The Kitchener-Waterloo Federated Charities was formed in 1941 by community and business leaders to raise money for war work done by local agencies. When World War II ended, the organization continued to raise money for local social service organizations and charities. In 1969 its name was changed to Federated Appeal of Kitchener-Waterloo and Area. On June 12, 1984 the board voted to join United Way/Centraide Canada and its name was changed again, to United Way of Kitchener-Waterloo and Area. The organization's mandate has always been to aid people who need help by conducting a yearly fund-raising campaign benefitting its member agencies, who provide that help. (Williams, Cindy. Fifty Years of Caring and Sharing: a History of the United Way of Kitchener-Waterloo and Area, 1941-1991. Kitchener, Ont.: United Way of Kitchener-Waterloo and Area, 1993, c1992.)