NORWICH – Procter & Gamble Pharmaceuticals chose the venerable Chenango County Courthouse steps as the backdrop for donating $500,000 in gifts last Friday to four non-profit organizations.

The long-term employer and one-time Norwich start-up business will be pulling up its final stakes in the county seat at the end of 2009. P&G’s Woods Corners Technical Center operations and staff of 180 employees are what remains of the once 700-person strong corporation that has grounded greater Norwich’s economy for the past 26 years.

“With our departure from Norwich and Chenango County ... it was important for us to help provide long-term sustainability and assistance to key organizations that support the entire county,” said Steve Cammarn, site manager.

The four organizations sharing the gift are the Chenango United Way ($400,000); the Chenango County Council of the Arts ($50,000); the Chenango Foundations’ Leadership Chenango program ($25,000); and the Chenango County Historical Society ($25,000). P&G Pharmaceuticals has had a long history of supporting these organizations through annual contributions, board participation and employee involvement.

Cammarn added that the gifts were “not a substitution nor replacement” for employee or corporate giving, but a means to help provide financial assistance for the years to come.

“P&G will continue to encourage employee contributions and involvement in local not-for-profit organizations as long as we have a presence in Chenango County,” he said.

External Relations Leader Scott Docherty said, “We really don’t want the community to get the idea that this is a replacement for this year’s local giving.”