Chenango United Way hits 13 percent of campaign goal, encourages contributions
CHENANGO COUNTY – Chenango United Way hung up its first sticker of the year on the thermometer outside of NBT Bank on Wednesday marking 13 percent of its Fall 2018 campaign fundraising goal.
Chenango United Way Executive Director/CPO Elizabeth Monaco said they've raised $52,910 so far of their $419,000 campaign goal to go towards funding 22 community programs and 14 food kitchens and soup pantries in 2019, and added she expects that number to jump in the coming weeks.
"I feel good about this year's campaign but it's still really early so we're cautiously optimistic," said Monaco. "We just never know until we get it in."
This year's campaign benefits the same programs, food kitchens, and soup pantries as last year's campaign as Chenango United Way undertook a two-year funding campaign for the first time. It also benefits Chenango United Way's Dental Task Force, foster bags initiative, ALICE Project, and Dolly Parton Imagination Library.
"I think what's cool about this year is, because it's two-year funding these organizations have been not guaranteed a specific dollar amount for next year, but they're guaranteed that they will receive funding," said Monaco. "So they're counting on this money to be able to continue to do the work that they started in 2018 to carry it over into 2019 and continue to serve the clients they're already working with."
Donations from Chenango United Way's small business, residential, and professional division campaigns are going well this year, Monaco said, but noted so far its employee campaign – where local employees pledge a certain amount from their payroll – hasn't come in yet. She said when it does, that's when the thermometer displaying fundraising progress will jump.
Last year, the Chenango United Way separated the programs it funded into four categories: education, health, financial stability, and other impact efforts, which includes the Dental Task Force, foster bags initiative, ALICE Project, and Dolly Parton Imagination Library. Of the $413,262 raised last year, $87,003.61 went towards education, $110,759.37 went towards health, $95,428.04 went towards financial stability, and $18,279 went towards other impact efforts.
Chenango United Way Fall 2018 campaign co-chair Kelly Collins-Colosi said, "We want people to know and believe what this community is, and to look at and really consider supporting it. There's so much good that is here – every day we hear about so much bad and so many hardships and so many things – and the United Way is working every day to overcome that. So everything and every cent that is donated really goes to addressing those hardships and to addressing the struggles that we all know exist, but it's a really positive force to do that and a really positive way to be involved and to give back."
99 percent of funds from the Fall 2018 campaign will go right back to Chenango County initiatives, said Chenango United Way Business Manager Victoria Mitchell. She said only one percent goes to the national United Way, and even that comes back to benefit the local community through national programs.
Chenango United Way Fall 2018 campaign co-chair Nicholas Colosi said, "It's important to give back. There's a lot going on in the community and we want to continue that. And if you can afford to help out, please do so. Your dollars go into effect right here, it's not elsewhere. People you might be standing next to at the grocery store, in line at Pumpkin Fest – somewhere like that – you could be helping them out. Take care of your community first."
This year's campaign will be important for a number of reasons, Monaco said, one being because local food pantries and soup kitchens are struggling after losing federal funding and are now more reliant on moneys from the Chenango United Way. She said on average, more than 962 people use a food pantry or soup kitchen every week in Chenango County.
"People can't do anything else if their basic needs are not met," said Monaco. "So housing, feeding, clothing people is critical if they're going to learn to read, get a job, and be successful in life."
The Fall 2018 campaign will run through December 31, before dollars are allocated to programs, food pantries, and soup kitchens in January 2019.
If you're interested in donating to Chenango United Way's Fall 2018 campaign or for more information, call (607) 334-8815, visit www.chenangouw.org, or visit their office at 88 North Broad Street in Norwich.
Grady Thompson photo
Chenango United Way Executive Director/CPO Elizabeth Monaco said they've raised $52,910 so far of their $419,000 campaign goal to go towards funding 22 community programs and 14 food kitchens and soup pantries in 2019, and added she expects that number to jump in the coming weeks.
"I feel good about this year's campaign but it's still really early so we're cautiously optimistic," said Monaco. "We just never know until we get it in."
This year's campaign benefits the same programs, food kitchens, and soup pantries as last year's campaign as Chenango United Way undertook a two-year funding campaign for the first time. It also benefits Chenango United Way's Dental Task Force, foster bags initiative, ALICE Project, and Dolly Parton Imagination Library.
"I think what's cool about this year is, because it's two-year funding these organizations have been not guaranteed a specific dollar amount for next year, but they're guaranteed that they will receive funding," said Monaco. "So they're counting on this money to be able to continue to do the work that they started in 2018 to carry it over into 2019 and continue to serve the clients they're already working with."
Donations from Chenango United Way's small business, residential, and professional division campaigns are going well this year, Monaco said, but noted so far its employee campaign – where local employees pledge a certain amount from their payroll – hasn't come in yet. She said when it does, that's when the thermometer displaying fundraising progress will jump.
Last year, the Chenango United Way separated the programs it funded into four categories: education, health, financial stability, and other impact efforts, which includes the Dental Task Force, foster bags initiative, ALICE Project, and Dolly Parton Imagination Library. Of the $413,262 raised last year, $87,003.61 went towards education, $110,759.37 went towards health, $95,428.04 went towards financial stability, and $18,279 went towards other impact efforts.
Chenango United Way Fall 2018 campaign co-chair Kelly Collins-Colosi said, "We want people to know and believe what this community is, and to look at and really consider supporting it. There's so much good that is here – every day we hear about so much bad and so many hardships and so many things – and the United Way is working every day to overcome that. So everything and every cent that is donated really goes to addressing those hardships and to addressing the struggles that we all know exist, but it's a really positive force to do that and a really positive way to be involved and to give back."
99 percent of funds from the Fall 2018 campaign will go right back to Chenango County initiatives, said Chenango United Way Business Manager Victoria Mitchell. She said only one percent goes to the national United Way, and even that comes back to benefit the local community through national programs.
Chenango United Way Fall 2018 campaign co-chair Nicholas Colosi said, "It's important to give back. There's a lot going on in the community and we want to continue that. And if you can afford to help out, please do so. Your dollars go into effect right here, it's not elsewhere. People you might be standing next to at the grocery store, in line at Pumpkin Fest – somewhere like that – you could be helping them out. Take care of your community first."
This year's campaign will be important for a number of reasons, Monaco said, one being because local food pantries and soup kitchens are struggling after losing federal funding and are now more reliant on moneys from the Chenango United Way. She said on average, more than 962 people use a food pantry or soup kitchen every week in Chenango County.
"People can't do anything else if their basic needs are not met," said Monaco. "So housing, feeding, clothing people is critical if they're going to learn to read, get a job, and be successful in life."
The Fall 2018 campaign will run through December 31, before dollars are allocated to programs, food pantries, and soup kitchens in January 2019.
If you're interested in donating to Chenango United Way's Fall 2018 campaign or for more information, call (607) 334-8815, visit www.chenangouw.org, or visit their office at 88 North Broad Street in Norwich.
Grady Thompson photo
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