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.
The Chenango United Way campaign will begin with the Day of Caring Kick Off Event and Rally on Sept. 24 and the campaign will conclude on Dec. 31. Project sites are still being solicited across the county and volunteers will be needed to help ensure that these projects are adequately staffed. Past projects have included painting buildings, cleaning, landscaping and raking, working with children, and distributing food at food pantries. In 2010, more than 170 community volunteers participated at 25 work sites in Chenango County.
Thanks to the generous donations of Manpower and Preferred Mutual Insurance Company, the Chenango United Way will again be raffling off two $500 Visa gift cards as an incentive for this year’s fall fundraising campaign. Every individual that donates at least $1.00 per week (or a lump sum of $52 per year) will be eligible for the incentive drawing that will be held in late December 2011.
CUW Executive Director Elizabeth Monaco said, “I am excited about this year’s campaign. We have recruited some very talented new volunteers to help with our Campaign Cabinet work and our volunteer marketing committee has developed some really beautiful new marketing and communication materials. This past spring, we met with several local company leaders and business owners and the general feeling within the community is that we are beginning to see economic improvement in our region. Folks were very positive and supportive of a slightly increased campaign goal for the United Way. I think it will be a great fundraising year.”
For more information about the annual campaign or to register to volunteer for the Day of Caring, call the Chenango United Way office at 334-8815. To learn more about the organization, visit www.chenangouw.org.