The Tocqueville Society
Membership Benefits
United Way Tocqueville Society offers its members unique opportunities to network with other philanthropic and community-minded individuals at national events. In addition to local Tocqueville Society events, United Way offers Society members opportunities to attend national learning, networking, and recognition events:
- United Way Million Dollar Roundtable Regional Event, another invitation-only event, is open to all Million Dollar Roundtable and National Society members. The weekend event is normally hosted at the home of a million dollar donor and provides opportunity for discussion around the inspiration behind personal philanthropic action and the opportunity to network with like-minded philanthropists from around the country.
- Tocqueville Networking Session is a learning session open to all current and incoming local Tocqueville Society chairs and global Major Gifts volunteers.
- Fleur-de-Lis Awards Celebration, a seated dinner and presentation, honors the outstanding achievements of local Tocqueville Societies from across the nation.
- United Way: Around the World is an invitation only-event that connect s with work of the United Nations impacting women and children, health, and financial stability for people around the world, and will also provide an opportunity to discuss the evolving global vision of United Way.
The History
The national United Way Tocqueville Society was formed in 1984 to deepen individual understanding of, commitment to, and support of United Way's work: advancing the common good by creating opportunities for a better life for all. The Tocqueville Society recognizes local philanthropic leaders and volunteer champions around the world who have devoted time, talent, and funds to create long-lasting changes by tackling our communities most serious issues.
Membership in the Tocqueville Society is granted to individuals who contribute at least $10,000 annually to a local United Way. For the first time, United Way of Henry County and Martinsville is offering its local donors the opportunity to join this prestigious Society.
Specifically, the United Way Tocqueville Society aims to:
- Change lives through philanthropic leadership by focusing on the building blocks for a better life: a quality education that leads to a stable job; income that can support a family through retirement, and good health
- Communicate the vital role of personal philanthropic action in creating long-lasting changes by addressing the underlying causes of societal problems
- Enhance local recognition of long-standing service volunteers
- Foster philanthropic action and voluntary community service
- Strengthen local leadership development efforts by building upon cross-geographical linkages
- Prominently position the Tocqueville Society name and the United Way organization in an effort to stimulate the exchange of philanthropic ideas and successful models
About Alexis de Tocqueville
Only 26 years old when he came to America in 1831, Alexis Charles-Henri de Tocqueville traveled extensively, recording his observations of life in the young nation. Though he only spent nine months in the United States, he gleaned an insightful view of American society. His observations, readings and discussions with eminent Americans formed the basis of Democracy in America, a detailed study of American society and politics published in two volumes, in 1835 and 1840.
Tocqueville recognized, applauded, and immortalized American voluntary action on behalf of the common good. He wrote: I must say that I have seen Americans make a great deal of real sacrifices to the public welfare; and have noticed a hundred instances in which they hardly ever failed to lend a faithful support to one another, eloquently capturing the essence of personal philanthropy that persists, almost three centuries later. The observation on philanthropy made by Alexis de Tocqueville in 1831 is true today; Americans understand that advancing the common good means creating opportunities for a better life for all. The name Tocqueville Society was chosen because of Alexis de Tocqueville's admiration for the spirit of voluntary association and effort toward its advancement. The use of the name Tocqueville Society is granted only to those United Ways affiliated with the national Tocqueville Society Program.
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