NORWICH – The Chenango United Way (CUW) is beginning its preparations for the annual fall fundraising campaign. The organization’s Board of Directors has set this year’s campaign goal at $440,000, and all monies collected during the fall 2011 campaign will be distributed through a competitive allocations process in late January 2012.

Last fall CUW raised $421,000 – funding 19 local programs that relied heavily on the success of the campaign to help them provide valuable services and programs right here in our own community. Contributions from the CUW campaign are used to fund local programs that address the issues of income and financial stability for local families, education and youth issues, and quality affordable healthcare in Chenango County.

Debbie Barker, of NBT Bank, and TJ Moorehead, retired, P&G Pharmaceuticals, will co-chair this year’s campaign.

Donations to the Chenango United Way were important in Chenango County last year because they allowed 1,296 Chenango County school children to participate in community based learning experiences, 153 women to receive free access to health screenings, 1,323 families to receive free tax preparation assistance and 80 children to receive assistance after a domestic violence incident within the family. It is estimated that 1 in 4 Chenango County residents have used a Chenango United Way funded program during the course of their life.