In the fall of 1969, a group of local volunteers established the Elk River United Fund. That first campaign raised $10,000 and the funds were provided to 22 national and state-wide organizations. The Elk River United Fund later became the Elk River United Way and in 1995 the name was changed to Caring Rivers United Way (CRUW) in order to incorporate all of the communities in the service area, which include BigLake , Elk River, Otsego, Princeton, Santiago, and Zimmerman.

We would like to thank all of the businesses, organizations, and residents who have supported Caring Rivers United Way over the past decades and in the years to come. Thanks for being a part of improving the lives of people in our community!

UNITED we stand.

UNITED we elevate.

UNITED we can change what we see in our world.

United Way Worldwide's Core Crisis Team has been mobilized to assist with immediate and long term measures in Haiti. If you wish to donate money to help people affected by the earthquake, please visit the United Way Worldwide Disaster Fund.

Online donations can also be given through GIVEMN or checks mailed to our local office: Caring Rivers United Way P.O. Box 36 Elk River, MN 55330. All donations will be directly forwarded to the United Way Worldwide Disaster Fund. Gifts to this fund support long-term recovery efforts to rebuild lives and infrastructure devastated by the disaster and to address educational, financial and health-related challenges.