In 1887, a Denver priest, two ministers and a rabbi recognized the need for cooperative action to address their cityís welfare problems. The Rev. Myron W. Reed, Msgr. William J. OíRyan, Dean H. Martyn Hart and Rabbi William S. Friedman put their heads together to plan the first united campaign for ten health and welfare agencies. They created an organization to serve as an agent to collect funds for local charities, as well as to coordinate relief services, counsel and refer clients to cooperating agencies, and make emergency assistance grants in cases which could not be referred.