Editing Up with People (section)

== History ==

=== Founding ===
UWP was born out of a split from [[Moral Re-Armament]], a multifaith religious movement. In 1965, J. Blanton Belk dedicated his energies to creating an organization for young adults that enabled them to interact with the world through positivity and music. He created Up with People (UWP) to bring people together for the common good regardless of ideology, political affiliation, ethnicity, race, or religious affiliation. Up with People was officially incorporated as a "[[501(c)(3) organization|501(c)(3)]] &nbsp;nonprofit, apolitical, non-sectarian international educational organization"<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=https://upwithpeople.org/discover/our-legacy/historical-timelime/|title=Historical Timeline|date=2019-07-26|website=Up with People|access-date=2019-07-26}}</ref> in 1968 under the leadership of Belk.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.coloradogives.org/upwithpeople/overview#profile-details|title=Up with People|website=Colorado Gives|access-date=2019-08-06}}</ref>

=== 1970s - 1990s ===
UWP traveled and performed their musical show across several countries. Notable events were performances at the [[Indianapolis 500]],<ref>{{Cite web|title=Retro Indy: Indy 500 National Anthem performers|url=https://www.indystar.com/picture-gallery/news/history/retroindy/2014/05/08/retro-indy-indy-500-national-anthem-performers/8844203/|access-date=2021-03-23|website=www.indystar.com|language=en}}</ref> the [[Cotton Bowl (stadium)|Cotton Bowl]], the [[White House]], [[Super Bowl X]],<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/super-bowl-halftime-show-performers-2018-2|title=The Super Bowl halftime show performance the year you were born|last=Salaky|first=Kristin|date=2019-02-02|website=Business Insider|access-date=2019-08-06}}</ref> and the [[China|People's Republic of China]].<ref name=":1" /> In the 1980s UWP continued their musical tour, performing at Super Bowls [[Super Bowl XIV|XIV]] and [[Super Bowl XVI|XVI]]. They performed at the [[1982 World's Fair]], [[Super Bowl XX|XX]],<ref name=":2" /> the [[Jerash Festival]], the [[Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade]], U.S. President [[George H.W. Bush]]’s inauguration in Washington, D.C., and Berlin to celebrate the fall of the [[Berlin Wall]]. UWP toured throughout the 1990s, performing at events at the [[Washington Monument]], the Freedom Festival in Philadelphia, the [[Earth Summit|United Nations Conference on Environment and Development's Earth Summit]], and the first Celebration of Peace event with [[Colin Powell]] in Denver, Colorado.<ref name=":1" />  Companies like Exxon, Halliburton, Coca-Cola, Pfizer, General Electric, Coors, Toyota, Enron and Searle donated tens of millions of dollars to the organization. When that support started to fade, it began to charge tuition to members—up to $5,300 in 1982.<ref>{{Cite web |last=admin |date=2018-03-06 |title=The Hidden Story Of The Up With People Singers |url=https://city-countyobserver.com/the-hidden-story-of-the-up-with-people-singers/ |access-date=2024-03-18 |website=City-County Observer |language=en-US}}</ref> By the 1990s, the organization found itself struggling to recruit youth capable of paying tuition rates that exceeded the cost of most private universities, a problem compounded by the mostly indifferent response to the group's public performance.<ref>{{Cite web |last=admin |date=2018-03-06 |title=The Hidden Story Of The Up With People Singers |url=https://city-countyobserver.com/the-hidden-story-of-the-up-with-people-singers/ |access-date=2024-03-18 |website=City-County Observer |language=en-US}}</ref>

=== 2000s - present ===
UWP suspended touring operations from 2000 until 2004. The program was rebranded with a more academic focus on the benefits of travel, volunteer service, performing arts, and leadership development with the sub-brand ''Worldsmart Leadership Program''. Two years after its relaunch, the sub-brand was discontinued. Notable touring appearances during the 2000s were the [[Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade]], the United Nations Culture of Peace Forum at the [[Headquarters of the United Nations|UN Headquarters]], the 400th Anniversary of Bermuda, and the [[Rose Parade|119th Tournament of Roses Parade]] in Pasadena, California.<ref name=":1" /> Notable performances during the 2010s were performing for [[Queen Silvia of Sweden]] at the Mentor Foundation Gala, Washington, DC; the 122nd Tournament of Roses Parade; and the 100th Anniversary of [[Kiwanis|Kiwanis International]] in Indianapolis, Indiana.<ref name=":1" /> Former director Vernon C. Grigg III was hired as the president and CEO after the retirement of Dale Penny. Grigg was succeeded by Seema Srivastava as CEO in 2022.<ref>{{cite web |title=President & CEO Announced |url=https://upwithpeople.org/uwp-blog/president-ceo-announced/ |website=upwithpeople.org |publisher=Up with People |access-date=26 October 2022}}</ref>

=== Archives ===
The UWP Archives is housed at the University of Arizona Special Collections library. The archives include materials from the Up with People organization, the International Alumni Association, as well as the personal papers of the UWP Founder and Chairman Emeritus J. Blanton Belk and his wife Elizabeth "Betty" Belk. Select materials from the UWP archives are accessible on the Up with People digital collection hosted on the University of Arizona Special Collections website.<ref name=":41">{{Cite web|url=https://speccoll.library.arizona.edu/collections/people-archive|title=Historical Archive|date=2022-10-25|website=Up with People|access-date=2019-07-26}}</ref>

=== Super Bowl performances ===
{{main|Up with People at the Super Bowl}}

In the 1970s, Up with People began to make frequent appearances at the [[Super Bowl]]; the group performed in five [[List of Super Bowl halftime shows|Super Bowl halftime shows]] between 1976 and 1986. Only the [[Grambling State University Marching Band]] has performed more Super Bowl halftime shows, with a total of six appearances.