NORWICH – Chenango Memorial Hospital Foundation is in the second month of its annual fund raising campaign, according to Executive Director Debbie Cassavaugh. The Foundation’s mission is to support Chenango Memorial’s health care initiatives. Contributions are invested and only the income generated from those contributions is donated to the hospital. This preserves the donor’s original gift to generate income in the future.

The campaign is about halfway to its campaign goal, having raised approximately $42,000. Cassavaugh stated, “We launched the campaign with a community-wide mailing at the beginning of November, and followed up with our employee campaign, which began just after Thanksgiving. On Tuesday, Dec. 16, from 6:30 - 8 p.m., Foundation trustees will be making phone calls to follow up with past Foundation donors who have not yet contributed. I’m optimistic about exceeding our fund raising total last year, which was $82,000, but we are going to need more participation from the community.” The director acknowledged the heavy demands on charitable giving, both locally and nationally, and commented on the generosity of local residents. “Local donors seem to understand the importance of supporting and maintaining our hospital and of upgrading the facility and implementing new technologies to benefit our community.” These are the types of activities the Foundation will support during 2009. In 2008, the Foundation provided $77,000 toward the renovation of the hospital’s in-patient floor. This project is currently underway and scheduled for completion in the spring of 2009.