In 1946, under the leadership of Frank Brownlee and Douglas McDougald, the Community Chest of Anderson was organized to raise funds for nonprofit agencies who worked to help people in need in Anderson County. The Community Chest exceeded its goal of $45,000 in its first year, and provided these funds to seven nonprofit agencies. The Community Chest was replaced by the United Fund in the late sixties and then joined the national United Way movement in the mid-seventies. In 2003, Foothills United Way changed its name to the United Way of Anderson County, to better reflect the area in which it serves.

This year the United Way of Anderson County is celebrating 75 years of service to the Anderson community.

Carol Burdette has been the Chief Executive Officer of United Way of Anderson County since 2002 after serving as a volunteer with the organization for 13 years.

Mrs. Burdette is a native of Pendleton who has lived in Anderson County her entire life, attending Anderson County public schools and receiving a bachelor’s of arts degree from Southern Wesleyan University in 1982. She has been involved with community organizations as a volunteer or staff member for 32 years. For 22 of those 31 years, Carol served in elected office in the Town of Pendleton as a council member from 1987 – 1997 and mayor from 1997 – 2009.

Burdette has been honored with the Pointing The Way Award, the Athena award, the Leadership Anderson Alumni Award, presidential citation from her alma mater Southern Wesleyan University, 2014 Economic Development Ambassador for Anderson County by Governor Nikki Haley and was named as one of the 15 over 50 by the Independent Mail and named Non-Profit Director of the Year by the Chamber of Commerce. Most recently Burdette has been named one of the 25 Most Influential Women of the Upstate by the GSA Business Report