Only 26 years old when he came to America in 1831, Alexis Charles-Henri Clerel de Tocqueville traveled all over 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.

Perhaps his most important observation was that Americans helped each other in times of need. He recognized, applauded and immortalized the voluntary spirit that lives in America's heart. He wrote: "I must say that I have seen Americans make a great and real sacrifices to the public welfare; and have noticed a hundred instances in which they hardly ever failed to lend faithful support to one another."

The name Tocqueville Society was chosen because of Alexis de Tocqueville's admiration for the spirit of voluntary association and voluntary effort for the common good.

The Tocqueville Society Major Gifts and Recognition Program, initiated in March 1984, is designed to involve and deepen the understanding, commitment and support of high wealth individuals to United Ways and to recognize the deep commitment to service exemplified in the National Tocqueville Society Award®. Membership in the Society is granted to individuals who contribute at least $10,000 annually to the United Way. United Way of America provides guidance to United Ways in developing local societies. These Societies recognize outstanding volunteer service by presenting local Tocqueville Society Awards; involving new influential leadership; encouraging major gifts among high wealth individuals and developing new resources to build community.

The use of the name Tocqueville Society is granted only to those United Ways affiliated with the national Tocqueville Society Program.

Patrick d'Herouville is a descendent of Alexis de Tocqueville and an investment banker with BNPParibas in Paris. Patrick and his wife Albane have three young sons, Jean, Foucauld and Raphaël. He, his parents, Count and Countess Guy d'Herouville, and his brothers, Jean-Guillaume and Alexis, graciously granted permission for United Way of America to use the Alexis de Tocqueville name for the Alexis de Tocqueville Society and the coat-of-arms for the Million Dollar Roundtable.

"As descendants of Alexis de Tocqueville, the d'Herouville family is immensely proud to see the name of our ancestor associated with such an extraordinary organization as the Tocqueville Society. It is probably after visiting such a society of those times that he wrote in his book Democracy in America: 'In no other country in the world has the principle of association been more successfully applied to a greater number of objects than in America.'"

In 2003-2004, preliminary results show that 398 local Tocqueville Societies raised $400 million from over 20,111 individuals nationwide. Forty-eight new members joined the Million Dollar Roundtable for a total of 426 and there were a total of 384 National Society members.

Contact your local United Way for specifics on how you can become involved in the United Way Tocqueville Society.