UB SEFA Campaign Raises Record $642,434; University Leads WNY In Gifts of $1,000 Or More

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- The 1994 State Employees Federated Appeal (SEFA) at the University at Buffalo has set records both on and off campus.

The recently-completed drive netted a record $642,434, raising 113.1 percent of its goal. Nineteen of the campaign's 23 units surpassed their goals.

The campaign also set records for Western New York, with UB logging 117 leadership gifts of $1,000 or more and 291 pacesetter gifts of between $500 and $999. The leadership gifts, up from 84 last year, added up to $143,588, while the pacesetter contributions, up from 247 last year, totaled $174,334.

"The University at Buffalo is now the No. 1 workplace in Western New York for leadership gifts," said Robert M. Bennett, president of the United Way of Buffalo and Erie County.

"This speaks well to the university's commitment to this community and to the needs of the people who live here. No other workplace is within 20 percent of the university in leadership gifts."

Bennett added: "Western New York continues to benefit in many ways from the ideas, the time and the financial giving of the university. It is a real asset to our quality of life. Those who donate to the UB SEFA drive know full well that their money translates into programs and assistance for their friends and neighbors."

He had particular praise for Muriel A. Moore, Ph.D., UB vice president for public service and urban affairs, who headed this year's campaign at UB. Moore also serves on the board of directors of the United Way of Buffalo and Erie County.

"This year's campaign at UB was among the very best of any workplace campaigns that I have ever seen," Bennett noted. "It is frequently cited as an example not only to other workplaces, but throughout the country as an example of what an institution of higher education can do."

He added that for the second year in a row, UB also was a major participant in the United Way's "Day of Caring." Last year, some 140 UB employees took time out from their work activities to participate in the event. This year, nearly 200 signed up to volunteer for the community-wide activity.

UB President William R. Greiner praised not only Moore and members of UB's SEFA Administrative Group, but each faculty member, staff member and student who contributed to this year's SEFA campaign.

"But, even though it is exciting to break records and quote statistics, none of these is the real reason why we should be proud and excited about this year's exceptional SEFA success," he noted.

"By mounting a major campaign and raising more than $600,000 for the health and human services agencies that serve Western New York. UB has sent our community a very loud, very clear signal that we really do want to help our neighbors, and that we truly are willing to give our best in order to provide such help.

"This kind of outpouring of compassion makes SEFA one of the most visible examples of UB's commitment to community service.