NORWICH – High unemployment rates locally and national declines in consumer spending and charitable giving over the past 14 months appear to be slowly reversing course, according to state and national figures.
The effects of the economic downturn, however, call for the community to step up and give, local United Way and area business officials say, maybe now more than ever.
Three corporate contributors to the Chenango United Way are optimistic their office campaigns this season will match, if not exceed, last year’s fundraising goals.
Chenango United Way is looking to raise $465,000, the same amount it sought in 2008. Historically, donations from employees of local companies, done as a percentage of their weekly paychecks, comprise approximately 70 percent of that annual goal.
David Harris, manager of the Norwich NBT branch and co-chair of the bank’s countywide office campaign, said he was surprised in 2008 when employees exceeded their $57,000 goal by 14 percent. This year, they’ve set the bar at $60,000.
“We’re cautiously optimistic that we’ll see the same response this year; that people in a position to give will step up,” said Harris. “We’re very fortunate. Our employees continue to support it.”
Preferred Mutual Insurance of New Berlin has set its goal at $20,000. Last year company employees contributed $20,280, or 30 percent over their original benchmark.
“People really stepped up last year and made a difference,” said Kecia Burton, a United Way team leader for Preferred. “Our employees understand that everyone of us can be impacted by what the United Way does, and our people have been very strong in supporting the community they live in.”
Sherburne-based Frontier Communications is also seeking to raise $20,000, about what it donated in 2008.
“We find our employees really do step up to the plate,” said Lisa Colabelli, Frontier’s Plant Service Manager in Sherburne, and a co-chair of the 2009 Chenango United Way Campaign. “We really promote being involved in the community. Through the United Way, you can touch the most number of people and impact many different areas of our community.”
Colabelli noted that the United Way also works – with extensive application, assessment and review processes – to ensure that money donated is used by organizations in an ethical and effective way.
“The accountability is there,” she said.
Agencies and organizations seeking and receiving United Way funding undergo a strict scoring and review process that decides if their program is eligible for funding and if they’re spending the money the way they proposed. Funding applicants must have a mission aimed at impacting youth, seniors, health care or poverty.
According to United Way officials, 79 cents of every dollar raised to Chenango United Way goes to approximately 30 local non-profits that rely on funding from the organization.
“We feel the organization has a profound impact on the area – a positive impact on the communities we serve,” said Harris, speaking to the reason NBT supports the organization so strongly. “The great thing is you can focus your effort toward raising money for an organization that benefits many organizations in return. They have a widespread and far-reaching impact.”
The Chenango United Way is projecting that area non-profits and community programs will request approximately $900,000 in 2010.
“The United Way touches every part of Chenango County,” said Burton. “Preferred is a company that really strives to give a lot back to its community. We as a company give, and our employees live that same philosophy.”
The Chenango United Way campaign runs until Dec. 31. Those who donate before then will be entered into a raffle sponsored by Norwich Pharmaceuticals and Preferred Mutual for either a $500 gift card or a home theater system.
Other area corporate contributors include Golden Artist Colors, The Mid-York Press, Norwich Pharmaceuticals, Procter & Gamble and Quest/Sheffield.
For more information, contact Chenango United Way at 334-8815 or visit www.chenangouw.org.