For more information about the annual campaign or to make a donation, call the United Way of Mid Rural New York office at 607-334-8815. To learn more about the organization, please visit our website at www.uwmrny.org.

CHENANGO COUNTY - The United Way of Mid Rural New York has kicked off its fall fundraising campaign.

Jennifer Telesky, of NBT Bank Norwich, will Chair this year’s campaign. The organization’s Board of Directors has set this year’s total campaign goal at $562,900, and all monies collected during the fall 2025 campaign will be distributed through a competitive allocations process in late January 2026.

The goals for this year are the same as those set last year: Chenango County’s goal is $380,000, for Otsego County the goal is $97,500, for Madison County the goal is $75,400 and for Delaware County the goal is $10,000.

This year, we chose to keep our campaign goals flat because we know that times are tough,” said Elizabeth Monaco, Executive Director of The United Way of Mid Rural New York.

She added,“But it is for that same reason that it is critical that we reach these goals in each county. Families are struggling to make ends meet every day and the programs and initiatives that we fund help those families who are working, yet still struggling, to make ends meet and get through each day. Without the United Way safety net of services in our communities, families and individuals with needs might have nowhere to turn.”

Contributions from the United Way campaign are used to fund local programs that address the issues of basic needs and financial stability for local families, education and youth issues, quality affordable healthcare and community resiliency, such as in emergency and disaster response. Funded programs are in all four of the counties served by the United Way of Mid Rural New York. Last fall, UWMRNY raised $547,238. With these funds, UWMRNY was able to provide funding to forty-one local programs, five regional initiatives and numerous local food pantries and soup kitchens in 2025 that provide valuable services and programs right here in our own communities. Funds stay right here in our community.

Every program that is funded through the United Way’s RFP process must demonstrate measurable results and lasting change in our community. For example, because of donations to the United Way of Mid Rural New York last year:

More than 16,000 dental kits were provided to elementary school children across our four counties to help Improve oral health in kids

Over 2,000 children birth to age 5 received free books in the mail every month through the Dolly Parton Imagination Library Program. This program improves early literacy and increases school readiness.

4,220 pounds of fresh produce was gleaned, sorted and provided to local food pantries and soup kitchens to feed the hungry.

“I am so excited about this year’s campaign. We have built some new relationships and have some new companies joining the campaign this year with employee contributions. We have a powerful new virtual ALICE Simulation that we can do with community members to show them just how the United Way is impacting the community and its families. I think it will be a great fundraising year,” Monaco said.

Also new this year are the addition of Campaign Ambassadors- past and current United Way Board members who have been asked to serve as a “face of United Way” in the four counties that United Way serves. These Ambassadors are helping to develop and strengthen relationships in each community and are the “go to” liaison for donors across the United Way’s footprint.

Campaign Chair, Jennifer Telesky said, “I am thrilled to once again be chairing the annual campaign and to have all of these Ambassadors helping us this year. Last year’s campaign was amazing and it was the first time we ran a campaign for all four counties. We learned a lot and I think this year’s campaign will be even more successful. There is a lot of need but our community is very generous, so I think we are up for the challenge.”

For more information about the annual campaign or to make a donation, call the United Way of Mid Rural New York office at 607-334-8815. To learn more about the organization, please visit our website at www.uwmrny.org.

Ambassadors for 2025-2026 are:

Terra Carnrike-Granata, NBT Bank (Chenango County).

John Stafford, NBT Bank (Chenango County).

Melissa Lusby, NYCM (Otsego County).

Abbey Woodcock, Callee 1945 (Madison County).

Megan McKown, Blueox Energy (Chenango County).

Deb Barker, NBT Bak (Chenango County).

Anna Hillis, Visions Federal Credit Union (Otsego County).

Greg Fuller, Retired, Kinney Drug Pharmacist (Madison County).

Shelly Bartow, Delaware Opportunities (Delaware County).

Kelly Collins-Colosi, Norwich City Schools (Chenango County).

Lisa Colablelli, Mountain, Ltd. (Chenango County).

Shanna Sheldon, Community Financial Systems, Inc. (Otsego County).

Nicholas Colosi, Oxford Academy & Central Schools (Chenango County) .

Lori Olsen, Miles of Love (Chenango County).

Amanda Holland, SUNY Delhi (Madison County).

Gina Goldman, Norwich An Alvogen Company (Chenango County).

- Information from the United Way