“United Story” Campaign for United Way of Wyandotte County
Client: United Way of Wyandotte County
Project: Real-Life Storytelling Campaign
Year: 2014
The Challenge
United Way of Wyandotte County needed compelling, authentic stories to demonstrate the real-world impact of their programs. These stories would be used in fundraising, community engagement, and promotional materials. However, many of the partner agencies they worked with operated under strict confidentiality policies, making it difficult to access and share individual success stories while protecting the dignity and privacy of recipients.
The Solution
To address the challenge, Randall Skach embarked on a six-month documentation initiative, visiting over 30 partner agencies and connecting with more than 40 groups of individuals impacted by United Way-supported programs.
Using a sensitive and relationship-based approach, Randall collected:
Written stories, Audio recordings, Photographs. Video footage
These stories spanned a wide variety of human experiences, reflecting the diversity and breadth of services that United Way supports. By working closely with agency staff and following privacy guidelines, Randall was able to authentically capture the voices of recipients while maintaining their confidentiality when needed.
The Result
The collected content became the foundation of “United Story,” a 2014 awareness campaign that appeared across:
United Way’s website
Printed pamphlets and marketing materials
Community presentations and events
The campaign’s success extended to multimedia:
Several original videos were produced using the stories and visuals as the narrative framework.
The first video, titled “A United Story,” told a powerful tale of collaboration between Duchesne Clinic and Riverview Health, illustrating how United Way’s support enabled these agencies to provide more holistic care to their clients.
The video featured original music composed by Randall Skach, adding a personal and emotional layer to the storytelling.
Impact
The “United Story” campaign elevated community understanding of United Way’s work and provided tangible proof of the organization’s value. By using real voices and faces from the community, the campaign fostered a stronger connection between donors, partners, and those directly impacted by their generosity.
This project not only addressed a sensitive storytelling challenge but also set a precedent for how nonprofits can gather and share meaningful stories while respecting the dignity and privacy of those they serve.
