Our Stories: Why We Support United Way
October 14, 2025
Stories have the power to open hearts and minds, to spark change, and to build bridges between people and communities. They remind us of where we’ve been…and show where we can go.
Learn why Deidra Edwards, Josh Smith, and Jacqueline Whelan support United Way as they share their stories.
Deidra Edwards
Retire United Co-chair and United Way Campaign Coordinator
In my first professional job out of college as a human resources specialist, my first major project was to assist my manager with coordinating the annual United Way campaign at the Gimbels Department Store in Downtown Milwaukee. The next year, I coordinated the campaign for the downtown store AND all branch stores in Wisconsin.
After this experience, no matter where I worked, somehow, I was always assigned to coordinate the United Way campaign. As a human resource professional, this was the perfect assignment for me because it was a terrific opportunity for employee engagement.
Growing up, I was taught “To Whom Much Is Given Much Is Expected.” I was always taught the importance of giving back to our community. Throughout the years, I’ve had so many people support me to ensure my success. This is why I always want to be there for others, to support my community, and to make things better for someone else.
Josh Smith
United Way Board and Cabinet Member
As an engineering leader, I am driven by measurable, data-backed results – and that’s exactly why I am passionate about supporting United Way. United Way has a proven track record of responding to the community’s most urgent needs, setting bold transformational goals, and delivering measurable, lasting impact. Under United Way’s leadership, family homelessness is on track to be eliminated in the four-county footprint by the end of the year, Techquity has delivered thousands of free-of-charge laptops to people who need them, among many other accomplishments. United Way continues to be a strategic asset to the community, and I am proud to be a supporter.
Jacqueline Whelan
Emerging Leaders Co-chair
I was a “transplant” to Milwaukee in 2012, and community engagement has always been important to me – United Way was a trusted partner where I grew up in Detroit and I knew it would be a good way to get plugged in. During my early years in Milwaukee, I mostly worked with United Way as a conduit to volunteer opportunities and philanthropic networking. Working at Children’s Wisconsin, I also learned more during our annual United Way campaign, and I began contributing at the leadership level in 2019 which allowed me to plug into Emerging Leaders. After attending a few network events, I met with the Emerging Leaders engagement manager and expressed my interest in becoming more hands-on with Emerging Leaders. He invited me to meet with the current co-chairs, and I ultimately joined the council and last year became a co-chair.
My passion for United Way is rooted in the fact that they invest in local non-profits, entrepreneurs, and organizations that are boots on the ground helping to support community members. Being in the pediatric healthcare industry and supporting families on Medicaid, I am consistently exposed to the needs of kids and families which are unique and complex. United Way supports the organizations in our community that know exactly how to best support it, as well as energizing local professionals to engage and contribute not just financially, but through volunteerism.
Spark change and inspire others. Donate to the 2025 Community Campaign today.
For more updates on United Way initiatives and events, follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.