Marsha Lewis

ML: For me, the campaign demonstrates how much more we can accomplish by collaborating to serve our community. As a dean I am so proud of the faculty and staff who freely give of their time and resources to improve the lives of others. Personally, the campaign has provided me with a coordinated way to give. I can determine what agencies to support and donate in a much more strategic manner than merely responding to solicitation throughout the year.

ML: What I am trying to do is focus on the recipients of our giving. The campaign is really a mechanism for those of us who want to donate to have a means at our fingertips. It is those who are served by the agencies who are the centerpiece of this campaign; they are our neighbors, our friends, our families. With that in mind, I am encouraging units to invite agencies to share their stories with our employees.

ML: What I have learned has really reinforced my belief in the goodness and generosity of our employees, whether it is in diving into the task of pulling weeds at Day of Caring or generously sharing their resources. We have amazing volunteers who lead their unit’s campaign and are so committed.

ML: The Day of Caring was remarkable and humbling. I was awed by the sheer number of volunteers who boarded so many buses to travel to sites where they were asked to do things they may never have done before, but did it with grace and good humor. The School of Nursing has a culture of working together for important causes, like the Ride for Roswell, where a number of our faculty and staff rode their bicycles while others served in the first aid stations along the route. I sent out a request earlier in the summer for us to send a team to the Day of Caring. There were 22 of us representing the SON who spent several hours digging out 6-foot-high invasive plants at one of the Olmsted parks. We were joined by a number of other UB folks. We validated how well nurses work in teams that day and we accomplished much more than anyone had expected. The comments by some of my team say it all:

“I have to admit that today was my first time using a shovel and pulling weeds. Growing up in a densely populated metropolitan area, I have never had a chance to do those things. Our group was the first to reach the pond! Our stone-throwing ceremony was unforgettable. We had so much fun today. Thank you everyone.”

“I left that experience with a sense of pride (even greater than what I usually have) for being a part of this team — both in the weeds and out! It was impressive that without instruction, colleagues took on roles of ‘pullers,’ ‘diggers,’ ‘weed clearers’ in a team effort. Perhaps I shouldn’t be surprised because we worked like nurses do, but it reminds me of what we can do when faculty and staff work together and I learned more about my colleagues today — not just that they are tough, but from our discussion as well — something we don't do often enough in our busy lives. I’m excited to carry this spirit on into the semester.”

ML: UB employees have participated in the Campaign for the Community each fall for the past 38 years. In that time, our employees have contributed nearly $18 million to community organizations in need. The UB campaign is one of the most successful in New York State in terms of dollars raised and ranks as one of the top in the nation among colleges and universities.

ML: Bake sales organized by various units; round-up program through campus dining and shops; boutique sales organized by University Life and Services; visiting speakers and organizations throughout the campus; weekly prize giveaways and a featured week-to-win prize week leading up to Halloween weekend — among others.

ML: This is a rare opportunity for us to come together as friends and colleagues to achieve a level of impact that is not possible by ourselves. Together, the employees of UB contribute more to the community than any other campaign in Western New York. It is important for us to keep growing this collective sense of giving and to continue to take ownership of the community in which we are all members. The city of Buffalo and the community help to make UB successful. The city needs to be attractive for UB to attract the brightest and best students and faculty. As we contribute to strengthening the city, we become stronger as a university.

ML: There are so many agencies that are part of this campaign that I am sure each of us can find a charity that fits with our passion and interest. Each of us can be a role model for charitable giving and know that we make a difference in our community.