NORWICH – While summer is only three weeks underway, the Chenango United Way is planning ahead, announcing higher and more optimistic goals for its fall 2012 campaign season.

Organizers at the United Way are confident that 2012 will be a break-out year in terms of volunteerism and monetary donations. The agency increased its campaign goal by $4,000 over last year’s goal, bringing the desired total to $444,000 which would be distrubuted to area non-profit agencies in 2013. According to United Way Director Elizabeth Monaco, a higher goal is a critical step to fund the needs of the county.

“We need to fund more if there are more programs that are applying,” she said, citing the overwhelming requests from county agencies in 2011 and 2012. “There’s a real need in the community and the need is usually much higher than what we have been able to give,” she added.

Following the 2011 campaign, the United Way reached 97 percent of its annual benchmark, bringing in a total $426,046 and falling shy of the $440,000 goal. Funds were allocated to organizations that promote the United Way’s three established community impact areas: 27 percent benefitted low-income families and individuals; 29 percent was used for education programs; and 23 percent funded health programs throughout the county. Remaining funds were used for administrative costs or was labeled uncollectable.