Leech said.
When considering to expand into Staunton, Augusta County and Waynesboro, Leech said that staff and board members did not make the decision lightly. They spent months considering the idea.
“Ultimately, what we realized was that this expansion is about more than just geography,” Leech said.
With a rising cost of living, more families are struggling. More families now live in one area but work in another area of the Valley and more are only one crisis away from poverty.
“Expanding our service area allows us to bring critical resources to more working households and build stronger partnerships that create lasting change,” Leech said.
Changing the organization’s name reflects its service area expansion.
“Our new name reflects who we are and where we’re headed. We’re still your local United Way, just now with a broader reach and deeper focus on supporting the working families who keep our region running,” Leech said.
Through the recent changes, the United Way remains focused on serving local communities. The organization will soon announce a schedule of listening sessions and looks forward to gathering information from the public on how it may better serve the community.
“Because united is the way to supporting our neighbors, united is the way to building a more inclusive community and united is the way for the Central Shenandoah Valley.”
The United Way of Central Shenandoah Valley is at 100 S. Mason St., Harrisonburg.
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Rebecca Barnabi
