CHENANGO COUNTY – This year’s Chenango United Way campaign is in full swing, and with all of the requests for money in, organizers are hoping they will come close to funding the 22 programs.

Both the number of requests and the total dollars requested were lower than last year, but according to CUW Executive Director Elizabeth Monaco, that isn’t because there is less need.

“Last year some programs submitted multiple requests,” Monaco said. She explained that some of the programs were competing against themselves for funding. “This year, through our technical assistance, we asked organizations to narrow their focus and that no program submit more than one.”

As a result, the total number of requests dropped from 32 to 22 this year, and since the maximum request is $40,000, total dollars requested also dropped from $921,000 last year to $695,899 this year.

Over the coming months, the requests will be assigned to a review panel, made up of United Way board members and community volunteers. Each request will be reviewed and graded, and at the close of the campaign, allocations will be determined.