Our Mission Our mission is to unite local people and resources to improve lives in the New River Valley. Heart and Soul of United Way United Way of the New River Valley is a local, independently incorporated, volunteer governed organization. All organization decisions – whether about policies, campaign or community investment – are made by volunteers of our United Way. The citizen review community investment system is one of the key features and defines a local United Way – no other type of organization uses a local community-based group of donor representatives to make funding decisions. This system is literally the heart and soul of our United Way and what provides the organization with the foundation of its knowledge of community needs, resources, and partnerships. Community Response Donors may designate their gifts according to the donor designation policies established by the UWNRV Board of Directors. However, most people do not designate and would rather their gift be spent in the local community where the money is needed most. In a sense, community investment volunteers are a human services investment council for our community. Our United Way has established three impact areas where undesignated dollars are invested locally: Strengthening Families Self-Sufficiency Health and Crisis Intervention