UB campaign hits the mark

The smooth grooves of the Jon Lehning Trio provided a new twist to yesterday’s UB Employees Campaign for the Community celebration. And the announcement that a few donations earlier that day helped the UB campaign exceed its goal was music to the ears of the dozens of faculty and staff in attendance.

For this campaign year, UB set a goal of $875,000. As of Wednesday, the more than 2,400 UB employees who donated had raised $875,118, campaign chair Marsha Lewis happily reported at the start of the celebration. “I’m so darn excited, I cannot stand it!” Lewis, dean of the School of Nursing, exclaimed before making the announcement.

The annual campaign celebration had been held in Bansal Atrium in Davis Hall on North Campus each of the past two years, with no live music. This year’s event took place in the Harriman Hall ballroom on the South Campus. The addition of live music greeting guests set a cheerful tone for the event. The Jon Lehning Trio features the group’s namesake on saxophone, Harry Graser on piano and Anthony Henry on bass.

“This truly is a celebration. The generosity of the UB community is astonishing,” said Provost Charles Zukoski. “We set stretch goals this year and we reached them. That’s an indication of our commitment to our community — individually and as an institution —and of that we should be very proud.”

UB employees have raised nearly $18 million for more than 2,800 United Way agencies since the university’s campaign began in 1976. UB’s campaign is among the top three in Western New York; the other two are Wegmans and M&T Bank. Robert Bennett, chancellor emeritus of the New York State Board of Regents and a former United Way CEO, said the time will soon come when the total raised by these three entities reaches $3 million in one year.

“The campaign, for me, translates into impact — impact in this very precious community,” said Michael Weiner, a UB alumnus and president and CEO of the United Way of Buffalo and Erie County. “The generosity of the UB workforce means community-based organizations are receiving the support that they need to transform the lives of those most in need. And for those contributing to the United Way, you can be assured that you are paying for results in the areas of education, financial stability and health and wellness.”

In her opening remarks, Lewis thanked the more than 200 UB employees who serve as campaign liaisons — whose job includes holding fundraisers and generating excitement and participation within their units — as well as the campaign steering committee. Lewis singled out Dan Kelly of the Office of the President and Amber Winters of the Division of University Communications for their efforts, and offered praise for the United Way of Buffalo and Erie County’s Rema Hanash. “I see her as our Energizer bunny. She never, ever tires,” Lewis said of Hanash.

Lewis also thanked the following faculty and staff who served as the “Faces of the Campaign” this year by volunteering to share their personal stories of how United Way agencies provided critical assistance to them or their families in a time of need: Carol Brewer, School of Nursing; Pamela Coniglio, School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences; Keisha Alston, Educational Opportunity Center; Linda Paine Hughes, School of Nursing; Ryan Taughrin, College of Arts and Sciences; and Robert Wahler, School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences.

Lewis recognized the following units that met or exceeded their annual goal as of Wednesday: Emeritus Center; Office of the President; Office of the Vice President for Research and Economic Development; School of Nursing; School of Social Work; UB Foundation; University Libraries; University Life and Services; School of Public Health and Health Professions; School of Management; and the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. Lewis added that a number of other units were at 90 percent of their goal.

The following awards also were presented during Wednesday’s celebration:

• Volunteer of the Year: Linda Velazquez, Parking and Transportation Services.
• Unsung Hero: Colleen Lutz, Office of the President.
• William R. Greiner Award: Ray Dannenhoffer, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences.
• Bennett Cup: Bob Bennett presented this award to the UB Foundation.
• Progress Maker (new this year): Office of the Vice President for Philanthropy and Alumni Engagement and the School of Dental Medicine.

Next year’s UB campaign will be chaired by Robert Genco, SUNY Distinguished Professor in the School of Dental Medicine and director of the UB Office of Science, Technology Transfer and Economic Outreach (STOR).