United Way of Grayson County is a locally run chapter of the United Way Worldwide umbrella organization. United Way of Grayson County operates independently from United Way Worldwide and is locally governed. United Way Worldwide is the leadership and support organization for the nearly 1,800 local United Ways in 40 countries around the globe. Local United Ways pay a 1% membership fee (1% of dollars raised). Local donors support work in their communities through local United Ways, which are separately incorporated non-profits with their own CEOs and Boards of Directors.

Our United Way was originally formed as the Sherman  Community Chest in 1942, amid growing encouragement from the government for folks to support the national War Chest. For those first few years, donations went to the War Chest and local youth organizations. By 1951, the Denison Community Chest and several other local Chests had been formed and were operating to support their cities’ organizations. In 1969, the Community Chests came together deciding that collectively they could support the community better together thus transiting to the United Fund of Grayson County. We made our last name change in 1974 by joining the United Way worldwide family and becoming the United Way of Grayson County.

Read the History of United Way Worldwide

United Way of Grayson County is a Texas Nonprofit 501(c)(3) Corporation. A volunteer Board of Directors oversees our strategic direction and steers our financial decisions along with various committees also made up of community volunteers.

The United Way of Grayson County, Inc. Board is comprised of premiere business and community leaders who understand the community needs in Grayson County, Texas and want to play a hands-on role in helping us fulfill our mission.

If you would like to learn more about serving on our Board of Directors, please contact United Way of Grayson County, Inc. through the below inquiry form. The nominating committee meets each spring.

Our Board Committees
We offer the opportunity for community members who are not on our Board to serve on one of our Board committees. Our 2023-2024 committees include:  Community Impact, Operations, and Revenue.

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

• Board Chair: Dr. Molly Harris, Grayson College

• Vice Chair: Teresa Smith, Assa Abloy (Spectrum Brands)

• Operations Chair/Treasurer: Robert Muse, Caterpillar

• Revenue Chair: Deron McCraw, Community Advocate

• Community Impact Chair: Steven Michaels, Texas Instruments

• Recorder: Leigh Ann Sims, Dr. Stokes Orthodontics

• Past Chair: Kelly Haley, Texas Instruments

BOARD MEMBERS AT LARGE

• Kim Bass, Fast Signs

• Dr. Tyson Bennett, Sherman ISD

• Capt. Sarah Bigham, Grayson County Sheriff’s Office

• Jeff Butts, First State Bank

• Mike Daugherty, Atmos Energy

• Kacie Galyon, City of Pottsboro

• Dr. Andru Gilbert, Denison ISD

• Nathan Graham, Kwik Chek Food Stores/McCraw Oil Company

• Wayne Grover, Tyson

• Chief Mike Gudgel, City of Denison Police Department

• Jason Kupferschmid, Ameritex Pipe & Products

• Judi Murphy, Texoma Medical Center

• Chief Steve Pinkston, City of Whitesboro

• Carlos Rivas, Rivas Law

• LaTasha Savage, Emerson Fisher

• David Turner, Wilson N. Jones Regional Medical Center

• Tayler Valdez, Texas Instruments

• Christine Wallentine, City of Denison

Lifetime Board Members

• Jennifer Becherer

• Tamra Bragg

• Brad Coleman

• Charles Hefner

• Randy Reid

• Don Simpson

• Gail Utter

• Dr. David Hicks, posthumous